Tampa Bay Lightning Highlights: Nikita Kucherov Picks Up 31st Goal (Video)
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov picks up his 31st goal of the season to get one back against the Florida Panthers in the Second Period.
The Tampa Bay Lightning got off to a really good start against their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers, tonight at the Amalie Arena. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before things took a horrific turn and suddenly, the Lightning found themselves down 2-0 to the Panthers.
Unfortunately, this would be the way the score would look when these two teams made their way down the tunnel for the first intermission. There were definitely some positive takeaways from the first period, but definitely not the way the Bolts (or their fans) wanted to end the first 20 minutes of play.
We’re not sure what was said in the Lightning locker room during the intermission, but whatever it was clearly sparked the Bolts and suddenly things started coming up Lightning blue. Needless to say, it couldn’t possibly come at a better time.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Just 2:58 into the second period, the Tampa Bay Lightning would find themselves on the Power Play after Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle decided to drop the gloves with Lightning forward Gabriel Dumont after Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was driven into the boards and shaken up.
In less than a minute, the goal horn would sound and the tide would turn for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman would skillfully bring the puck into the zone. It would be long before he would drop the puck to Nikita Kucherov.
Kucherov already knew the coverage was closing in on him, so he wasted no time in sending the puck across the ice to Jonathan Drouin. Drouin, under intense coverage himself, sent the puck back to Hedman. Hedman, once again, sent the puck flying across the ice towards Nikita Kucherov.
Nikita Kucherov pulled back his stick and fired off one heck of a one-timer to not only pick up his 31st goal of the season, but reduce the Panthers’ lead over the Lightning to a lone goal.
When you add his most recent goal to the stats, Kucherov has 10 goals and eight assists for a total of 18 points in his last 10 games. As if this isn’t amazing enough, Kucherov continues to lead the Lightning in both goals and overall point this season with 31 goals and 36 assists for a total of 67 points.
Given the injuries the Lightning are dealing with right now, the team is going to need all of the help in front of the net as they can get. Thankfully, the Tampa Bay Lightning has a showstopper like Nikita Kucherov in their lineup right now.
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Kucherov knows what it’s like to play at the highest level in the National Hockey League. This gives him an advantage over some of his younger teammates when it comes to this point in the season. If he can continue the crazy streak he’s been on lately, the Lightning will find themselves in a nice position when the season finally comes to a close and the postseason kicks into gear.