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Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning had to leave the ice during the game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Andrei Svechnikov made a dump attempt and the puck hit Kucherov in the face. As a result, he was treated during the TV break. He did return to the ice in the third, but had little effect on the game.
The Lightning failed to make any positive moves during the game and also failed to convert their power play opportunities. The Hurricanes dominated the game, allowing only 18 shots and winning the majority of the faceoffs. Jesperi Kotkaniemi played well for the Canes, contributing to four goals in the 6-0 win.
Twitter reacted to the incident:
Nikita Kucherov's career stats
The 29-year-old started his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2013-14 season and has played 625 games averaging 18 minutes on the ice.
Nikita Kucherov has scored 268 goals at a shooting percentage of 14.5 and has assisted 435 more. He has played 325 penalty minutes and has 73 power-play goals and 173 power-play assists.
Kucherov has played 63 games this season (averaging 20 minutes on the ice) and scored 23 goals at a shooting percentage of 11. The right winger is second in the NHL with 65 assists and third overall for points (88). Kucherov has truly been a crucial player for the team.
What's next for the Tampa Bay Lightning?
The Tampa Bay Lightning have played well this season and sit third in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division with 79 points. The Lightning have scored 218 goals this season, with a contribution of 72 goals from Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.
The Lightning are conceding more than three goals per game this season, and they have to improve in this area. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is also struggling and has lost four of his last five outings. The Lightning are underperforming of late and have lost six consecutive games, which culminated in a 6-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are scheduled to play the Philadelphia Flyers on March 7, 2023.
