Nikita Kucherov has best line of All-Star Game

SAN JOSE—Nikita Kucherov had the best line of the night and it wasn’t about the All-Star Game.

For many media members, the event is a chance to talk to players they don’t see often. The questions are often about the season as a whole or other topics.

Kucherov was asked what he has learned from coming so close to the Stanley Cup almost every year he has been with the Lightning.

“Make sure we score goals in games six and seven,” he deadpanned to laughter. “Play more defensively, help Vasy more back there and make sure we score goals.”

Steven Stamkos chimed in from next to Kucherov at the podium: “Great answer.”

The Lightning was eliminated in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals after Washington shut out Tampa Bay in games six and seven. Kucherov and Stamkos, the team’s top two scorers, were conspicuously absent.