Red-Hot Nikita Kucherov Puts Lightning in the Driver's Seat in ECF vs. Penguins

In a matchup with Pittsburgh Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, the Tampa Bay Lightning have a burgeoning stud of their own who has put the Bolts in great shape in the Eastern Conference Final.

Nikita Kucherov scored a pair of game-tying goals—his first of the series—to force overtime in Game 5 on Sunday night in Pittsburgh. Then he assisted on the winning score to complete the comeback, helping Tampa Bay grab a 4-3 overtime victory and a 3-2 series lead.

His seven points in the past three games have the Lightning heading back to Tampa on Tuesday with a chance to get to the Stanley Cup Final for a second straight year.

The 2016 playoff goal-scoring leader had been blanked against the Pens in that category through four games, but it was only a matter of time before the speedy 22-year-old broke out. Kucherov has been heating up in the last couple of contests with two assists in both Games 3 and 4.

His pair of goals on Sunday—his 10th and 11th of the postseason—were monumental. They’ve left the Penguins reeling, showing the effects of the loss of defenseman Trevor Daley to a broken ankle, and facing questions about who should start in goal for Game 6 after Marc-Andre Fleury’s first start in 52 days ended with the worst possible outcome.

Kucherov wouldn’t be denied on a perfect one-timer in the second period, smacking the pass from Vladislav Namestnikov past an outstretched Fleury just 1:10 after Alex Killorn cut into a two-goal Pens lead with his fifth of the playoffs.

With a last-minute goal from Chris Kunitz in the second period, the Penguins re-established the lead, 3-2. Kucherov again made sure that didn’t last. He pounced on a rebound from Fleury and zipped around on a wraparound that you missed if you blinked.

Kucherov made the difference once more in overtime with a patient assist on the game-winner. He sent the puck over to defenseman Jason Garrison, whose shot from the circle was heading wide but banked in off Tyler Johnson’s backside.

It was the Penguins’ first loss of the year when leading a game after two periods. They were 39-0 through the regular season and 7-0 in these playoffs. Meanwhile, the three-point night for Kucherov puts him in second place in playoff scoring.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Kucherov finished third in the playoff scoring race a year ago behind Johnson and Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane. Kucherov’s 10 goals were also good for third, tying him with Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry behind Johnson (13) and Kane (11).

Anyone who questioned whether Kucherov could be as productive this year has the answer. He’s a game-changer with the ability to hit high gear instantly and strength that belies his 5’11” frame.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper complimented his young star after the game, per Bryan Burns of TampaBayLightning.com

With momentum and confidence on their side, the Lightning have created a favorable environment for Game 6 back at Amalie Arena. The Bolts only had 25 shots on Sunday, but they did enough to test Fleury in his first start of the playoffs after a concussion knocked him out of the final weeks of the regular season.

Was he rusty? Perhaps a little. It’s tough for any player to jump into the speed of the postseason, never mind the one guy who has missed every minute.

Fleury made some solid stops, including a spectacular right pad save on Johnson that perhaps justified the coach’s decision to insert his starter back into the lineup after a lengthy absence.

But he also seemed to stumble down the stretch, whether it was pressure or fatigue that was getting to him. Ondrej Palat hit a pair of crossbars on the same play, and Ryan Callahan ripped a shot off the inside of the far post not long before Kucherov tied the game in the third period.

If there were another minute or two on the clock, the Lightning could have ended things in regulation. The late action might have given Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan pause about starting Fleury again next game, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com:

While Matt Murray remains an option in goal going forward after getting the Pens this far, the back end is a mess.

The Penguins will be forced to rely heavily on some young and unproven defenders in the absence of Daley, who was averaging more than 22 minutes a night. The breakdowns behind their own blue line included some whoppers by Kris Letang on Sunday.

The pressure seems squarely on the Pens’ shoulders at the moment, just as the spotlight has been on their big-name forwards.

But that’s probably just how Kucherov and company like it.