Ben Bishop will start for Lightning vs. Sabres

Goalie Ben Bishop will start for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Buffalo Sabres at Amalie Arena on Thursday (7:30 p.m. SUN, MSG-B, NHL.TV) after missing nine games because of a lower-body injury.

Bishop, 30, last played Dec. 20, when he removed himself in the first period of a 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings.

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

Bishop, a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist, is 9-10-2 with a 2.79 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 22 games.

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.

- NHL