Bolts notes: Hedman, Malone lost to injury

Already without veteran D Mattias Ohlund, the Tampa Bay Lightning played Sunday's game Florida without D Victor Hedman and lost LW Ryan Malone.

Hedman, 20, sustained an undisclosed upper-body injury during Friday night's overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. He did not miss any ice time Friday and took part in warm ups prior to Sunday's afternoon game against Florida before being scratched.

Malone played, but left after the second period, also with an upper-body injury.

The status for both for Wednesday's game against Philadelphia is uncertain.

Hedman leads the Lightning in ice time, averaging 23 minutes, 17 seconds per game, and was tied for second with 26 blocked shots heading into Sunday's game. He typically is paired with D Eric Brewer and matched up against the opposing team's top line.

"They are both day-to-day,'' Lightning head coach Guy Boucher said of Hedman and Malone. "And we are missing a lot right now, let's not kid ourselves. We are missing Ohlund, who plays against the first line, and now we are missing Hedman, who plays against the top lines. So, it puts a lot of people in slots that they are not used to managing.

"Malone, we are hoping can play against Philly. Victor is day-to-day, but we'll see, it might be a little more.''

Malone was injured while scoring a goal in the second period, according to Boucher, and did not return for the third. Malone missed practice last Monday while undergoing testing for what was called an upper-body injury. Tests came back negative and he did not miss any time.

Boucher said the latest injury for Malone is unrelated to what he was tested for last week.

Facial growth

The annual November movement to promote awareness for prostate cancer, called "Movember,'' is in full gear inside the Lightning locker room. Men are encouraged to grow a mustache during the month to help draw attention to the cause, which has grown to include awareness for all kinds of cancer.

Others have opted to put away their razors for the month and grow full facial hair.

RW Teddy Purcell, the early clubhouse leader for best moustache, said it's nice to see more players participate. The event has a personal element for the team with assistant coach Wayne Fleming recovering from April surgery to remove a brain tumor.

"We are all ugly for a month, growing the mustaches," Purcell said. "And it's great, obviously, with Flemer. Everybody's friends and family have been affected by cancer one way or another.

"With us being on TV all the time, I've already received a bunch of texts from the other night just having the mustache. So, it's for a good cause and it's a lot of fun.''

Nuts and Bolts

D Bruno Gervais appeared in his first game since Oct. 13. … LW Ryan Shannon was a healthy scratch. … The Lightning will take today off and practice Tuesday at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum. … Tampa Bay has allowed 10 power-play goals this season, eight by Florida.