THN.com/podcast. From THN On The 'O': OHL Cup and Rangers Prospects Victor Hedman [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk2NzU5MjUyMTA1MTc2NzA2/usatsi_19833221_168393426_lowres.jpg] Victor Hedman The Tampa Bay Lightning have played in three straight Stanley Cup finals, winning twice. They're hoping to go all the way again this summer. Even though the core of the team has played more hockey than anyone else in the NHL during that span, superstar defenseman Victor Hedman points out that technically the team hasn't guaranteed themselves a playoff spot yet - so resting down the stretch isn't foremost on their minds. "A few of us have taken games off, but we'll see," Hedman told me. "You always want to be in game mode. We've still got some tough games left - Boston, Toronto, Carolina - so we have to be dialled in." Those first two teams are divisional rivals, and the meat-grinder realities of the upcoming playoff bracket have been a storyline all season long, with some calling for a return to the 1 vs. 8 conference playoff format so that one of the best teams in the NHL isn't guaranteed to go home after the first round. "There are pros and cons," Hedman said. "We have three of the top teams in the league, but at the same time you have to go through the best to win a championship. It's all about the mindset: you have to hit the ground running." The Bruins in particular have been a buzzsaw, putting up one of the best records of the Modern Era and putting up a gaudy goal differential in the process. Hedman sees Boston as a great measuring stick for the Lightning but also pointed out that a few years ago, Tampa Bay was the best in the NHL - and then got swept by Columbus in the first round. This season has been pretty good for the Bolts, though they are going through some adversity, winning just five of their past 15 games. That's when the team's veteran experience comes into play. "We've had tough stretches before and been able to turn it on," Hedman said. "You go through ups and downs. That's normal and it seems like every year we have a dip. For us it's the mentality of being connected as a group, being connected all over the ice." Once the post-season begins, the Lightning can rely on the muscle memory of past runs to help them push through what is always a gruelling NHL playoff tournament. The key is conditioning. "Conditioning physically and mentally, I'd say," Hedman pointed out. "When you're away from the rink, you have to shut off your brain from hockey for a bit and physically, you have to think about what you eat and stay on top of your hydration." And if you do it right, the ultimate prize in hockey could be yours at the end. Hedman has already won two rings with Tampa Bay, and the motivation to win another hasn't waned. The Norris Trophy winner and mainstay on the Bolts' top pairing knows that a hockey career only lasts so long and you can't be playing until you're 65 (maybe Jagr can?). Having said that, at 32 years old, Hedman is still playing almost 24 minutes a night and contributing at both ends and in all situations. So even though the summers are short and the season is long, there's nowhere else the two-way titan would rather be right now. "It's a grind, but I wouldn't change it for the world," he said. "You can't let these opportunities slide."
