Tampa Bay Lightning D Victor Hedman out 3-6 weeks with Lower-Body Injury
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman will miss 3-6 weeks after suffering a Lower-Body Injury on Thursday night against the Calgary Flames.
Tampa Bay Lightning fans have finally got the answers they have been so desperately clamoring for since midway through the second period last night as the Lightning took on the Calgary Flames. After undergoing a series of tests, the fate of Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has finally been determined.
The Lightning announced this afternoon Victor Hedman will be forced to miss 3-6 weeks with a Lower-Body Injury. The team wasn’t exactly giving when it came to the nature of Hedman’s injury, but then again, this is pretty par for the course. The news is kind of a double-edged sword for Bolts fans.
On one hand, the Lightning is going to be missing one of their top defensemen for the next month to a month and a half, which means fans are going to see a lot more of players like Andrej Sustr. At the same time, the injury to Hedman could’ve been much worse, and at least we’re taking weeks and not months.
Another downside to this situation is Hedman will also be forced to miss the 2018 NHL All-Star Game taking place at the Amalie Arena from January 26-28. It is unknown at this point who will be replacing him at the annual event. This is definitely a disappointing moment for the Swedish defenseman.
The Lightning has certainly taken a kick in the blueline as of late. Victor Hedman is not the first Lightning defenseman to be taken down by a complete accident this season. Heck, he’s not even the first player to be taken down this week by a freak accident.
Tampa Bay Lightning
On Sunday night, as the Lightning took on the Detroit Red Wings, the Bolts would lose defenseman Dan Girardi after he took a nasty-looking shot to the head/neck area off a shot from Red Wings forward Martin Frk.
The Tampa Bay Lightning definitely has their work cut out for them over the next couple of weeks; however, as Lightning Beat Writer Bryan Burns points out; this could be a good thing for the team. This is normally the point in the season where complacency sets in. The Bolts have been at the top of the NHL for most of the season and it wouldn’t be unrealistic for them to instinctively pull back a little.
Missing a player like Hedman will force the team to win without Hedman and find a way to come together in the face of immense adversity. Creative is exactly what the Lightning will have to be at this point. After their bye week, they will get back to business against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Things didn’t exactly go well for the Bolts the last time they came face to face with the Golden Knights, and that was with Hedman in the lineup. Also, let’s not forget it’s the Golden Knights who are right on the heels of the Lightning in the NHL Standings. There is only a five-point difference between these two teams, and if the Lightning were to give up two of them, it would definitely bridge the gap even further.
Next: Dan Girardi Feeling Better, But Not Ready To Return
We here at Bolts By The Bay wish Victor Hedman a speedy and full recovery. Missing the All-Star game is definitely disappointing, but the important thing is he properly heal and be ready to rejoin the lineup and help the team forge their path to the postseason.