Victor Hedman was injured for the Tampa Bay Lightning in their last game of the round-robin share of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers on Saturday, and now they are incessantly with out their top defenseman and captain Steven Stamkos when the Stanley Cup Playoffs open.
“We originate no longer know how long that is going to be, but when your perennial Norris Trophy finalist is out, that creates a hole,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “We’ve dealt with injuries sooner than, our captain’s out, he’s been out an extended time. It’s frustrating. However you may perchance perchance presumably also simply enjoy to circle the wagons and put together …”
Hedman was injured at 9: 06 of the first length in the 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers when his proper ankle appeared as if it will perchance perchance perchance presumably procure twisted as he turned round to assist skate in the defensive zone. He stayed down on the ice for a pair of seconds and skated gingerly sooner than icing the puck and heading to locker room.
The Lightning had been already with out Stamkos, who did no longer play in any of their round-robin games on account of a decrease-body injury the ahead aggravated sooner than coaching camp.
As a result of the loss, Tampa Bay would be the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and play both the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Jap Conference First Spherical at Scotiabank Enviornment in Toronto, the East hub metropolis. Game 1 is Tuesday (3 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS).
Cooper said Friday there would be no extra updates on Stamkos, nor his availability for the playoffs, until he’s ready to play. Stamkos was 2nd on the Lightning with 29 dreams and 66 aspects in 57 games this season (ahead Nikita Kucherov led Tampa Bay with 33 dreams and 85 aspects).
Hedman, who’s a finalist for the Norris Trophy, given to the participant voted the NHL’s most effective defenseman, for a fourth straight season, scored 55 aspects (11 dreams, 44 assists) in 66 games.
“He’s bright phenomenal the cornerstone of our aid end,” Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said of Hedman. “Shedding him early, obviously the first belief is optimistically it be nothing too serious. However you realize at that point that you simply may perchance perchance presumably also simply enjoy to arrange the game a minute of bit as a [defense] corps. Which you may no longer plot terminate too many probabilities, compose particular you’re pacing it out. For the time being of the game, too, they’d a host of rigidity on us. It’s factual going in the rhythm of the game. In a technique, you procure to play and feel the game a minute of extra, you procure set in eventualities you in general wouldn’t be in. So we rolled with it, and clearly going ahead, we are going to enjoy to appear for what happens.”
In Hedman’s absence, defenseman Ryan McDonagh led the Lightning with 26: 19 of ice time.
“You abominate to appear for any of your teammates enjoy to transfer away a game,” McDonagh said. “Obviously, all individuals is aware of the importance and the feature he performs on our team. We originate no longer know the dilemma suddenly, how he’s feeling or whatnot, but now we enjoy to continue on here, continue as a community and enjoy that subsequent-man-up mentality until he gets aid.”
