Oct 12, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters Monday that forward Nikita Kucherov could miss time with his latest injury.
“Definitely not a day-to-day thing,” Cooper said of Kucherov, who was injured in a collision with Washington forward Garnet Hathaway during Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win against the Capitals.
Kucherov, 28, missed the 2020-21 regular season following hip surgery in December. He returned with a flourish in the playoffs, recording 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 23 games to help the Lightning repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Kucherov won the Hart Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2018-19 after scoring a career-high 41 goals and leading the league in assists (87) and points (128).
He has four points (one goal, three assists) in three games this season and 551 points (222 goals, 329 assists) in 518 career games since making his debut in 2013.
Kucherov signed an eight-year, $76 million contract extension in July 2018.
–Field Level Media