Tampa Bay is expecting a huge boost from Victor Hedman against the Islanders
Building a dynasty is rightly considered the most difficult feat a team can achieve, but maintaining such supreme excellence is arguably even more difficult. The Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to three straight Stanley Cup Finals from 2019-22 and won back-to-back championships, cementing themselves as a modern giant. They have did not pass the first round of the playoffs of, however. Has the sun set on this era of Bolts hockey? Not if Victor Hedman has anything to say about it.
The 2020 Conn Smithe Trophy winner and veteran defenseman is return is expected to the ice for Saturday night’s game against the New York Islanders, according to NHL.com. He missed the team’s last 12 games with an undisclosed injury, but appears to be OK to play after a productive morning skate. Although the Lightning (16-9-2, 34 points) are in first place in the Atlantic Division, they have dropped their last two games and could quickly collapse in the stacked Eastern Conference with just one extended losing streak.
A healthy Hedman can keep them steady and in the hunt for the top spot in the standings. The 34-year-old Swede recorded 12 assists, 28 blocks and seven goals in 15 games this season. He had an apple in four straight games before getting hurt, making a big impact in the 17th year of his storied NHL career. Tampa hopes Hedman will pick up where he left off when the team takes on New York (15-10-3, 33 points).
If the two-time champion can stay active and avoid further injuries, the Lightning will have a chance to compete for another title in June. The puck drops around 7pm ET at Benchmark International Arena.
2025-12-06 19:14:00
