Lightning’s Victor Hedman ‘doubtful’ for rest of regular season

Watch as Victor Hedman is in some discomfort after taking Carl Hagelin’s helmet right to the face. Hedman did not play the entire 2nd period and has not come out for the 3rd.

It looks like the Tampa Bay Lightning will be without defenceman Victor Hedman for the final four games of the regular season due to an upper-body injury.

The team listed the veteran rearguard as day-to-day on Monday, two days after he was injured during the final home game of the regular season against the Washington Capitals.

Hedman attempted to check Washington’ Carl Hagelin into the boards late in the first period, but instead appeared to get Hagelin’s helmet to the face. He stayed on the ice for the remainder of his shift as the period came to a close, but did not return to the game.

Head coach Jon Cooper told reporters the team is hopeful Hedman will be healthy by the start of the post-season. He wouldn’t go into detail about the injury.

The Lightning clinched the Presidents’ Trophy in mid-March, and have been locked into the top spot in the Eastern Conference even longer. The club closes out the regular season with a four-game Atlantic road trip against the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.

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