Lightning shuffles lines as Hedman returns for Game 1

Victor Hedman is finally ready. 

Hedman has been on the sidelines since a scary incident which took place in a game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Washington Capitals. In the first period of that game, Hedman collided with Capitals forward Carl Hagelin and got the worse of the collision. 

Hagelin seemed to jump into the hit from Hedman which caused the Caps forward to make direct contact with Hedman’s head. The Bolts star defenseman ended up missing the remaining four games of the regular season.

However, Hedman practice again on Tuesday and seems ready to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first game of the series tonight. Joe Smith of The Athletic has just reported that Hedman will draw into the lineup and that Braydon Coburn will be a healthy scratch for the game.

Here is a look at the projected lineup for the Lightning in Game 1 tonight:

Palat-Stamkos-Johnson
Gourde-Point-Kucherov
Killorn-Cirelli-Miller
Erne-Paquette-Joseph 

Hedman-Girardi

McDonagh-Cernak/Sergachev-Rutta 

Out: Stralman (lower body) Callahan, Martel, Coburn, Gaunce

This is great news for the best team in the league: Hedman should be a big piece for Lightning in the playoffs!