Lightning's D'Astous back for Game 6, Hedman an option ‘really soon'
MONTREAL - Lightning coach Jon Cooper was coy at first when asked Friday how long it will be before defenseman Victor Hedman is an option to play. After all, the team has set a precedent for surprise appearances in the postseason.
No one will forget Steven Stamkos' out-of-nowhere return for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Stars in 2020. Two years ago, defenseman Mikhail Sergachev returned for an elimination game against Florida just 2 ½ months after breaking his leg in two places.
Going into the Lightning's must-win Game 6 of the first-round series against the Canadiens Friday at Bell Centre, Cooper said Hedman will be an option "really soon," though he ruled out the veteran defenseman for Game 6.
"It's hard for me to say whether he's going to play in this series or not," Cooper said. "This has a maximum of two games left. Regardless, the series is over in 60 hours or whatever it is. And our anticipation is that our season isn't going to end (Friday). So, take it for what it is."
Hedman again was a full participant at Friday's morning skate and did extra work with the scratched players. He was on the ice for about an hour and had no visible limitations.
The Lightning will get rookie defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous back for Game 6 after he was knocked out of Game 1 after a hit from Montreal forward Josh Anderson that drew a charging penalty.
D'Astous' return will shift Emil Lilleberg back to the right side on the third defensive pairing, reuniting a duo that played well together over the second half of the season.
One of the highlights of the early part of the season was D'Astous scoring his second NHL goal at Bell Centre in a game that was a homecoming for him - he grew up about four hours away in Rimouski - and there was plenty of anticipation for his return to Montreal. Since he's missed the past four games, that didn't happen in Games 3 or 4. He now he has a chance to make bigger memories.
"It's unreal," D'Astous said. "I think just being able to play in the playoffs and being able to play against Montreal, now in Montreal, my family will be there, so for sure, it's gonna be an awesome moment."
The return of D'Astous, an offensive-minded defenseman who can push the puck up the ice and play a physical game, will provide a spark for the Lightning. He's been a key part of the defense corps since joining the team in October.
"To have a player like him back who has great qualities and a lot of talent, it's great to have him back," defenseman J.J. Moser said. "I think we've seen it all year - it doesn't matter who jumps in, they can contribute and they can make a difference."
Forward Nick Paul also is expected to return after missing Game 5 due to an illness. He was a full participant at Friday's morning skate.
As for the Lightning, they are in a familiar situation, once again facing elimination in the first round. For the veteran core that dealt with its share of postseason disappointment before going to three straight Stanley Cup finals from 2020-22 and now faces a fourth straight first-round exit, Friday's game is a monumental moment, Cooper said.
"You can call it scar tissue. I call it anger, I call it urgency," Cooper said. "There's so many different ways you can say this, but, yeah, it's ‘look in the mirror time' for us, and I'm included. It's not just that core group. I consider myself that core, too. So, yeah we have to look in the mirror here."
Cooper a finalist for Adams Award
Cooper, one of three finalists, has a chance to win his first Jack Adams Award, which goes to the coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."
The other finalists are Buffalo's Lindy Ruff and Pittsburgh's Dan Muse, who guided their teams on unexpected runs to the postseason.
Cooper, who is the league's longest-tenured coach, has an experienced team with tons of skill and talent that is an annual Cup contender but dealt with a season ravaged by injury. The Lightning had 339 man games lost this season, not including the 14 that Hedman missed for his leave of absence at the end of the season.
Quote of the Day
"He got a good hit. It's good for a guy who doesn't play much, so maybe it makes him play a little more. But you've got to take it. It doesn't matter if I get hit or anything. It's how I come back, and I just want to keep playing hard the same way."
- Montreal forward Juraj Slafkovsky on Lightning defenseman Max Crozier's open-ice hit on him in Game 4
Projected Game 6 lineup
Forwards
Brandon Hagel-Brayden Point-Nikita Kucherov
Gage Goncalves-Anthony Cirelli-Jake Guentzel
Zemgus Girgensons-Yanni Gourde-Nick Paul
Corey Perry-Dominic James-Oliver Bjorkstrand
Defensemen
J.J. Moser-Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh-Erik Cernak
Charle-Edouard D'Astous- Emil Lilleberg
Goaltender
Andrei Vasilevskiy
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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 2:38 PM.