Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals was a mess for the Tampa Bay Lightning goalies, and now we know why.
Ben Bishop revealed after his team lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 in the series-ending Game 6 that he suffered a torn groin while trying to stop a Brad Richards shot in Game 2.
Backup goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy shuttled in for Bishop during the 4-3 Game 2 win, indicating something was wrong with the Lightning netminder. Despite the injury, Bishop stopped 38 of 40 shots in a 3-2 win in Game 3. But he was really feeling the injury afterwards.
Bishop said at morning skate for Game 4 he couldn't even stretch. Didn't want to completely tear groin, so gave it 3 days rest "Plan worked"
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) June 16, 2015
Vasilevskiy started in goal for Game 4 and allowed two goals on 21 shots in the 2-1 loss. Bishop was back in net for Games 5 and 6 and allowed two goals in each game as the team dropped both contests to lose the series. Really, his biggest blunder of the series didn’t seem to have to do with injury.
Still, we give him a lot of credit for playing through a serious injury.
Bishop on torn groin: "I can't feel much anyway right now. Just unfortunate. Didn't feel good out there, but was able to get through it."
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) June 16, 2015
Bishop says that he won’t need surgery but just rest to heal. Good thing he has the entire offseason coming up.
Photo Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
