TAMPA — Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman had his coming-out party during the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs. With 14 points and a plus-11 rating, he established himself as one of the top all-around blue-liners in the game.
The 2016 playoffs haven’t been the same kind of party for Hedman. Not from a statistical standpoint, anyway.
Through six games, including the Lightning’s 5-3 loss to the Islanders in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night, Hedman has yet to produce at the pace he did a year ago when he contended for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.