Athletistic/Hockey. The confrontation between the two top scorers of the current NHL season turned out to be very interesting: Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon scored 5 points between them, decorating the match between Tampa and Colorado.

The Canadian Avalanche forward was the first to speak with an assist, but the Russian responded to his opponent with a cool goal after a wrist shot.

It is noteworthy that between these episodes, Kucherov could have scored an assist, but the NHL took away Nikita’s goal point, believing that after his throw-in in the zone, the Colorado defender was the first to touch the puck.

The most productive players of the season did not stop, they exchanged an extra pass: first, MacKinnon simply threw the puck to Vasilevsky’s goal, where Artturi Lehkonen put his stick, then Kucherov made a magnificent pass to Steven Stamkos, who easily beat the Avalanche. goalkeeper Justus Annunen.

In the third period, Nikita again tipped the scales in his favor – and especially in favor of Tampa – by converting the majority. In the end, Tampa won 6: 3. Kucherova gained the upper hand in the duel with MacKinnon.

Here’s how Kucherov’s game was rated by hockey fans on American social media:

@GordoFSU:
– MacKinnon was lucky with the assists, and Kucherov made some magical passes and scored some great goals, earning his points.

@OJdaddy69:
– Kucherov plays like a real rock star. Today on the ice he behaved as if it were a Sunday morning practice and scored his points with calm. What makes it ten times cooler is the fact that he leads the scoring race.

@Kman_1994:
– Kuch completely dominated MacKinnon. Total victory!

@JRyan832:
– Kucherov is simply on fire, and journalists do not consider him Hart’s main favorite… I can’t believe it.

@TenguSnake:
– Kucherov is a real maniac who simply cannot be stopped.

@aj_c21:
– Review Kucherov’s first goal: there is simply an unrealistic understanding of the episode and reaction time. No one but him will score the puck in such a situation. Without Nikita, the Lightning would be a bottom five team in the NHL this season.

@tWINman4:
– The episode with Kucherov’s first goal shows why Nikita should win over Hart. At this point, MacKinnon is just standing on his right legs, watching Tampa’s combination and how the puck comes straight to Kucherov, who he should have covered.

@jayRecher:
– This world belongs to Nikita Kucherov! Who writes there that he is only in fifth place in the race for the Hart Trophy? Be more adequate already.

@CorvoAttano_14:
– Kucherov scored two goals and at the same time is the best playmaker in the league.

@_kyjfree:
– I love Kucherov and will literally do anything for him.

@JBellantese:
– Kucherov is simply the best, guys! I never stop admiring him.

@BLXCKMASS1:
– I’m glad that today Colorado fans personally saw how much better Kucherov is than MacKinnon.

Kucherov slightly increased his lead over MacKinnon in the scoring race. Nikita has 93 points, Nathan has 89 points.

Tampa’s Russian forward is also among the top 3 snipers in the current regular season, behind only Auston Matthews and Sam Rinehart.

Recall that Kucherov began his professional career in 2009 with the Moscow club of the “Red Army” Youth Hockey League. On January 24, 2011, he made his KHL debut for CSKA in a match against Dynamo Riga. He played for the Russian junior team. At the 2011 World Junior Championships in April, he became a bronze medalist, scoring 21 points in 7 matches (11 goals, 10 assists; best tournament result in goals and points, most points for the tournament in its entire history), and was recognized as the best striker of the tournament. On December 23, 2011, he joined the final roster of the Russian youth team to compete at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Calgary and Edmonton.

In the 2011 draft, Kucherov was selected in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. At the same time, there was a rumor that Tampa general manager Steve Yzerman confused Nikita Kucherov with Nikita Nesterov (who was also ultimately selected by Tampa in the 5th round). But later in an interview, Yzerman himself denied this rumor, saying that he deliberately chose Kucherov in the 2nd round of the draft.

Kucherov is the winner of the Art Ross Trophy (NHL, 2019), Hart Trophy (NHL, 2019), Ted Lindsay Award (NHL, 2019) and Kharlamov Trophy (2019). Two-time Stanley Cup winner (2020, 2021) with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Andrey Andreev, Sport.Ru


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