TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov’s return has given the Lightning an incomparable boost in the postseason, but the sight of Kucherov writhing in pain on the ice Saturday in the third period of Tampa Bay’s 6-2 win over the Panthers changed everything.
Kucherov, who had a power-play goal and three assists in the Lightning’s win, was slashed in the back of the leg by Panthers forward Anthony Duclair well away from the play in Game 4 of this first-round playoff series.
After several moments on the ice, Kucherov skated off, hunched over and unable to put weight on his left leg. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev also left the game after taking a hard hit into the boards from Florida forward Patric Hornqvist.
The Lightning are one game from ending the Sunshine State showdown, taking a commanding three-games-to-one series lead. The Lightning can end the Panthers’ season with a Game 5 win Monday night in Sunrise.
But the status of Kucherov, who has been their best player this postseason with three goals and six assists in the series, as well as one of their top defensemen in Sergachev, looms large in their playoff fortunes.
The Lightning had to battle both their opponent and their own emotions to close out Florida in Game 4.
The second period ended with Kucherov falling to his knees and holding his head on the ice after his breakaway ended with him making hard head-to-head contact with Panthers goaltender Chris Driedger.
Driedger took the worst of the collision, and his teammate, Florida defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, initiated it by pushing Kucherov from behind, though it was Kucherov who had to serve an interference penalty when the dust settled.
Two nights ago in their Game 3 overtime loss, the Lightning saw a two-goal lead dissipate in the third, in part because they allowed an early third-period power-play goal. But on Saturday afternoon, they killed off the Kucherov penalty, and extended their lead with Kucherov’s power play goal to preserve a 6-2 win.
Kucherov recorded four points — a third-period power-play goal and had three dazzling assists — in the win. Alex Killorn scored two goals and two assists.
Maybe seeing him in the regular season would have helped. But it’s clear that the Panthers have no idea how to contain Kucherov in the playoffs.
They have allowed Kucherov to dissect their defense, and he did that twice to set up goals Saturday.
Up by a goal, Kucherov put a puck toward the net in the first period, one that was well wide, but seemingly perfectly positioned for Yanni Gourde to tip. Gourde reached out his stick blade and redirected the puck at an angle that beat Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead 7:24 into the game.
Kucherov also set up the Lightning power-play goal in the second period, drawing attention at the right circle and calmly feeding Killorn as he streaked toward the net for an open shot 5:41 into the second period. Killorn also scored Tampa Bay’s next goal on a feed from Steven Stamkos 7:15 into the third.
With the Lightning up 5-2, Kucherov was on the receiving end as Stamkos found him for a one-timer from the right circle for a power-play goal 4:47 into the third period.
