Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov is the first player to light the lamps for the Atlantic Division as they take on the Metropolitan Division at the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.
The moment Tampa Bay Lightning fans, along with fans from all around the National Hockey League, have been waiting for has finally arrived. After hitting pause on the regular season, the best and brightest in the NHL made their way to the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend.
After all kinds of events, from the 2017 NHL All-Star Skills Competition to the Mascot Challenge, the reason everyone has come together has finally arrived, the All-Star Game. After the Central Division was soundly defeated 10-3 by the Pacific Division, it was time for the Atlantic Division to take on the Metropolitan Division.
Despite their struggles throughout the course of the regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning proved to be a force to be reckoned with. As most everyone in the Bolts Nation knows by now, it was Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and forward Nikita Kucherov who were chosen to represent the Lightning at the yearly event.
Unfortunately, it was the Metropolitan Division who would break the ice between these two teams with a goal from Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds just 2:12 into the first period. Thankfully, the Atlantic Division was not about to take that sitting down.
Just under two minutes later, the puck would make it from one end of the ice to the other and the goal horn would sound. This time, it would be for the Atlantic Division. This time, it would be for Nikita Kucherov.
The action kicks into gear behind the Atlantic Division net when New York Islanders captain John Tavares would turn over the puck. Seconds later, the puck would find the stick of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman. Hedman would send the puck forward to his teammate, Nikita Kucherov.
Kucherov would quickly carry the puck through the neutral zone, intent on making his way to the net. In an attempt to throw off Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, Kucherov passed the puck in front of the net to Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck. As planned, Bobrovsky followed the puck.
Trocheck wasted no time in sending the puck back across the net to the waiting stick of Nikita Kucherov. Like clockwork, Kucherov fired the puck right into the back of the net to tie things up for the Atlantic Division.
This was only the beginning of a rather eventful game. There was plenty of hockey left to play at this point. The one thing we’re happy to see is the Tampa Bay Lightning came to play. If at least a little of this spirit rubs off on the rest of the team when Hedman and Kucherov return, the Bolts may find themselves in a good position.
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There is definitely a lot of work to be done, but nothing is impossible when one sets their mind to it. At the same time, if the Lightning is going to salvage what’s left of their season and have any hopes of even being in the playoff picture, their time to make a move is squarely upon them.