BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Given the choice, defenseman Victor Hedman and the Tampa Bay Lightning would prefer not being thrust into the position of having to once again prove theyre capable at succeeding without captain Steven Stamkos.The only real consolation is knowing the Lightning have done it before.You live in this reality now, and weve just got to have to face it, Hedman said, Thursday. Itll be a good test for us. But at the same time, we know we can handle it, and we know we can win hockey games even though were going to miss him.Hedman spoke before the Lightning played at Buffalo, and a day after the team announced Stamkos was out indefinitely with a torn ligament in his right knee. Stamkos was hurt in the first period of a 4-3 win at Detroit on Tuesday.Later on Thursday, the Lightning announced Stamkos had surgery and was expected to miss four months as coach Jon Cooper had suggested might be the timetable earlier in the day.If we put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs, hes going go to be back, Cooper said. And thatll be better than any trade deadline acquisition than anybody else is going to get.The challenge now is for the Lightning to make the postseason without the two-time NHL scoring champion and the teams on- and off-ice leader.Youve got to take your head out of the sand, dig your heels in and march on, Cooper said. And unfortunately, this has happened to us before and the guys have found a way.The injury is the latest recent setback for the 2008 No. 1 draft pick who signed an eight-year, $68 million contract last June to remain in Tampa Bay rather than test free agencyStamkos missed the final five games of last season and all but one playoff game after having surgery to remove a blood clot near his collarbone. Tampa Bay responded by reaching the Eastern Conference finals before losing Game 7 to eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh.In 2013-14, Stamkos missed 45 games with a broken right leg. The Lightning went 22-18-5 without him and still reached the playoffs before being eliminated in the first round.Cooper was a rookie head coach that season and still recalls the dread he felt when Stamkos was hurt in November 2013.The only difference this time is being able to draw upon that experience.The more youre put in the situation, unfortunately, the better equipped you are to handle it, so well see how we do, Cooper said. Yes, we are going to miss him dearly. But like Ive said, our season is not over by no means.The Lightning are off to an encouraging start. Since snapping a three-game skid, Tampa Bay has gone 5-2-1 in its past eight.Stamkos led the team with nine goals and was tied for third in the NHL with 20 points.The Lightning have plenty of talented depth on a lineup that returned the teams top 13 scorers and both goalies from last season.Its a group that includes Hedman, forward Ryan Callahan and Nikita Kucherov, who leads the team and is second in the league with 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists). And then theres third-year forward Jonathan Drouin, who was called up from the minors in April and provided the Lightning an offensive punch with five goals and 14 points in 17 playoff games.I think thats one of our strengths in how deep we are and the amount of talent we have in our lineup, Callahan said. By no means are we not going to miss (Stamkos). I mean, you lose a guy like that and its going to affect you. But the way were built, how deep we are, you can help absorb some of that. Maglie Juventus In Vendita . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Prima Juve 2019/20 Maglie Serie A - Paulo Dybala Camicia Corta Uomo Bianca & Nere . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. http://www.magliajuvestore.it/ . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Nuova Maglia Juve Dybala . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Maglia Juventus Bambino . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. The public sent Bar Hopping off as the 4-5 betting favorite in the 3-year-old Breeders Crown for trotting colts and was proven right.Driven by Tim Tetrick, Bar Hopping came away in the middle of the pack early on as Sutton assumed control. Southwind Frank was also hustled away but driver Yannick Gingras elected to sit in the pocket rather than make a move to the front.With Sutton posting fractions of 28-3/5 and 56-2/5, Lagerfeld came first-over to apply serious pressure and towed Bar Hopping into contention on his back. Also in the flow was Triple Crown winner Marion Marauder, but he was clearly off his game and unable to keep up with the first two in the outer tier.With three quarters on the board in 1:24 1/5, it was clear that Sutton was in trouble, and that meant Southwind Frank was in a bad spot. Bar Hopping charged to the front in mid-stretch as Southwind Frank desperately searched for room and cleared too late, finishing 1-1/2 lengths behind the favorite for second in the $500,000 final. Double L Lindy was third in the 1:51 4/5 mile, which equaled the stakes record held by Father Patrick. Marion Marauder finished last.Today off cover he really responded well, said Tetrick, who had just finished winning his third straight Breeders Crown race, having won with 2-year-old colts Walner [trotter] and Huntsville [pacer].Walner, said Tetrick when asked which was thhe most special of the three, but they are all very special for me.dddddddddddd. Any time you win one of those big trophys its really special.For Gingras, the disappointment was evident. I got a little lost in there. I love to be in front but thats horse racing.Trainer Paula Wellwood said Marion Marauder came out of the race sick. Theres no doubt that hes sick, said Wellwood. I think hes probably got a viral infection. Its one of those things. Thats horse racing. You take the good with the bad. I knew when he got out there that he wasnt himself. Going to the half, you could really see it.Bar Hopping ($3.80) jumped over the $1 million mark in earnings this year to $1,061,795 for owners Christina Takter, Hatfield Stables and Marvin Katz. The son of Muscle Hill-Cocktail Hour, trained by Jimmy Takter, has won eight of 17 starts on the year.?He has a race in Indiana [Carl Erskine] next week that I might go to. I have to talk to the owners, said Takter.Bar Hopping also became eligible to the TVG Final for older horses on November 12 at The Meadowlands, but Takter was against the possibility of entering the 3-year-old.I tried with The Bank last year and it didnt go well, said Takter. Bar Hopping is a better horse, but I dont think Ill try it. ' ' '
