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Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov takes stick to the face from Bruins’ Zdeno Chara

Kucherov returns to the game in the second period but leaves again. The Lightning did not have an update on his status.
 
Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) sprawl on the ice after Chara blocked a shot and Kucherov caught a high stick during first-period NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference playoff hockey game action in Toronto on Monday.
Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) sprawl on the ice after Chara blocked a shot and Kucherov caught a high stick during first-period NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference playoff hockey game action in Toronto on Monday. [ FRANK GUNN | The Canadian Press via AP ]
Published Sept. 1, 2020|Updated Sept. 1, 2020

Nikita Kucherov hunched over on the ice with 7:12 left in the first period Monday night, head in his hands. When he skated off a minute later, he kept looking at the hand pressed to his face, appearing to check for blood.

So far, the Lightning have gone for all or some part of the postseason without their best goal scorer, their top defenseman and their best defensive defenseman.

Now, they could be without their top playmaker.

Related: The Lightning advance to Eastern Conference final with double-overtime win over the Bruins

Kucherov left Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Bruins with 6:55 left in the second period and never returned as the Lightning went on to win 3-2 in double overtime at Toronto to advance to the conference final.

Coach Jon Cooper did not have an update on Kucherov after the game.

“Hopefully we have a bit of a break here so we can rest our guys, including him,” he said.

Kucherov tangled feet with Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara in front of Boston’s net in the first period, and as both players were offbalance, Chara’s stick caught Kucherov in the face. The Lightning’s star right wing went down and stayed down.

Athletic trainer Tom Mulligan went out to check on Kucherov, then escorted him toward the dressing room.

Kucherov took the ice with the team to start the second period. He played just over five minutes before leaving the game for good.

“Losing ‘Kuch’ early on in the game is obviously a big blow to our team,” defenseman Victor Hedman said.

The Lightning are the first team to secure a spot in the conference final. The Islanders have a chance to secure the other spot tonight in their Game 5 against the Flyers, which means the series could start as early as Thursday.

The magnitude of Kucherov’s loss was immediately apparent when the Lightning didn’t record a single shot on goal in the four-minute power play they got out of the double-minor penalty Chara was assessed on the play.

The only shot attempts came from defensemen, and Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev’s attempts were blocked.

The Lightning were already without injured Steven Stamkos, who hasn’t played yet in the playoffs, and the power of his shot from the left circle, the mere threat of which keeps teams honest and creates openings for everyone else.

Monday, without two of the Lightning’s top three forwards available, the power play was lacking much of its firepower. First Anthony Cirelli stepped onto the first unit, then Yanni Gourde.

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But Kucherov’s effectiveness isn’t just about the power play. Kucherov entered the game with 16 points in the postseason, tied with Brayden Point to lead the Lightning. The top line of Palat, Point and Kucherov has looked good since the exhibition game against the Panthers but really hit its stride as of late.

Palat has found his scoring touch, evidenced again Monday as he scored the first goal of the game, and Kucherov and Point have set him up well.

The chemistry between Point and Kucherov also was on display again in Game 5. They nearly connected for a goal in the game’s opening minutes. Point picked up the puck and looped around, skating for the near post. At the last second, he dished it over to Kucherov, who hit the post.

The Lightning played most of the game with just 10 forwards, having started the game in a seven-defenseman lineup.

It took some creative groupings to keep players fresh, particularly in two overtimes, but Cooper felt the Bruins looked just as tired as the Lightning.

“A lot of our forwards stepped up,” Cirelli said. “The quick changes helped us a lot. We have a resilient group, and we were hungry.”

Tyler Johnson commented after the Lightning beat the Blue Jackets in the first round that two things made this team different from previous ones: depth and physicality. The former will be tested if Kucherov is out for any length of time.