Lightning's Hedman won't play in critical Game 3

Staring down a 2-0 series deficit, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be without star defenseman Victor Hedman for Game 3 on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team announced.

The nature of the injury is unclear, but Hedman did miss time near the end of the season with an upper-body injury and has not looked like himself since returning to the lineup in Game 1.

Tampa Bay will be without another of its crucial players as Nikita Kucherov will serve his one-game suspension for boarding defenseman Markus Nutivaara.

Coming home for Game 3, the Blue Jackets have an excellent opportunity to take a 3-0 series lead and inch closer to their first-ever playoff series victory.