After missing the previous seven games with an upper-body injury, Victor Hedman, the defending Norris Trophy winner, returned to the lineup as the Lightning host the Ottawa Senators Saturday night at AMALIE Arena. But Anton Stralman will sit out the contest with an upper-body injury the team announced prior to puck drop.
Additionally, Bolts forward Adam Erne is also sidelined for the Ottawa contest with an upper-body injury.
Both Stralman and Erne are day-to-day.
Danick Martel, who the Lightning claimed off waivers from Philadelphia during training camp, will make his Tampa Bay debut in Erne's place.
Stralman had been counted on heavily in Hedman's absence, and the Swedish blueliner delivered, continuing his partnership with Ryan McDonagh as the Lightning's shutdown pair to keep the Bolts in the top third of the NHL for least amount of goals allowed and chipping in offensively with five assists over the last four games.
Stralman ranks second on the Lightning for average time on ice (22:25) and tied for third in the NHL for average shorthanded time on ice (4:12).
Erne has combined on the fourth line with Cedric Paquette and Ryan Callahan to give the Lightning four dynamic lines that can all score and contribute in different ways. Erne has played in 11 of Tampa Bay's 16 games entering the Ottawa contest and has recorded a goal and two assists.
Martel is playing in his fifth career NHL game and first since November 28, 2017 while with the Flyers.
