Bishop gets the starting nod against the Sabres on Thursday, Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bishop returns to goal after a nine-game absence. It appears coach Jon Cooper wants to ease the 30-year-old back into the lineup, utilizing him versus Buffalo, rather than throwing him to the wolves for Friday's matchup with the Blue Jackets. Barring any injury setbacks, the netminder figures to be the Lightning's clear No. 1 in between the pipes the rest of the way.

Bishop (lower body) declared himself fit to play, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

This doesn't necessarily mean that Bishop will start Thursday; if not, then perhaps he'll kick off the action in Friday's game against the Blue Jackets. Bishop has missed the past nine games with his ailment, and the Bolts have stormed away with only three wins in that span. Certainly, there was no shortage of attention on Double B after the team saw interim starting netminder Andrei Vasilveskiy yield six goals on 40 shots from the Penguins on Sunday to stretch his losing skid to four games. Still, it would be wise to see how Bishop fares in his next couple of starts before activating him in fantasy land -- he's 9-10-2 with a uncharacteristically low .907 save rate through 22 games this season.

Bishop (lower body) may be available Thursday against the Sabres, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bishop's return likely can't come soon enough for the Lightning as interim starter Andrei Vasilevskiy has dropped four consecutive games. Even if the 30-year-old Bishop isn't given the all clear, he appears to be trending in the right direction and will likely return sooner rather than later. Fantasy owners may want to temper their expectations right out the gate, but Bishop remains a top-end fantasy option long term.

Bishop (lower body) could be cleared for the team's three-game California road trip that kicks off Jan. 16, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

This timeline would rule Bishop out for Tampa Bay's next five outings which would bring is missed game total to 11. With backup Andrei Vasilevskiy showing signs of being a young netminder, Vasilevskiy's return likely can't come soon enough for fans and fantasy owners alike.

Bishop (lower body) will miss 3-to-4 weeks.

EDGE Analysis

Bishop, who almost assuredly will be placed on IR, was injured in Tuesday night's game against the Red Wings in the first period while attempting to make a save. Fantasy owners should immediately turn their attention to backup Andrei Vasilevskiy, who becomes the interim No. 1 backstop in Tampa Bay, and was already a favorite to emerge as the clear-cut starter next season with Bishop set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Meanwhile, Kristers Gudlevskis received a call-up from the minors for extra depth between the pipes for the 16-14-3 Bolts.

Bishop left Tuesday night's game against the Red Wings with a lower-body injury and will not return.

EDGE Analysis

Bishop was injured while making a save on Nick Jensen in his butterfly position and saved all four shots he saw in 12:14 of ice time before leaving the game. Andrei Vasilevskiy has taken over in the Tampa Bay net and figures to be the starter going forward if Bishop's injury is anything serious.

Bishop will start in the crease Tuesday against the Red Wings, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bishop took an overtime loss in his last start despite allowing just two goals on 32 shots and has now allowed nine goals in his last three starts. The veteran netminder should have a decent shot at turning things around Tuesday against a Red Wings team averaging just 2.23 goals per game on the road this season.

Bishop stopped 30 of 32 shots in Saturday's shootout loss to the Oilers.

EDGE Analysis

While it wasn't the result he wanted, it was a strong bounce-back outing for Bishop, who was burned for seven goals in his previous two outings. The 30-year-old is now 9-10-2 on the season with a .906 save percentage. Bishop's been up-and-down this year, but his strong performance Saturday showed while why he's still a valuable fantasy netminder. Backup Andrei Vasilevskiy has been struggling of late, so Bishop has the opportunity to see even more crease time if he builds off his Saturday performance.

Bishop will be in goal for Saturday's game against the Oilers, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bishop gave way to Andrei Vasilevskiy in Friday's game against the Canucks, but he will be back between the pipes Saturday night. He will square off against a slumping Oilers team that won just one of its previous six contests.

Bishop gave up three goals on 22 shots against the Flames on Wednesday, but he secured a road win thanks to six goals of support from his offense.

EDGE Analysis

The NHL's tallest goalie of all time has struggled to find his rhythm this year, and he's had an especially tough time winning lately -- over the seven appearances preceding Wednesday's game, Bishop went 1-5-1 with a 3.03 GAA and .902 save percentage. Ugly as those rate stats are, they're not too far off from his season numbers. Bishop's primary saving grace at this point is that backup Andrei Vasilevskiy -- who looked to be coming for his job early in the season -- has cooled off recently, giving up four-plus goals in three of his last four outings.