Lightning's Victor Hedman: Dials up two man-advantage helpers
Rotowire
Hedman registered two power-play assists in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Penguins.
Hedman, who played his 1,000th NHL game Monday in a 4-0 win over the Stars, is in vintage form with five goals, 22 assists and 11 power-play points. His 49-point campaign from 2022-23 actually qualified as a down year by his standards, but he's found his stride by averaging a point per game to this point.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Posts assist in loss
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Hedman notched an assist and four shots on goal in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Avalanche.
Hedman has a helper in each of the last four games, and two of them have come on the power play. The 32-year-old defenseman set up Anthony Cirelli's goal in the last minute of the second period. It's been a return to high-scoring form for Hedman this season -- he's at 23 points, 41 shots on net, 22 blocked shots, 16 PIM and a plus-1 rating over 22 contests in 2023-24 after logging a mere 49 points in 76 outings a year ago.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Scores goal, assist Thursday
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Hedman scored a goal on one shot and picked up an assist versus Chicago on Thursday.
Hedman has four multi-point games in his last seven contests but had been stuck in a four-game goal drought before Thursday's tally. The blueliner's helper was scored with the man advantage, giving him six power-play points on the year. Despite some speculation that Mikhail Sergachev could replace Hedman on the No. 1 power-play unit, Hedman has continued to fill that role.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Another multi-point effort
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Hedman collected two assists in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Canadiens.
Both points came in the first period as the Lightning surged to a 4-0 lead. Hedman has produced multiple points in three straight games. After a disappointing 2022-23 campaign, he's bounced back with a vengeance, amassing three goals and 16 points in 13 contests, including a goal and five points on the power play. If there's a concern with the 32-year-old's play, it's with his lack of secondary stats -- after delivering 95 hits and 136 blocked shots in 76 games last season, Hedman has only six hits and 18 blocks so far in 2023-24.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Maintains hot start
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Hedman found the back of the net and recorded two assists in a 6-5 overtime loss to Toronto on Monday.
It was Hedman's second straight multi-point game, giving him two goals and five points over that span. Through 12 contests this year, he has three goals and 14 points. Hedman is an interesting defenseman from an offensive perspective. He's always been steady, reaching the 45-point mark for eight consecutive campaigns from 2015-16 through 2022-23, and the blueliner has occasionally been among the league's top-scoring defensemen, such as in 2021-22 when he finished with 20 goals and 85 points. Hedman isn't as steady as Roman Josi or Cale Makar when it comes to raw offensive production though, and it's consequently harder to count on Hedman to maintain his early pace this year.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Rumors of decline exaggerated
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Hedman picked up two assists Thursday in a 6-0 victory over San Jose.
This season has been Hedman time. The big defender has nine points (one goal, eight helpers) in eight games so far, and he's been held off the scoresheet just twice. And right now, he's on a three-game, four-assist streak. Hedman even has three points on the power play. Rumors of his decline have been greatly exaggerated. Managers who took the chance on him on draft day are being rewarded handsomely.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Back to old self to start season
Rotowire
Hedman scored a power-play goal and added two assists in a 6-4 loss to the Red Wings on Saturday.
Hedman has a goal and three assists in two games this season, and he's reprised his role as the quarterback on the top power-play unit, at least for now. Last season, Hedman saw his overall output and power-play production both decline dramatically with the rise of Mikhail Sergachev. The tables have turned to start 2023-24, so take advantage.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Collects two helpers in Game 4
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Hedman registered two assists in Tampa Bay's 5-4 overtime loss to Toronto in Game 4 on Monday.
Hedman's first helper was recorded during a Tampa Bay power play. This was the first game of the series in which Hedman factored in offensively after he was held off the scoresheet in two contests and missed Game 2 due to an undisclosed injury. During the regular season, Hedman had nine goals and 49 points in 76 outings.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Set to return Saturday
Rotowire
Hedman (undisclosed) will draw back into the lineup for Game 3 against Toronto on Saturday, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Hedman left Tuesday's outing after logging just 6:35 of ice time and didn't play at all Thursday. Now that he's back, the defenseman is projected to play on the top pairing alongside Nick Perbix. Hedman is a key part of the Lightning, providing nine goals and 49 points in 76 contests during the regular season while averaging 23:43.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Game-time decision Saturday
Rotowire
Per Luke Fox of Sportsnet.ca, Hedman (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision Saturday against Toronto, according to coach Jon Cooper.
Hedman practiced in the morning, playing on the first defensive pairing with Nick Perbix, as well as seeing second unit power play time. Hedman sat out Game 2 on Thursday after playing only 6:35 during Tuesday's Game 1. He had nine goals and 49 points in 76 games during the 2022-23 campaign.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Practicing Saturday
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Hedman (undisclosed) is at practice Saturday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
This is great news for the Lightning, as Hedman missed Thursday's Game 2 in Toronto. He was injured in Game 1 after playing only 6:35, and while the Lightning were able to win Tuesday by a 7-3 score, they missed their top defenseman in Game 2, dropping a 7-2 decision. Hedman had nine goals and 49 points in 76 regular season games in 2022-23.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Unavailable Thursday
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Hedman (undisclosed) will miss Game 2 versus Toronto on Thursday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
Hedman was injured during Tuesday's contest and logged just 6:35 of ice time in that game as a result. He was a vital part of the Lightning's blue line during the regular season, recording nine goals, 49 points, 95 hits and 136 blocks in 76 outings while averaging 23:43. With Hedman unavailable, Haydn Fleury is projected to draw into the lineup after being a healthy scratch Tuesday.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Game-time decision Thursday
Rotowire
Hedman (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Game 2 versus Toronto on Thursday, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.
Hedman logged just 6:35 of ice time in Game 1 on Tuesday. He's a huge part of the Lightning's defense, and his absence will be felt if he can't play Thursday. During the regular season, Hedman had nine goals, 49 points, 95 hits and 136 blocks in 76 outings.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Can't finish contest
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Hedman (undisclosed) didn't play after the first period of Tuesday's Game 1 versus the Maple Leafs, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
The Lightning won the game 7-3, but it came at a cost, with Hedman being one of three Tampa skaters to exit the contest. He should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Poised to return Tuesday
Rotowire
Hedman (rest) was back in his usual top-pairing spot at practice Monday and figures to be in the lineup against Toronto for Game 1 on Tuesday, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Hedman was given the regular-season finale against Detroit off Thursday but looks to be a full go for the playoffs. While the Swedish blueliner was nowhere near last season's point total (85), he still managed to record his eighth straight 45-plus point campaign with nine goals and 40 assists in 76 contests. The emergence of Mikhail Sergachev has seen Hedman relegated to the No. 2 power-play unit, but he should still offer top-end fantasy value heading into the postseason.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Will rest Thursday
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Hedman (rest) isn't expected to play Thursday versus Detroit, according to Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida.
This contest is Tampa Bay's regular-season finale, so Hedman will finish the campaign with nine goals and 49 points in 76 appearances. He should be back in the lineup for the start of the playoffs.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Three-point outburst not enough
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Hedman scored a goal and added two assists in a 7-4 loss to the Senators on Saturday.
With Mikhail Sergachev (personal) out, Hedman had the power play to himself, and two of the points (one goal, one assist) came with the man advantage. He had just six points (three goals, three assists) in his previous 22 games heading into Saturday. It was Hedman's first multi-point game since Feb. 23.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Mixed results in loss
Rotowire
Hedman registered an assist but was met with a minus-3 rating in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Rangers.
The helper is nice and all, but it's probably of little consolation to Hedman in the big road loss. He's added two goals and another pair of assists over the last month (14 games), which is a disappointing stretch given the defenseman's sterling track record, though he's mixed it up with 18 hits and 21 blocked shots over that span.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Snaps six-game goal drought
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Hedman (undisclosed) scored a goal Saturday in a 5-3 win over Montreal.
It was a wrist shot from the high slot that tied the game 1-1 at 11:31 of the first period. Hedman snapped a six-game goal drought, but it's not for lack of trying -- he has 21 shots in his last seven games. With just seven goals, Hedman is at risk of missing the double-digit goal mark, something that has happened only one other time over his last nine seasons. And even then, it was because of a COVID-shortened campaign. Hedman is currently sitting with around half (44 points) of his career-best campaign (20 goals, 85 points) set last year. He's still elite, but he's certainly a fantasy disappointment relative to where you drafted him.
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Lightning's Victor Hedman: Drawing back into lineup Saturday
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Hedman (undisclosed) will return for Saturday's game against Chicago, per Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site.
Hedman missed Tampa Bay's previous two outings. He has six goals and 42 points in 60 contests this season. With Hedman back in the lineup, Haydn Fleury is projected to be a healthy scratch after playing in the Lightning's past three games.
