Lesser teams have fared just fine with lesser goalies in the playoffs, taking the loss of their starter as a rally cry; a perfect fit for the "us against the world" mentality, easier sold to a team that's been climbing uphill--successfully--all season.
Tampa Bay opted to move on from a heart and soul player in Vincent Lecavalier last summer. They lost Steven Stamkos for most of their season. If Lecavalier was a heart and soul player for the Lightning, Martin St. Louis was their spirit; ripping himself away from the fabric that kept this team alive throughout the season, post-Olympic snub.
This team didn't ride high expectations into the season. They kept first round draft pick Jonathan Drouin in the Junior hockey ranks and added a year of development for Brent Connolly with their minor league affiliate, with full knowledge that the road ahead was arduous, long, and most likely to put them closer to a premiere draft selection in the first round than it was to home-ice advantage in the playoffs.
Enter Ben Bishop. He's been a rock for the Lightning. The numbers don't lie: 37 wins, 14 losses in regulation, another seven in overtime/shootout. He's stopped 1625 pucks in 63 games, managing a .924 save percentage, a 2.23 goals against, allowing no goals against in five of his starts. And last night, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bishop reached awkwardly for a puck, came down awkwardly, and left with the trainers propping him up on their way to the dressing room.
Suspicion has run from wrist to rotator cuff, from day-to-day to potentially season threatening, all of it conjecture with the Lightning merely suggesting he certainly won't start in Tampa's next game. And before Canadiens fans start imagining an easy entry to the second round of the playoffs for their team, they should keep in mind that the Lightning have faced tremendous adversity all season long; that they are extremely well-coached; that they're bought into a system that makes them threatening on both sides of the ice.
Aside from that, Anders Lindback hasn't exactly inspired the confidence that would have Lightning fans rationalizing that a long-term injury to Bishop wouldn't dash the team's playoff hopes. In 21 games (he's played 83 in the National Hockey League) with the Lightning this year, Lindback is 6-12-2, with an .884 save percentage, a 3.11 goals against average, and zero shutouts.
And who would be behind Lindback? Anyone remember Latvian goalie, Kristers Gudlevskis? You know, the guy that nearly helped his national team shock the hockey world by beating Canada. Let's just say that if the playoff hopes are pinned to him, the Lightning will be in a world of hurt before we get there.
It's going to be a tough waiting period for Lightning fans, eager for news on Bishop's condition. As for the Canadiens and their fans, the team's had enough experience in the playoffs for everyone to understand that nothing is given. *****************
1) Michel Therrien's decided to keep Andrei Markov, Alexei Emelin and Carey Price in Montreal for the team's game against Chicago.
The Canadiens are a win away (and a Tampa loss away) from clinching home-ice advantage. With a two-point lead in the standings, and three games remaining for both teams, the Habs are in the driver seat.
It would be found money for the Canadiens to take care of their end tonight in Chicago, but without that trio of players, that's a monumental challenge.
2) Josh Gorges is returning to action. The hope is that he can find his best game quick, and that he can bring something better out of P.K. Subban. One would imagine this duo is going to face a heavy assignment in Chicago, and this could be a real confidence boost for both players if they handle it well.
3) Back home to face the Islanders tomorrow, and then finish up the season Saturday against the Rangers--who the Canadiens have taken to the woodshed over the last few seasons (although, the last time they played each other was a 1-0 win for the Rangers, in November).
The Habs have two losses in their last 12 games, but there have been flaws most recently, blowing leads, but finding ways to redeem themselves.
There has to be concern about pushing a depleted roster into Chicago, about underestimating the Islanders, and about facing a Rangers team that's a lot better than the one they played in November.
The last thing the Canadiens need is to undo three weeks of exceptional work with bad performances headed into the playoffs, but no one wants to get hurt and that does tend to impede on the compete level.
A win in Chicago alleviates a lot of that pressure and gives the Canadiens more opportunity to rest some players ahead of the first round.
4) It's possible--it's not likely--that the Detroit Red Wings sneak into Tampa's spot. If they win all of their remaining games, and Tampa fails to collect a single point in their three, then the Habs will take on the Wings in the first round of the playoffs.
Sure makes that Bishop injury all the more intriguing. Also renders the entire top of this article irrelevant if it comes to pass.
Like I said, possible, but not likely.
For the record, Detroit is the only team in the current playoff picture (East and West) with a negative differential on the season, at -9.
The last team to win a playoff series, entering the post-season as a minus? You guessed it; the Montreal Canadiens, 2009-2010, knocking off +85 Washington as a -6.
5) R.I.P. Toronto Maple Leafs. I thought you'd be better than you were last year. For part of the season, you made me think I might be right. With Bernier kicking 'em out like Brodeur, you had a chance. But this crumbling? This withering? This painful demise?
Well, they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Then again, that's what the crippling loss to the Bruins in the playoffs was supposed to do.
Someone's falling on this sword. It's going to be Randy Carlyle, with good reason too.
Dave Nonis got a five-year extension in the off-season, but I strongly believe that if the Leafs are committed to turning this around quick, they'll burn that money and find a suitable replacement.
Time will tell, and time is what the Maple Leafs have now...
Oh... and R.I.P. Ottawa Senators. You can write a novel about what went wrong for them this season. Seemingly everything. Next time...