Hedman factor dictates pace for Tampa
EASTERN CONFERENCE: Often-overlooked ‘elite-tier defenceman’ a difference-maker on both ends of the ice
TAMPA, Fla. — Wearing jerseys and holding long handmade signs in 32 C heat outside the Tampa International Jet Center on Tuesday afternoon camped a group of hearty fans, waiting and waiting for the Lightning to come home.
As the team finally arrived (about 45 minutes later than scheduled) from New York with its 1-1 split in the Eastern Conference final, the crowd burst into cheers, chants and songs. Every player who drove by drew a roar, like he had just scored a goal.
Attendance was probably somewhere in the 100-to-150 person range, but it sure sounded like a lot more.
“We’re all excited about going back home and playing in front of our fans,” defenceman Victor Hedman said inside the airport lobby before taking a quick glance outside and smiling. “We can tell they’re excited too.” The Bolts now have home-ice advantage in their showdown with the New York Rangers because of a convincing 6-2 victory led by Tyler Johnson’s hat trick and Ben Bishop’s goaltending, but also some fancy play from Hedman at both ends of the ice.
With Tampa holding a 3-2 lead late in the second period and Bishop caught behind the net, Hedman slid through the crease to stop a sure goal. Then, early in the third, his fake-shot slap pass to Alex Killorn was easily converted to put Tampa up by two.
“Things can happen throughout a game,” Hedman said when asked about his save. “It was a weird play behind the net there, and Bish got stuck. He has bailed us out so many times during the season, probably bailed me out a few times, so it was my turn to return the favour.”
Sometimes, it seems, people forget about Hedman. They overlook him, which you’d think would be difficult to do with a 6-foot-6 230-pound small mountain of a defenceman possessing immense skills. As recently as last year, his own country left him off the roster for the Sochi Games. Granted, it did have a bevy of talent from which to choose.
But Hedman went on to become the fifth-highest scoring blue-liner in the NHL, and he is also a smooth skater and solid defender.
“I don’t think you get to this part of the season without having a top, elite-tier defenceman,” head coach Jon Cooper said.
“And (Hedman) is that for us. You look at the two of them, when (Hedman) and (Anton) Stralman are paired together, I think it’s as good as you’re going to get in this league.
“When Hedman is going, our team’s going,” Cooper added.
“Sometimes, when he’s not, our team isn’t, and that says a lot about a player, that he has that much effect on our team.”
Hedman was the second player picked in the 2009 draft, right after John Tavares. His first experience in the NHL playoffs was as a 20-yearold, when the Lightning made it to the conference final before losing to the Boston Bruins.
Hedman and Steve Stamkos are the lone leftovers from that 2011 team.
“That was only my second year in the league. You really didn’t know what to expect,” Hedman said.
“And now I feel like I’ve been here for a long time. I feel like I want to take responsibility. I want to be a leader. I want to be a differencemaker on the ice.
“Coming into these playoffs, that’s kind of the way I approach it and approach the game — play at a high level throughout the playoffs, and even though it’s going to be a lot of up and downs, you have to stay focused and prepare for the next game.”
The Bolts need to have the same mentality as a team.
They’ve stolen away home ice advantage. They can’t give it back now. “It was a big win for us (Monday),” Hedman said, “but we had to turn around and refocus. It’s a big turnaround and big game (Wednesday).”
“When Hedman is going, our team’s going”
— Jon Cooper