TAMPA, Fla. - Reporters swarmed around the locker of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy after the team practiced Friday at its facility in suburban Brandon. The 20-year-old Russian is working on his English but not enough to feel comfortable in front of a dozen or so television cameras.

So Vasilevskiy sternly looked at the mob and said in perfect English, "No cameras." He then proceeded to do an interview with print reporters with the equal calm, slowly choosing his correct words. It's the same calm the rookie might need again Saturday night in the pivotal Game Five of the Stanley Cup final.

Tampa Bay starter Ben Bishop did not skate Friday as he continues to nurse an injury believed to be to his hip or groin. Bishop may take the morning skate but it's a good chance it will still be Vasilevskiy's net for the second straight game.

"That's why I'm here in North America, just to play hockey," Vasilevskiy said. "The last two days I have more fun than all season. That's awesome. I'm very excited. ... All my life it's just my dream. I hope if I will play next game, I'll be much better.""He's showed maturity well beyond his years, not only as a person but as a player in this league," said Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos. "We saw his first start he has that confidence. So we'll see what happens but I think he answered any questions about ability."

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said not to read too much into Bishop's absence because his starter will be skating Saturday morning.

"He's feeling better with each day," Cooper said. "When we made the decision not to play him the other night, the decision just wasn't made, 'Oh, we're not going to play him.' It's, 'We're not playing you and you're taking the next three days off.' This was all in the plan.

A light moment came when Vasilevskiy was asked who his goaltending hero was. The kid didn't name any of the current Russians in the NHL, or 2004 Lightning Stanley Cup hero Nikolai Khabibulin or Soviet legend Vladislav Tretiak.

His answer, with a smile: "I like how 'Bish' plays," referring to Bishop.

"Seriously. Unbelievable. I'm learning a lot from Bish. That's it. I like the way he plays."