Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Two points in Monday's win
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Kucherov scored the game-winning goal and added a power-play assist in Monday's 2-0 win over the Flyers.
His GWG late in the first period came on a brilliant solo effort, as he stole the puck in his own zone and outraced the Philly defense down the ice before beating Ivan Fedotov on the breakaway. Kucherov has produced six multi-point performances in 15 appearances since the beginning of February, racking up six goals and 20 points over that span. The 31-year-old superstar has also established a new career high with nine game-winning goals on the season.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Assist in return from illness
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Kucherov (illness) picked up an assist Saturday in a 6-2 win against Boston.
Kucherov played 19:25 and fired three shots. He had missed Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss at Philadelphia. Kucherov is firmly third in NHL scoring with 93 points. Both Nathan MacKinnon and Leon Draisaitl have already cracked the century mark, and the guy who's fourth on the list has 85 points (Connor McDavid). Make sure Kucherov's in your lineup.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Good to play Saturday
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Kucherov (illness) is good to return Saturday versus Boston, per Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun.
Kucherov missed Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to Philadelphia due to the illness. He has 28 goals and 92 points in 61 appearances in 2024-25. Kucherov was one of just 11 forwards on the ice for Tampa Bay during Saturday's pregame warmups, so the Lightning are expected to dress seven defensemen. Forwards Mitchell Chaffee and Cam Atkinson are expected to be healthy scratches, while Darren Raddysh is set to serve as the seventh blueliner.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Unavailable Thursday
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Kucherov (illness) will miss Thursday's clash against Philadelphia, per Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun.
Kucherov has 28 goals and 92 points in 61 appearances in 2024-25. His absence will likely result in Nick Paul moving up to the top line to play alongside Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. The Lightning will also switch from dressing 11 forwards to 12, so Cam Atkinson and Mitchell Chaffee are set to draw into the lineup after they were each a healthy scratch Tuesday. Meanwhile, Darren Raddysh will shift to press box because the Lightning are utilizing six blueliners instead of their previous seven.
Kucherov (illness) will be a game-time decision versus Philadelphia on Thursday, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.
Kucherov left Tuesday's tilt in Carolina after the second period due to his illness and was a no-show at practice Thursday. Kucherov has 28 goals and 64 helpers over 61 appearances this season. Should Kucherov remain out of the lineup, look for Zemgus Girgensons to enter the lineup.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Misses third period Tuesday
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Kucherov (undisclosed) did not play in the third period of Tuesday's game versus the Hurricanes, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Kucherov was reportedly under the weather earlier in the day, per Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun, but it's unclear if that was the reason for his absence to close out the contest, as head coach Jon Cooper did not provide a specific update. Kucherov can be considered day-to-day ahead of Thursday's game in Philadelphia.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Keeps piling up helpers
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Kucherov put up two assists Thursday in a 6-5 win over Buffalo.
Kucherov has five points (one goal, four assists) in his last two games, and he's been held off the scoresheet just twice in his last 25 games (11 goals, 27 assists). He's only two points from the top of the NHL scoring list. Kucherov has won the Art Ross Trophy twice, most recently in 2023-24. Leon Draisaitl (94) leads the race, with Nathan MacKinnon and Kucherov chasing with 93 and 92 points, respectively.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Big three-point effort in win
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Kucherov had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win over Columbus on Tuesday.
Kucherov scored on a breakaway early in the first period after Jake Guentzel sent him a stretch pass from the defensive zone. The 31-year-old Kucherov hit the 90-point mark on the season; it includes 28 goals. He had his 10-game point streak snapped Monday night but continues to keep pace with Leon Draisaitl (92 points) and Nathan MacKinnon (93 points). Elite is elite.
Kucherov picked up a power-play assist Saturday in a 3-1 win over Washington.
It was Kucherov's 60th assist of the season. He's second in the NHL in that category behind Nathan MacKinnon (68). Kucherov's point streak now stands at 10 games and 14 points (five goals, nine helpers). He has 26 shots in that span.
Kucherov scored a power-play goal Thursday in a 3-0 win over the Flames.
The puck simply follows this guy. Kucherov got a massive break when his cross-ice pass from a step off the goal line went in off MacKenzie Weegar's toe. The goal stood as the winner. Kucherov is riding a nine-game, 13-point streak (four goals, nine assists), and he continues to sit third on the NHL scoring list with 86 points (27 goals, 59 assists).
Kucherov put up two assists Tuesday in a 4-1 win over the Oilers.
One came on the power play. Kucherov stretched his scoring streak to eight games and 12 points, including nine helpers. His 59 assists are second-best in the NHL; his 85 points put him third in the league and just two points from the NHL lead. Kucherov won't equal his incredible 144-point season from last year, but he should easily top 100 points for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. He has 185 shots, and 33 of his points have come with the man advantage.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Lights lamp in win
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Kucherov found the back of the net and took three shots on net in Sunday's 4-1 win against the Kraken.
After missing Tampa Bay's last game before the 4 Nations Face-Off break with an upper-body injury, Kucherov's return to the lineup saw him extend his point streak to seven games. He scored midway through the third period to give the Lightning a 2-0 advantage. Overall, the 31-year-old right winger has 26 goals, 83 points, 182 shots on net and a plus-13 rating in 53 appearances this season. Kucherov ranks third in the league with 83 points which trails only Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon (87) and Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl (86). While the Hart Trophy winner from 2019 is unlikely to replicate his 144-point outburst from a year ago, Kucherov will likely be in the conversation for the award again this season.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Good to go Sunday
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Kucherov (upper body) will play against Seattle on Sunday, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.
Following a one-game absence, Kucherov will return to the top line and first power-play unit in Sunday's matchup versus the Kraken. He has compiled 25 goals, 82 points and 179 shots on net through 52 games this season.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Late scratch Sunday
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Kucherov (upper body) won't play against Montreal on Sunday, per Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.
After participating in pregame warmups, Kucherov was a late scratch for Sunday's matchup. He had three assists in Saturday's 6-3 win over Detroit and is day-to-day ahead of the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Kucherov has amassed 25 goals, 82 points and 179 shots on net through 52 games this season. Cam Atkinson will replace Kucherov in Sunday's lineup.
Kucherov had three assists Saturday in a 6-3 win over Detroit.
Kucherov is on a six-game point streak that includes two goals and seven assists, and he has points in 17 of his last 18 outings (eight goals, 20 assists). He ranks second in the league with 57 helpers and third overall with 82 points through 52 appearances. He's well on his way to surpassing 100 points for a third straight season.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Best power-play point getter in NHL
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Kucherov had two assists Thursday in a 5-1 win over the Senators.
Kucherov extended his point streak to five games (two goals, four assists). One of Thursday's helpers came on the power play, where 32 of his 79 points have come. That makes Kucherov the top power-play producer in the NHL and by a wide margin -- Jack Hughes is next most-prolific point getter with the man advantage with 26.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Four points in last four games
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Kucherov notched a goal Tuesday in a 4-3 win over Ottawa.
Kucherov ripped a one-timer from the left circle off a beautiful feed from Victor Hedman to put the Bolts up 2-1 in the second frame. Kucherov is on a four-game, four-point streak that includes two goals. With 77 points in 50 games, he remains three points behind league leader Nathan MacKinnon in points.
Kucherov scored a goal Saturday in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Islanders.
He tied the game 2-2 with 46 seconds left in the third period when he wired a snap shot from the circle that deflected off an Islander forward and past Ilya Sorokin on the short side. It got the Bolts a point. Kucherov has a three-game, three-point streak (one goal, two assists) on the go, and he's third in the NHL with 76 points, including 24 goals and 52 assists, and 171 shots in 49 games.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: NHL-best points-per-game pace
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Kucherov picked up an assist Thursday in a 3-0 win over Los Angeles.
Kucherov's assist came after he drove the net late in the third period, only to be stymied by a diving David Rittich. But Brandon Hagel drove the net, outskated a chasing Drew Doughty and jammed the puck into an open net. Kucherov has an assist in each of his last two games, and he has an impressive 23 goals, 52 assists, 75 points and 168 shots in 48 games this season. He is tied with Leon Draisaitl for second overall in the NHL in points, and his 1.56 points-per-game is the best rate in the NHL, ahead of the impressive trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Draisaitl, who all on a point-per-game pace of 1.50.
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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov: Does damage on power play
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Kucherov scored a goal on two shots, added two assists, logged two PIM and went minus-2 in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks.
All three of Kucherov's points came on the power play, including his game-winning goal in overtime. The 31-year-old also extended his point streak to 11 games (six goals, 13 helpers) with this strong performance. He's up to 23 tallies, 50 helpers, 156 shots on net, a plus-10 rating and 30 power-play points over 45 outings this season.
