Lightning Make Nikita Kucherov Announcement After Red Wings Game…
The Tampa Bay Lightning saluted Nikita Kucherov for a major career milestone Friday night, but the celebration came during a frustrating 4–3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Amalie Arena. The Lightning were quick to post a celebratory message on X, marking his 800th regular-season NHL game with a graphic reading, “800 in Bolts blue Congrats, Kuuuuuuch!” Following Friday’s appearance, Kucherov ranks sixth all-time in games played for the Bolts and is just five games away from matching Alex Killorn’s mark of 805 to enter the top five in the franchise leaderboard. Kucherov, who entered Wayne Gretzky territory on Monday, was held off the scoresheet in his
milestone game, only the second time in the last 14 contests he didn’t register a point. “He’s one of the best,” head coach Jon Cooper said earlier in the season when asked about Kucherov’s consistency. “It’s not just the points – it’s the timing, the way he elevates the guys around him. “Eight hundred games is special.” Gage Goncalves scored twice for Tampa Bay and Anthony Cirelli added a goal and an assist, but the Bolts surrendered a third-period lead for the second straight game. Red Wings’ Marco Kasper tied the game with 7:01 remaining and then scored the overtime winner off the rush to give Detroit the win and prevent the Lightning from inching closer to Toronto atop the Atlantic Division. The defeat marked Tampa Bay’s fourth loss in five games, three of which came in overtime or a shootout, and left the Lightning with 98 points (and one more game played) in the standings to Toronto’s 100. Kucherov is tied for the most points in the NHL with 116 points in 75 games. He is listed as a strong candidate to win both the Hart Trophy (regular-season MVP) and the Art Ross Trophy (top point-scorer) with the third and best odds, respectively, on FanDuel.
The Tampa Bay Lightning saluted Nikita Kucherov for a major career milestone Friday night, but the celebration came during a frustrating 4–3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Amalie Arena. The Lightning were quick to post a celebratory message on X, marking his 800th regular-season NHL game with a graphic reading, “800 in Bolts blue Congrats, Kuuuuuuch!” Following Friday’s appearance, Kucherov ranks sixth all-time in games played for the Bolts and is just five games away from matching Alex Killorn’s mark of 805 to enter the top five in the franchise leaderboard. Kucherov, who entered Wayne Gretzky territory on Monday, was held off the scoresheet in his
milestone game, only the second time in the last 14 contests he didn’t register a point. “He’s one of the best,” head coach Jon Cooper said earlier in the season when asked about Kucherov’s consistency. “It’s not just the points – it’s the timing, the way he elevates the guys around him. “Eight hundred games is special.” Gage Goncalves scored twice for Tampa Bay and Anthony Cirelli added a goal and an assist, but the Bolts surrendered a third-period lead for the second straight game. Red Wings’ Marco Kasper tied the game with 7:01 remaining and then scored the overtime winner off the rush to give Detroit the win and prevent the Lightning from inching closer to Toronto atop the Atlantic Division. The defeat marked Tampa Bay’s fourth loss in five games, three of which came in overtime or a shootout,
and left the Lightning with 98 points (and one more game played) in the standings to Toronto’s 100. Kucherov is tied for the most points in the NHL with 116 points in 75 games. He is listed as a strong candidate to win both the Hart Trophy (regular-season MVP) and the Art Ross Trophy (top point-scorer) with the third and best odds, respectively, on FanDuel.
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