Lightning's Hedman cleared for contact

The Tampa Bay Lightning are close to getting No. 1 defenseman Victor Hedman back into the lineup.

The 6-foot-5 defender took to the ice with teammates on Tuesday wearing a contact practice jersey. 

Hedman sustained a broken hand blocking a shot in a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 18. Now that he's been cleared for contact, it's a matter of getting his fitness level back to a point where he's able to return.

That timeline would match what Jon Cooper said Monday about Hedman being about "half a fortnight away" from returning to action, which is jolly good news for the Lightning.

In Hedman's absence, the Lightning have gone 9-5-1 while outscoring their opponents 42-32 at even strength, while controlling 52.3 percent of five-on-five shot attempts. In other words, the Lightning are really, really good even without Hedman. 

With him? They're about to become completely terrifying.