Lightning coach Cooper on Bishop's absence from practice: 'Don't be alarmed'

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop was the only player missing from Friday's practice, but head coach Jon Cooper said it was all part of the plan.

"Don't be alarmed (that) he's not on the ice," Cooper told reporters. "He's feeling better with each day."

While the head coach would not disclose his starter for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks, he said the club would have a better idea of Bishop's availability at the morning skate Saturday.

Bishop is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury suffered in Game 2, when he left the contest twice in the third period of Tampa Bay's 4-3 win.

Andrei Vasilevskiy relieved him, making five saves in nine minutes to earn the victory.

Bishop stopped 34 of 35 shots in Game 3 as the Lightning took a 2-1 series lead with a 3-2 win, but Vasilevskiy was named the starter for Game 4, allowing two goals on 19 shots in a 2-1 loss that evened the series.

Vasilevskiy and Kristers Gudlevskis practiced Friday.