The NHL regular season is part exciting, part aggravating, and part taxing, both on the players and the fans. At the best of times, it can feel like everything is going your team’s way. At the worst, it can feel like an anchor is holding your team down. The Tampa Bay Lightning have experienced a jubilant season through the first 44 games of 2017-2018. However, after Thursday night’s 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, uncertainty hovers around the team for the first time this season.
Top defenseman—and Norris candidate—Victor Hedman left the game during the second period after Calgary forward Garnet Hathaway made contact with Hedman’s left knee during a collision along the boards.