TORONTO (WFTS) -- Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman is happy to be back in time to start the postseason with his teammates.
The 29-year-old joined his teammates in Toronto on Friday. He stayed behind in Tampa to take care of a "personal matter"
"I was skating by myself every day. Working out with [strength and conditioining coach] Mark [Lambert]. Nothing changed for me except I was by myself," Hedman said. "Obviously very tough, but it was good workouts with Mark and like I said I’m happy to be back here with the guys."
Hedman will be in the lineup when the Bolts face off against the Washington Capitals today at 4 p.m. Team captain Steven Stamkos won't play, but the team is hopeful he'll be back at some point during the round robin stage of the postseason.
"We’ve been missing guys here and there throughout camp," center Tyler Johnson said. "If we can have the full team out there, get our whole lines set and get some chemistry going I think that’s huge."
The Lightning will play games against Washington, Boston and Philadelphia to determine seeds 1 through 4 for the remainder of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
