LA Kings trade for goaltender Ben Bishop

The Los Angeles Kings announced that the team has acquired goaltender Ben Bishop and a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Peter Budaj, defenseman Erik Cernak, a seventh-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and a conditional pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Earlier this week, Kings star goaltender Jonathan Quick returned to the lineup from an injury he suffered at the start of the season.  Bishop essentially is an insurance policy should Quick get hurt again.

Bishop, 30, has played in 32 games with the Lightning this year, posting a 16-12-3 record, a 2.55 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and one shutout.

The 6-7, 216-pound native of Denver has played for the Lightning, Ottawa Senators, and St. Louis Blues during his eight-year NHL career. In 263 career regular-season games he has posted a 146-77-23 record, a 2.32 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and 19 shutouts.

Drafted in the third-round (85th overall) by the St. Louis Blues during the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, he has appeared in 36 playoff games, holding a 21-13 record with a 2.09 goals-against average, a.927 save percentage and five shutouts. During the 2015 playoffs, he helped lead the Lightning to an Eastern Conference Championship before falling in six game to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Budaj, 34, appeared in 53 games this season with the Kings, posting a 27-20-3 record with a 2.12 goals-against average (third in the NHL), a .917 save percentage and seven shutouts (tied for the league-lead).

Cernak, 19, has appeared in 40 games this season with the Erie Otters (OHL), where he has recorded 17 points (3-14=17), a plus-27 rating and 47 penalty minutes.

In other NHL news . . .

KINGS, WILD CLASH IN MINNESOTA

The Kings (30-27-4, 64 points) pay a visit to the Western Conference-leading Wild (39-14-6, 84 points) at Xcel Energy Center on NBCSN. Los Angeles sits three points behind St. Louis (31-25-5, 67 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, while Minnesota aims to reach the 40-win mark in their 60th contest of the season – 11 games fewer than any other campaign in the franchise’s 17-year history (71 GP in 2006-07: 40-24-7, 87 points).

BRANDON MANNING SUSPENDED 2 GAMES

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning has been suspended for two games, without pay, for interference against Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel. The incident occurred at 3:26 of the second period.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Manning will forfeit $10,833.34. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

FORSBERG SCORES FOR FOURTH CONSECUTVE GAME

Filip Forsberg scored for the fourth consecutive game to help the Predators extend their point streak to five contests (4-0-1), including three consecutive wins.

Forsberg, who has scored eight times over the four-game run including a pair of hat tricks, became the first player in franchise history to score eight goals in a span of four consecutive team games and the first on any team to do so since San Jose’s Patrick Marleau from Jan. 20-26, 2013 (8-3—11).

At 31-22-9 (71 points), the Predators increased their lead to four points over the Blues (31-25-5, 67 points) for third place in the Central Division.

FORSBERG, TOEWS, AND GAUDREAU NAMED NHL'S 3 STARS

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg, Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews and Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week
ending Feb. 26.

FIRST STAR – FILIP FORSBERG, LW, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Forsberg led all skaters in goals and points (8-2—10 in 4 GP), including back-to-back hat tricks, as the Predators gained seven of a possible eight standings points to improve their record to 31-22-9 (71
points), third in the Central Division. On Feb. 21, Forsberg recorded his third career hat trick in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames and followed it up with another three-goal performance, including the winning goal, in a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 23. In doing so, Forsberg became the first player in franchise history to record hat tricks in consecutive games and the first NHL player to achieve the feat since Vancouver’s Alexandre Burrows on Jan. 5 and Jan. 7, 2010.

Forsberg closed out the week with one goal and two assists in a 5-2 triumph over the Washington Capitals on Feb. 25 and one goal in a 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 26. The 22-year-old Ostervala, Sweden, native leads the Predators in goals and sits second on the team in points with 24-22—46 in 62 games.

SECOND STAR – JONATHAN TOEWS, C, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Toews recorded multi-point efforts in each of the Blackhawks three games (4-5—9) as Chicago won all three contests to improve their overall record to 39-18-5 (83 points), second in the Central Division. On Feb. 21, Toews matched career highs for goals (3) and points (5) in a game, including the winning tally, in a 5-3 victory over the Central Division-leading Minnesota Wild. The Blackhawks captain then notched two assists in a 6-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 23 before closing out the week with one goal and one assist in a 4-2 triumph over the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 26. The 28-year-old Winnipeg, Man., native is currently riding a six-game point streak (5-8 13).

THIRD STAR – JOHNNY GAUDREAU, LW, CALGARY FLAMES

Gaudreau recorded eight points (2-6—8) in four road victories to propel the Flames (33-26-4, 70 points) to the first Wild Card position in the Western Conference. He began the week with four assists in a 6-5 OT win over the Nashville Predators Feb. 21. On Feb. 23, he recorded one assist in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning before being held off the scoresheet in a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Feb. 24.

Gaudreau finished the week with two goals and one assist, including the winner, in a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 26. A 23-year-old native of Salem, N.J., Gaudreau sits second in Flames scoring with 43 points (13-30—43) in 53 games.

BRUINS CONTINUE SUCCESS UNDER BRUCE CASSIDY

Patrice Bergeron (2-1—3), Brad Marchand (1-2—3) and Torey Krug (0-3—3) combined for 3-6—9 to help the Bruins improve to 6-1-0 under interim head coach Bruce Cassidy.

At 32-24-6 (70 points), the Bruins leapfrogged the idle Maple Leafs (28-20-13, 69 points) and moved into third place in the Atlantic Division.

Marchand, who has registered 17-16—33 since Jan. 1 (23 GP) and leads the NHL in goals during that span, ranks fifth in the League with 64 points (27-37—64 in 62 GP).

SUNDAY’S RESULTS (Home Team in Caps)

Boston 6, DALLAS 3
Calgary 3, CAROLINA 1
NASHVILLE 5, Edmonton 4
Columbus 5, NY RANGERS 2
CHICAGO 4, St. Louis 2
Ottawa 2, FLORIDA 1
ARIZONA 3, Buffalo 2

MONDAY’S ACTION (All Times Eastern)

Montreal @ New Jersey, 7 p.m., MSG+, SNE, RDS
Ottawa @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., SUN, RDS2, TSN5
Los Angeles @ Minnesota, 8 p.m., TVAS, NBCSN

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services