Former Maine goalie Ben Bishop saw his first NHL action Friday when he played in a 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Bishop stopped 15 of 17 shots after starter Manny Legace left after the first period with a hip flexor.

How did Legace suffer that injury? Legace tripped as he stepped onto the ice, stumbling on a carpet that had been put down on the ice for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who dropped the ceremonial puck before the game:

"I was going to ask (the arena worker) to move (the carpet), but he had his foot there, so I figured he was trying to secure it," Legace said. "He's yelling at us, 'Careful, the carpet ... Careful, the carpet.'

"I'm like I can't jump over it. It's too far and my little legs won't jump that far. I just figured he's holding it and the other end is usually secure, so I'm just worried about it sliding (one) way. As soon as I went down, he lifted his foot off the carpet ... I knew I was coming down and I just couldn't catch myself.

"It's not that serious ... we'll just see what happens (Saturday)."

I wonder who Bishop might vote for on Election Day.

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