from Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune,

On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the four-week mark since D Victor Hedman was lost to a fractured finger.

The team’s top defenseman was off to a fast start with three goals and seven points in four games before getting injured in the second period in Vancouver on Oct. 18.

The original diagnosis for Hedman’s return was four to six weeks, but after undergoing surgery to have pins placed in the right index finger, that timeline will end up being at least seven weeks. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said he expects Hedman to be out until early December.

Hedman has been skating on his own but has yet to be cleared to take shots.

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