from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Maik,

In a curious but intriguing move that may turn the Western Conference playoff race upside-down, the Los Angeles Kings acquired the No. 1 available goaltender on the NHL trade market Sunday, landing Ben Bishop from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The primary question surrounded the timing of the deal: Why did the Kings wait until now and not make the move weeks ago?

“Preferably, I would have done this deal two weeks ago,” answered Kings’ general manager Dean Lombardi, “but this is just the way trade-deadline deals seem to work.”

Less than a day before completing the trade for Bishop, the Kings finally got their starting goaltender and two-time Stanley Cup champion, Jonathan Quick, back in the lineup after a 59-game injury absence.

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