Tampa Bay Lightning F Nikita Kucherov Scores His Second Of The Night (Video)
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov picks up his second goal of the night for the Atlantic Division at the 2017 NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
Today has been an exciting day of hockey thus far. After hitting pause on the regular season, some of the best players in the National Hockey League have made their way to the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the 2017 All-Star Weekend.
There have been a lot of exciting activities going on all weekend long, but the moment everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived; the 2017 NHL All-Star Game. As everyone here in the Bolts Nation surely knows by now, the Tampa Bay Lightning has two players representing the team at the yearly event.
Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov have wasted no time in making an impact on the festivities. At the 2017 NHL All-Star Skills Competition, Nikita Kucherov edged out Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin’s previous record for the NHL’s Fastest Skater. Not bad for his first visit to the All-Star Game.
Now, in the opening game of the day, the Pacific Division made epically short work of the Central Division in a 10-3 victory, it is finally time for the Atlantic Division to do battle with their Eastern Conference foes, the Metropolitan Division.
Throughout the first period of play, the Atlantic Division and the Metropolitan Division kept things fairly neck and neck. Just as soon as one would pull ahead, the other would answer with yet another goal.
Tampa Bay Lightning fans were pretty happy at this point considering both Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman had picked up goals in the first period. Surprisingly enough, the players from the Sunshine State weren’t done just yet. There was still plenty of hockey left to be played and expert-level plays to be made.
The second period started off with a bang for the Atlantic Division as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews scored a goal just 50 seconds into the period. Unfortunately, it would only be a matter of seconds before the Metropolitan Division would answer with not one, not two, but three goals.
Needless to say, Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask wasn’t exactly having the game of a lifetime. The frustration was almost palpable. On the bright side, the Atlantic Division’s offense was ready to do what they could to get this game back under wraps.
The play started on the opposite end of the ice. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin would fire off a shot which would spiral around the glass and make its way to the other side. Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck would take possession of the puck in the neutral zone and make his way towards the net.
Right behind him was Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov paused for a single second before pulling back his stick and putting the puck deftly past Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby and into the back of the net, tying things up for the Atlantic Division.
It’s pretty clear the Tampa Bay Lightning players came to the Staples Center with every intention of winning. If only the remainder of the Atlantic Division could get on board with this idea, they would have a tremendous chance of advancing to the Championship Game against the Pacific Division.
Next: Victor Hedman Ties Things Up For The Atlantic (Video)
One thing Tampa Bay Lightning fans are hoping for is that both Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov will be able to bring home some of the electricity and momentum they garnered at the All-Star Game when they return home to rejoin their teammates and take on the Boston Bruins. Only time will tell how this story plays out.