Hedman’s heady play bolsters Bolts

12:10 PM ET

NEW YORK — If events had turned out differently for the Tampa Bay Lightning during last June’s Stanley Cup finals, defenseman Victor Hedman might have won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Instead, the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Lightning in six games and hoisted the Cup — and Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith took home the hardware as the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs. This postseason, Hedman is having a similar impact. Only two games into his team’s Eastern Conference second-round series against the New York Islanders, the 25-year-old blueliner is again proving to be a vital part of his team’s success.

His ability to succeed and produce in all three zones is especially important given the fact that the Lightning’s blue line is depleted, with veteran defensemen Anton Stralman and Matt Carle sidelined because of injuries. Hedman has four points in seven playoff games this spring, but it has been his ability to control the play at both ends of the ice, while averaging 27 minutes per game, that has been particularly impressive.

“There’s a lot on his shoulders,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper.

The biggest challenge for Hedman has been facing Islanders captain John Tavares. Their matchup has been fun to watch, especially since Tavares and Hedman were selected Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the 2009 draft. With this series knotted at 1-1, Games 3 and 4 will be played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday and Friday. Because the Islanders will be on home ice, New York coach Jack Capuano will attempt to keep Tavares away from matching up against Hedman.

“The bigger the assignment, [the more Hedman] seems to rise to that occasion,” Cooper said. “We need him back there. He played 27-plus [minutes in Game 2] but it was a quality 27. As the pressure mounted on us to respond in [Game 2], No. 77, along with [goalie Ben Bishop], those …

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