TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice for their home opener tonight at Benchmark International Arena.
Getting bounced from the playoffs in the first round in back-to-back seasons has the team motivated this year.
What can we expect from the Bolts this season? Spectrum Sports 360 reporter Katherine Smith sat down for a one-on-one interview with Victor Hedman where he talks about being a captain, Stanley Cups and the Florida Panthers.
What You Need To Know
The Tampa Bay Lightning open their season at home against the Ottowa Senators
The Bolts have been bounced in the first round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons by the Florida Panthers
Captain Victor Hedman said the team has a Stanley Cup run in them this season
QUESTION: This is the second season you’re going to be wearing the C on your chest. What does that honor mean to you?
VICTOR HEDMAN: It means a lot, obviously. To represent the community and the team and being a team’s leader its a great feeling. So, I don’t take that for granted one bit. But like I said before last year, it’s going to be a team effort. And we have a great leadership group in that room, so they make my job easy. It’s obviously a lot more responsibility on you when you wear that C, but like I said, it’s a great honor and it’s nothing I take for granted. So every time you play in the NHL you get to wear the C, it’s a cool feeling.
QUESTION: Five year anniversary since you won your first Stanley Cup. Four years since you won your second. Is there a Stanley Cup run in this team this season?
VICTOR HEDMAN: 100 percent. We have all the tools for it and we’ve got great depth, phenomenal goaltending. So, we got all the tools in the toolbox to make a big run again. But that’s very far ahead. We gotta make sure we have a great start to the season first and then get things moving.
QUESTION: What do you like most about the team this year?
VICTOR HEDMAN: I mean I love our team chemistry. Our core group has been together for a long time. And the new guys coming in fit in right away. So, our chemistry, but just our determination too to be a good as we can in all areas of the game, that’s what’s going to set us apart.
QUESTION: I’m going to say a bad word, Florida Panthers. These two teams do not like each other. The way that your season ended last year, how much is that motivating the team this year?
VICTOR HEDMAN: I mean motivation comes from different aspects, but it’s two years in a row that we’e been knocked out in the first round by them. So, we know that’s going to keep being brought up throughout the year. But, like I said, this is a new season and we’re looking ahead. But like I said, that’s one of the teams we have to get through to get to the ultimate goal, so yeah.