The Tampa Bay Lightning have had their fair share of issues leading into and coming out of the Olympic break. Plagued by injuries to some key members of the roster has been one of the biggest challenges. One of the players that has been sidelined a few times already is one of their most important contributors on the ice. We’re not talking about Steven Stamkos either. Ben Bishop has been praised for his work in net so far this season and justifiably so. His efforts are even more impressive given how banged up his teammates allow him to get in the crease. The Bolts have to do a better job of protecting their goalie to ensure his continued health and their overall success.
It’s an all too familiar sight for Tampa’s fans. The opposition drives the Lightning’s net. A number of players collide and our netminder ends up sprawled on the ice. Tom Mulligan comes out to check on him… sometimes he stays and sometimes he’s pulled from the game. Some of this physicality is just the nature of the sport of hockey. Some of it is Lightning players sitting back and allowing their goalie’s space to be encroached upon.
The referees aren’t always going to make calls when goaltenders are jostled. That was extremely clear in Saturday’s victory against the Dallas Stars. Bishop was run into and knocked down many times without the Stars being assessed a penalty. Hockey is a contact sport and these instances are going to happen. This situation isn’t exclusive to Bishop either. Anders Lindback is just returning to the roster after a collision with Cory Conacher in a game against the Ottawa Senators on January 30th. Ben has gotten the worst of it given the amount of playing time he has seen and the guys in front of him have to make his protection a priority going forward.(Photo/ Sue Ferlita)
Head coach Jon Cooper is stressing the importance of keeping opposing players from taking runs at Bishop to the Tampa Bay Times:
“Part of our job is don’t let guys get near ‘Bish’ at all,” Cooper said before Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Avalanche. “And when that happens, make sure whoever that culprit is knows that isn’t going to happen again and there is going to be some retribution.”
Cooper also elaborated on the concern that retribution could leave the team short handed if the officials do step in.
“But sometimes there’s such a thing as taking a good penalty,” Cooper said. “If a good penalty is going to straighten another team out, so be it. Maybe the good penalty comes in the sense of what is going on in our side of the rink starts happening at their end of the rink. Sometimes that starts to change the tide a little bit.”
Tampa currently sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Their playoff spot is not a lock given how close the points race is. Many people are looking to Steven Stamkos’ return to help get the Bolts back on track. Stammer is an important part of the team, but without solid goaltending through the rest of the season, the post season could all too easily slip out of their grasp. A healthy Bishop gives the Lightning the best chance to win. His teammates need to have his back as much as he has had theirs.
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