Lightning's Hedman returns to practice, could play Tuesday

The Tampa Bay Lightning may have their star defenseman back in the lineup as early as Tuesday.

Victor Hedman, who suffered an apparent concussion during a game against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 15, practiced Monday and could return to the lineup for Tampa Bay's next game.

"It's not the first time it's happened," Hedman said after practice. "I've been here for seven years, I've been through it a couple times before. I know how I feel when I'm normal. It was a bang-bang play. Everything is good. My body feels great."

This latest concussion was the third of Hedman's career, but assistant coach Rick Bowness seemed to have a sense that the defenseman would be back soon.

"You look at those guys who are suffering from concussions, it's sometimes a little bit cloudy in there," Bowness said. "But Victor, his eyes were alive and bright and you figure he'd be back by Tuesday. Fortunately it wasn't that severe."

Hedman, who missed one game due to the concussion, recorded four assists and five shots on goal in five games prior to the injury.

- With h/t to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times