The Lightning defense hasn't been good through the first three games of Tampa Bay's first-round NHL playoff series against the Blue Jackets and now that defense is going to be depleted.
Coach Jon Cooper told reporters that defensemen Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman will be out for Game 4 on Tuesday.
Coop says Hedman and Stralman will not play tonight and Killorn will be a game-time decision. #TBLvsCBJ
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 16, 2019
Forward Alex Killorn will be a game-time decision.
Hedman missed Game 3 as well after getting into a scrum in Game 2. Stralman has not played since the team's regular-season finale.
The Lightning trail the Blue Jackets, 3-0, in the first-round series.
Only four teams have ever come back from 3-0 in the NHL postseason. The last time it happened was when the Kings stormed back to beat the Sharks in 2014.
Tampa Bay though does get winger Nikita Kucherov back from suspension in Game 3.
However, he has not been very good this series and closed out his 2018 postseason poorly as well against the Capitals.
The Lightning are coming off a regular season in which they tied the NHL mark for wins with 62.
But the Blue Jackets seem to be finding their chemistry at the right time after several additions at the trade deadline.
Matt Duchene, who came over in a deal from the Senators, is tied for fourth among all qualifiers with five points this postseason.
And Artemi Panarin, who was not dealt, is tied for eighth with four points.
Sergei Bobrovsky, who also stuck around despite trade rumors, is allowing 1.67 goals per game, which is second only to Islanders goalie Robin Lehner.