Nikita Kucherov News

Kucherov did not play for the entirety of the third period in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and his status for Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers remains up in the air due to an illness. The 31-year-old Kucherov remains among the league leaders with 92 points (28G / 64A) in 61 games this season. That said, the elite forward has been held off the scoresheet in two straight games for only the second time this season.

Kucherov was a late scratch in Tampa Bay's final game before the break for the 4-Nations Face Off, tending to an upper-body injury, but was back at practice on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Kucherov is having another incredible season, among the league leaders offensively, with 82 points (25G / 57A) in 52 games this season. Tampa Bay returns to action on February 23rd against the Seattle Kraken.

Kucherov will not play on Thursday, missing a second straight game, but Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper is hopeful he will play on their upcoming three-game road trip. The 31-year-old Kucherov is among the league leaders with 34 points (12G / 22A) in 22 games this season.

Kucherov was a full participant at practice Monday after missing the team's last game with an illness, and was officially listed as a game-time decision on Tuesday. As has become expected over the last several seasons, Kucherov is among the league leaders in points, ranking third with 23 (11G / 12A) in 14 games this season.

Kucherov was a full participant at practice after missing the team's last game with an illness. As has become expected over the last several seasons, Kucherov is among the league leaders in points, ranking third with 23 (11G / 12A) in 14 games this season and could be an option to return to action on Tuesday.

Kucherov missed three games while in COVID-19 protocol but will play Thursday in Colorado. Kucherov will return on the first line and top power-play unit and comes in with five goals and 12 assists (17 points) in 11 games this season.

Kucherov returned to the ice on Tuesday morning but will remain out of the lineup vs. the Sharks. According to head coach Jon Cooper, the Lightning will stick with the same lineup as Saturday's shootout loss to the Golden Knights.

Kucherov will likely miss two games after landing in COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday. Expect to see Kucherov back in the lineup next Tuesday vs. the Sharks.

Kucherov has been out since October 16th but is expected to play Thursday vs. the Flames. Kucherov had a strong start to the season, scoring one goal with three assists in his first three games. He'll be back on the top line with Brayden Point and top power-play unit.

Kucherov underwent an unspecified procedure on Wednesday and will miss at least two months. This is obviously a massive blow for the Lightning, but we saw what they were capable of doing without him last season. The good news here is that Kucherov will not miss the rest of the season, so expect to get him back by mid-January at the latest.

Kucherov suffered a lower-body injury on Saturday and is expected to "miss some time." The Lightning have not provided much detail on Kucherov's injury but the move to LTIR means he'll miss at least 10 games or 24 days.

Kucherov left Saturday's game with a lower-body injury and appeared to be in significant discomfort. Head coach Jon Cooper said that Kucherov is still being evaluated but that it's more than a "day-to-day thing" and added that he's going to "miss some time." With Kucherov not available for Monday's practice, Ondrej Palat moved to PP1 and Corey Perry moved up to the top line.

The Lightning are hopeful that Kucherov will be available for the playoffs. Kucherov going on LTIR provides the Lightning with $9.5 million in cap space, which is a positive to come out of this. Tampa Bay is pressed up tight against the cap but losing their best player should allow them to get RFA Anthony Cirelli under contract before the start of the season.