Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper didn't have much to say on Saturday morning following his team's morning skate, continuing to keep the status of his goaltenders for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final a secret.
In his 30-second meeting with the media, Cooper would only say that he hopes he has a decision to make when it comes to his team's starter for their game against the Chicago Blackhawks after needing to start backup Andrei Vasilevskiy in Game 4.
Regular starter Ben Bishop was on the ice for the team's morning skate on Saturday but would not reveal his status for the game, saying only that progress is being made and that a decision likely won't be made until just before warmups after he speaks with his coach. It leaves the door open for Bishop to make his return to the lineup after he did not play on Wednesday night due to what the team would only call an "undisclosed injury."
He was replaced by Vasilevskiy in the starting lineup while Kristers Gudlevskis served as his backup.
Bishop also took part in the morning skate on Wednesday -- just as he did on Saturday -- before missing the game. His Game 4 absence came just after he played Game 3 in noticeable pain, often times struggling to stand up after going to the ice. He still managed to stop 36 shots in the Tampa Bay win.
If Bishop is unable to go on Saturday Vasilevskiy will once again get the start. Vasilevskiy ended up getting the win in Game 2 after Bishop had to leave that game on two different occasions in the third period due to an undisclosed reason.
