Ben Bishop Injury: Lightning Goalie's Return from Lower-Body Injury Announced

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 20.

However, Bishop is ready to return after missing nine games and will start against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.

"It's no fun missing time," Bishop told the Lightning website (via NHL.com), "so it's going to be exciting getting back out there to play."

Bishop suffered the injury during the first period after going down into the butterfly position to stop a shot from Red Wings defenseman Nick Jensen:

The injury bug continues to find Bishop, who suffered a left knee injury after falling awkwardly during Game 1 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The ailment was severe enough at the time that he had to be stretchered off the ice. 

But before he was forced to bow out of the postseason, the Vezina Trophy finalist was positively superb throughout the 2015-16 campaign. In 61 appearances, the 30-year-old went 35-21 with a .926 save percentage and a league-leading 2.06 goals-against average. 

But 22 games into the 2016-17 season, Bishop has regressed with a 9-10-2 record, a .907 save percentage and a 2.79 goals-against average. 

For a team that's already without Steven Stamkos, who is recovering from a right knee injury that required surgery and will likely hold him out for the remainder of the regular season, Bishop's loss was another major hurdle for the Lightning. Fans will be happy to see him return on Thursday night.

The Lightning (19-19-4) have lost four straight games (0-4-0) and are four points behind the Ottawa Senators for third place in the Atlantic Division, per NHL.com.