Hedman Out, Lightning Face Canadiens

0:00It's April 18th. This is NHL News to Day Team News, powered by AI. Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Victor Hedman won't suit up for their Eastern Conference first round playoffs opener against the Montreal Canadiens. Coach John Cooper confirmed Saturday that the star defenseman is sidelined by an illness. He hasn't played since leaving early in a win over Vancouver on March 19th, sitting out the final 15 regular season games. Here this month on March 25th, the team announced Hedman was taking a personal leave. Now he's back with a squad as they face Montreal Sunday at 5.45 pm, Eastern Time at Amaliyah Arena. Fans are feeling the sting since Hedman only logged 33 games this season with 17.1 goal and 16 assists. His year was played by injuries, including an elbow procedure that cost him 22 games and a lower body tweak during Olympic's warmups with, Sweden. The 35-year-old franchise cornerstone holds lightning records for defenseman in games,

1:01goals, assists and points. He's a Norris Trophy winner from 2017-18, and Snag Khan smith honors in the 2020 playoffs en route to back-to-back cups. Lightning brass hopes he returns soon, but for now, they gear up without their anchor against Montreal's Atlantic Division push.