Lightning's Bishop expected to return Saturday; Vasilevskiy reassigned to AHL

Merry Christmas, Lightning fans. Your gift is the return of goalie Ben Bishop, who's expected to be back in goal Saturday when Tampa Bay hosts the Carolina Hurricanes after the holiday break. 

Bishop hasn't played since a lower-body injury forced him to leave after a period on Dec. 15 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's missed four games. 

The Lightning reassigned goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to Syracuse of the AHL on Wednesday, clearing the way for Bishop's return Saturday. 

Vasilveskiy, only 20, impressed in three starts with the parent club, picking up two wins and stopping 94 of 100 shots.