Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov of Maykop, Russia was named the National Hockey League First Star of the Week for the period from December 22 to December 28. In three games, Kucherov had four goals and two assists for six points.
Kucherov’s other statistics for the week
Kucherov was also a +3 with two penalty minutes, one game-winning goal, two power-play points, seven shots on goal, three hits and five giveaways. Kucherov’s two assists and two power-play points came in a 4-1 Lightning win over the St. Louis Blues on December 22. Kucherov set up defenseman Darren Raddysh of Toronto, Ontario and Oliver Bjorkstrand of Herning, Denmark.
Kucherov’s game-winning goal came in a 4-2 Lightning win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday. At 2:31 of the second period, Kucherov put the Lightning up 3-1 on a goal from Brayden Point of Calgary, Alberta and Gage Conclaves of Mission, British Columbia. It was the first of two goals in the game for Kucherov as he also scored an empty netter with 56 seconds left in the third period.
Then on Sunday, Kucherov scored two more goals in a 5-4 Lightning shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens. He scored the first two goals of the hockey game in the second period.
Kucherov’s season statistics
In 34 games, Kucherov has 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points. He is a +12 with 18 penalty minutes, 13 power-play points, four game-winning goals, 105 shots on goal, 12 blocked shots, 14 hits, 10 takeaways, and 56 giveaways.
Impressive four game-winning streak
The Lightning are winners of four straight games. Also during the streak, they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-4 on December 20. The streak is noteworthy because of all of the injuries they currently have with their defense at this time. Among the Lightning blueliners who are out are Ryan McDonagh of St. Paul, Minnesota (leg after blocking a shot), captain Victor Headman of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden (elbow), Erik Cernak of Kosice, Slovakia (hand), and Emil Lilleberg of Sparsborg, Norway (leg).
Minor trade
The Lightning also made a minor trade with the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. Tampa Bay traded left winger Boris Katchouk of Waterloo, Ontario to the Wild for left winger Michael Milne of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Neither Katchouk nor Milne have a point this season.
Second in the Atlantic Division
The Lightning improve to a record of 22 wins, 13 regulation losses and three losses in extra time. With 47 points, they are two points back of the first place Detroit Red Wings in the Atlantic Division.
