Tampa Bay Lightning F Nikita Kucherov Picks Up His Fourth Point Of The Night (Video)

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov picks up his fourth point of the night against the Metropolitan Division at the 2017 NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

It has been a pretty long night at the 2017 NHL All-Star Game; especially if you are pulling for the Atlantic Division. If there is anything we can guarantee you, it’s that no one on the Atlantic Division team this year is going to forget the number three anytime soon.

The Atlantic Division and their Eastern Conference foes, the Metropolitan Division, were pretty much neck and neck throughout the first period of play. In fact, when the buzzer sounded to end the period, the two teams were all tied up a three points apiece.

Unfortunately, when the two team switched sides, and goaltenders, things got a little out of hand. Oh, who are we kidding, things got pretty seriously out of hand.

After Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews scored the go-ahead goal for the Atlantic, the Metropolitan team responded with a total of three goals in less than 30 seconds. Yes…three goals in less than 30 seconds. The frustration was almost physically painful.

There was a small glimmer of hope when Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov picked up his second goal of the night. Unfortunately, once again, the Metropolitan would answer with another three goals; this time in just over a minute.

As the time continued to tick off the clock, the Atlantic Division knew they would have to make their move quickly if they had any chance of defeating the Metropolitan Division and advancing to the Championship Game. It came as no surprise which line kicked into action.

Here’s how everything played out. The Atlantic Division was attempting to gain control of the puck in the attack zone. Nikita Kucherov was able to knock the puck loose and send it out to Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck.

Trocheck took the puck more towards the center zone before he would pass the puck in front of the net to the ready and waiting stick of Kucherov. The rest of the play almost looked like it happened in slow motion. Kucherov handled the puck for a second before passing it back to Trocheck.

Once Trocheck had his target locked in, he would pull back his stick and send the puck flying past the glove hand of Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby and into the back of the net. This would be the first goal of the night for Vincent Trocheck and the second assist of the night for Nikita Kucherov.

Unfortunately, at this point it would take an absolute miracle for the Atlantic Division to come back and beat the Metropolitan Division. While it isn’t an impossible adventure, being down by three with less than a minute and six seconds away from the end of the game, it does seem highly improbable.

Next: Victor Hedman Ties Things Up For The Atlantic (Video)

In any case, Tampa Bay Lightning fans have every reason to be happy. Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman put on a spectacular performance over the course of the weekend. If these two can bring at least half of their energy and momentum back to the Bolts Nation with them, the Bolts may be able to salvage the season.