Victor Hedman among two Lightning players set to miss Game 1 vs Canadiens
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Another piece of good news for the Montreal Canadiens on the eve of the playoffs.
Two Tampa Bay Lightning players were missing from practice: Victor Hedman and Pontus Holmberg.
The rest of the lineup was present on the ice.
For Game 1 on Sunday, he can essentially be ruled out.
Victor Hedman still absent from Tampa Bay Lightning practice ahead of facing the Montreal Canadiens
Holmberg, meanwhile, had already been listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury late in the regular season.
The Swedish forward played 72 games this season with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Head coach Jon Cooper will therefore have to manage without his top defenseman and without Holmberg to start the series against the Montreal Canadiens.
Tampa Bay’s blue line will need to compensate without Hedman, who has led that unit for more than a decade.
Could Hedman return at some point during the series?
The question remains open, but for now, there are no signs of progress.
Journalists Gabby Shirley and Benjamin Pierce reported the absences from Friday’s practice.
As a reminder, this series will get underway tomorrow at 5:45 p.m., live from Tampa Bay.
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Victor Hedman among two Lightning players set to miss Game 1 vs Canadiens
Does Victor Hedman’s absence give the Montreal Canadiens a decisive advantage in this series?