{"id":555283,"date":"2026-04-18T13:36:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T13:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/555283\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T13:36:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T13:36:37","slug":"victor-hedman-among-two-lightning-players-set-to-miss-game-1-vs-canadiens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/555283\/","title":{"rendered":"Victor Hedman among two Lightning players set to miss Game 1 vs Canadiens"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nVictor Hedman among two Lightning players set to miss Game 1 vs Canadiens
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Montreal Hockey Fanatics has no direct affiliation to the Montreal Canadiens, NHL or NHLPA<\/p>\n


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Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Another piece of good news for the Montreal Canadiens on the eve of the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Two Tampa Bay Lightning players were missing from practice: Victor Hedman and Pontus Holmberg.<\/p>\n

The rest of the lineup was present on the ice.<\/p>\n

For Game 1 on Sunday, he can essentially be ruled out.<\/p>\n

Victor Hedman still absent from Tampa Bay Lightning practice ahead of facing the Montreal Canadiens<\/p>\n

Holmberg, meanwhile, had already been listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury late in the regular season.<\/p>\n

The Swedish forward played 72 games this season with the Tampa Bay Lightning.<\/p>\n

Head coach Jon Cooper will therefore have to manage without his top defenseman and without Holmberg to start the series against the Montreal Canadiens.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay\u2019s blue line will need to compensate without Hedman, who has led that unit for more than a decade.<\/p>\n

Could Hedman return at some point during the series?<\/p>\n

The question remains open, but for now, there are no signs of progress.<\/p>\n

Journalists Gabby Shirley and Benjamin Pierce reported the absences from Friday\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n

As a reminder, this series will get underway tomorrow at 5:45 p.m., live from Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics<\/p>\n

POLL<\/p>\n

05 MINUTES AGO|2 ANSWERS<\/p>\n

Victor Hedman among two Lightning players set to miss Game 1 vs Canadiens<\/p>\n

Does Victor Hedman\u2019s absence give the Montreal Canadiens a decisive advantage in this series?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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