Lightning's Victor Hedman Set to Return for NHL Stadium Series

Tampa Bay's captain expected to play against Bruins after missing over a month with injury

Jan. 31, 2026 at 2:31pm

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman and captain Victor Hedman is expected to return to the lineup for the NHL's Stadium Series game against the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Hedman has been sidelined since early December with an elbow injury but has been practicing with the team and is likely to play, barring any setbacks.

Why it matters

Hedman's return is a major boost for the Lightning, who have gone 17-3-2 in his absence and currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings. As the team's emotional leader and one of the league's elite defensemen, Hedman's presence will be crucial as the Lightning take on another top team in the Bruins in the high-profile outdoor game.

The details

Hedman was injured during a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 9 and underwent an elbow procedure shortly after. He has missed over a month of action but has been practicing with the team and is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday, barring any last-minute changes. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that Hedman will likely play after the veteran defenseman participated in Saturday's practice.

  • Hedman was injured on Dec. 9 during a game against the Montreal Canadiens.
  • Hedman was placed on injured reserve a couple of days after the injury on Dec. 11.
  • The NHL Stadium Series game between the Lightning and Bruins is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 31, 2026.

The players

Victor Hedman

The star defenseman and captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who has been sidelined since early December with an elbow injury.

Jon Cooper

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who confirmed that Hedman is expected to play in the Stadium Series game.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

The Lightning's star goaltender, who has been playing exceptionally well in Hedman's absence.

Jake Guentzel

A forward for the Lightning, who described Hedman as the team's "emotional leader" and someone who "does a lot of things for our team."

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What they’re saying

“Like I said before, playing in this game has been a big motivation in me coming back. It's up to [coach Jon Cooper] and the trainers, so we'll see at game time. But I felt good out there. All the signs are positive.”

— Victor Hedman

“I can't say how proud I am of the guys. They have a great thing going here, and I'm looking forward very much to be part of it if things work out.”

— Victor Hedman

“I think you saw at the end of practice there what happened. So, you know, barring him coming in saying no, which I think is extremely doubtful, most likely [he'll play].”

— Jon Cooper, Head Coach, Tampa Bay Lightning

“Victor is our big captain. He brings a lot of energy to our team.”

— Andrei Vasilevskiy, Goaltender, Tampa Bay Lightning

“He's our emotional leader. He's our captain for a reason. He plays a lot of minutes and does a lot of things for our team.”

— Jake Guentzel, Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning

What’s next

The Lightning have three more games before the Winter Olympics break, hosting the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and the Florida Panthers on Thursday before the Stadium Series matchup against the Bruins on Sunday. After that, the NHL will pause for the Olympics, where Hedman is expected to represent Sweden.

The takeaway

Hedman's return is a major boost for the Lightning as they prepare for a high-profile outdoor game against another top team in the Bruins. His presence as the team's captain and emotional leader will be crucial as Tampa Bay looks to maintain its strong play and continue its push for the playoffs.