Athletistic/Hockey. In Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals with forward “Colorado” “Tampa”, Nikita Kucherov made 2 shots on goal, held 3 power moves and suffered a loss. As a result, the Lightning lost in overtime with the score 2:3.

Recall that earlier the Russian was injured, but managed to recover for the fourth fight. Kucherov is “Tampa’s” most productive player in the current Stanley Cup. Nikita scored 26 points.

Here’s how Tampa fans on social media enjoyed Kucherov’s play in Game 4 of the series:

Lord Stan 2020:
– Kucherov was completely invisible. The injury has arrived. Probably, “Tampa” will not save anything.

DaBolts:
– It seems that he treated the injury, in addition to painkillers, also with vodka.

West :
– Kucherov did not look like himself. Drive noticeably slower than usual. The trauma takes its toll.

Russian Guyovitch:
– Kuch forgot how to shoot at goal.

JDB bolts:
– It is absolutely necessary that he put an end to these transfers on the whole site. They never exceed it.

Days From 04:
– Yes, stutter [Стивену Стэмкосу] too difficult to accept. It shouldn’t be that complicated.

antiramia:
– After all, he tries to give passes with an uncomfortable 20 yards.

These Are the days:
– I have the impression that Kucherov stops a little because it hurts him physically to do so. How will he play in Game 5?

Fabiobest:
– Kuch was not what we used to see him. Didn’t have time to recover properly.

Christopher O’Keefe:
– Kucherov himself is constantly doing dirty tricks. It was not his day.

antiramia:
– In the end, he already gave 2-meter passes to the skates.

Russian Guyovitch:
– Well, after his attempt, this bar will be remembered for a long time, guys. It was such luck!

Kucherov repeated the legendary Jagr’s record in the NHL

Fans of “Tampa” probably have not forgotten how in the 2015 final Nikita returned to the ice after a terrible incident.

The 2014/15 season was only Kucherov’s second in the NHL, but the striker has already managed to become a leader in the team and gain credibility in the league. Despite this, some still doubted the talent of the young striker. The pundits asked: Will Kucherov be able to maintain his performance throughout the season, and even more so in the playoffs?

However, the Russian did not give the specialists reasons for criticism. In 82 regular season games, he scored 65 points (29 goals + 36 assists), and in 26 Stanley Cup games – another 22 points (10 + 12).

And when “Tampa” came to the final with “Chicago”, fans of “lightning” had high hopes for Kucherov. And the Russian fully justified them: in the first four matches of the series, Kucherov scored 3 points (1+2). However, in the fifth game, the Russian’s path was suddenly interrupted: Nikita had to leave the ice urgently at the very start of the game.

Goalkeeper “Chicago” Corey Crawford behind the gate made an inaccurate pass, which was intercepted by Kucherov. The forward failed to process the puck quickly, spending a few seconds on it. And just as the striker was about to take the shot, Crawford knocked him down. Kucherov at high speed first flew with his head, then with his right shoulder into the post.

From the outside, the episode looked scary. Kucherov got up with difficulty and went to the locker room. At the same time, the head coach of “lightning” did not know how serious the consequences of this collision would be.

However, the Russian showed character and still took the ice in the sixth game of the final. But he couldn’t help Tampa anymore – apparently Nikita’s injury knocked him down again. The Russian was not marked in the game by effective actions, and “Lightning” lost to “Chicago” dry – 0:2. But then it became clear that the team was still ahead: the flash players showed they were ready to fight for trophies even in pain.

In addition to Nikita Kucherov, two other Russian hockey players now play for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are goalkeeper Andrey Vasilevsky and defender Mikhail Sergachev. Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche also have a Russian player. It’s striker Valery Nichushkin.

On the way to the final, “Tampa” defeated three opponents. The team faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. The series was difficult. All seven games had to be played to determine the winner. However, “Tampa” managed to go further, winning the series with the score 4:3. In the quarterfinals, the Lightning managed to confidently overtake the Florida Panthers, winning four games and not losing a single one. The Lightning started the semifinal series against the New York Rangers with two losses, but went on to win four straight and advance to the final.

In the final, “Tampa” also suffered two defeats against the “Colorado Avalanche” – 3:4 in overtime and 0:7. However, in the third game they managed to win with the score 6:2. The fourth game was again won by “Colorado” – 3:2 OT.

After four games, “Tampa” loses “Colorado” 1-3. If the Avalanche win in the next game, they will win the Stanley Cup.

Andrei Lipatov, Sport.Ru