Staring at an 0-2 deficit against the Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning are in real danger of getting swept out of the first round for the first time since 2019. If that occurs, one key reason would be the play of top-line winger Nikita Kucherov.
For the current Art Ross Trophy winner with 144 points in the regular season, the Lightning probably expect more than the two points and three shots he has in 21 minutes of ice time over the first two games.
While it’s not all on him, the fact the league’s top ranked power play has only one goal in six periods plus is a big issue. Since Kucherov drives the man advantage, failing on a number of opportunities speaks to his lack of urgency so far in the postseason.
Another thing that has stood out to many is his carelessness with the puck and laziness in getting back to defend. There’s been at least one instance where Kucherov has turned the puck over and didn’t get back in time to prevent a goal against. Andrei Vasilevskiy has done his part, but he can’t steal games when the five guys in front of him aren’t all pulling their weight. It’s bad when Tampa Bay sports radio hosts are noticing.
If the Lightning plan to make this a series, they need the Kucherov that literally drove them to a postseason spot. That means making smart plays with and without the puck, shooting the puck when the opportunity presents itself and trying to impact the game in a positive way.
Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point, especially Stamkos, have done their best to keep the Lightning in games. The team needs Kucherov to put them over the top though. There’s a reason he is in the running for the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL’s most valuable player (MVP) during the regular season.
Can the Lightning come back to win this series? While unknown, Kucherov showing up will go a long way towards this team going out with a whimper or going out with a fight.
ITR 50: Atlantic Division Preview – Inside The Rink
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