Coach Jon Cooper, Lightning has to “circle car” after losing defender Victor Hedman to injury in the round robin final

TORONTO – Tampa Bay Lightning defender Victor Hedman left the team’s round robin final on Saturday night after it was found he twisted his right ankle midway through the first half against the Philadelphia Flyers.

After the 4-1 loss that secured the Eastern Conference number 2 for the Lightning, Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper had no information on Hedman’s status or how much time he might be missing out on, despite admitting his possible loss to Create You a notable hole in the lightning bolt lineup.

“It’s a little frustrating because we feel like we’re going in the right direction and are losing some of the star power we have,” said Cooper, noting that the Lightning are also without captain Steven Stamkos and on Saturday without Hedman’s defense partner Jan played Rutta. “We have to circle the wagons.”

Hedman went down untouched as he spun around to run backwards on the Tampa Bay blue line while the Flyers’ Tyler Pitlick drove up the right wing. The 2017 NHL Norris Trophy winner slowly stood up and broke his stick as he walked down the tunnel to the locker room.

Stamkos is still to play after suffering a lower body injury prior to the start of training camp last month.

The Lightning, number 1 in the east last season, will face either Columbus or Toronto in the first round. The Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs will play a crucial game 5 on Sunday to complete the qualifying round.