Home / Sports / Tampa Bay Faces Playoff Challenge Without Hedman
Tampa Bay Faces Playoff Challenge Without Hedman
19 Apr
Summary
- Captain Victor Hedman has missed a month due to injury.
- Hedman is skating but not yet cleared to play.
- Lightning begin playoffs Sunday against Montreal.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are gearing up for their 2026 playoff opener against the Montreal Canadiens, scheduled for Sunday. A major concern for the team is the absence of their captain, Victor Hedman, who has been out of action for approximately a month. Hedman's last appearance was on March 19, where he left the game early.
Despite this setback, Hedman has recently begun skating and is now traveling with the team. However, Head Coach Jon Cooper has indicated that Hedman is not yet available to play. The timeline for his potential return remains uncertain.
This situation presents a significant hurdle for the Lightning, who are accustomed to deep playoff runs. Hedman has faced other injury issues throughout the season, raising questions about his potential readiness and effectiveness if he were to play at less than full capacity.
