Nikita Kucherov’s first coach, Gennady Kurdin, told that the Tampa forward is also motivated in the goal race by his rivalry with Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid.
On Wednesday, Tampa defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL regular season match with a score of 4: 1. Kucherov scored a hat-trick with an assist and became the first Russian in the history of the NHL to reach 130 points in a regular championship season. The 30-year-old forward became the fifth NHL player in the last 30 years to achieve such a feat. It’s also a franchise record.
Kucherov was recognized as the third star of the day. After this match, he led the league’s scoring race. Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon is second (127), and Edmonton forward Connor McDavid is third (126).
— Does his race with Nathan MacKinnon (127) and Connor McDavid (126) speed him up? They are like “three white horses” flying towards the Art Ross Trophy, the prize awarded to the league’s top scorer.
“I think that encourages me.” Yes, everyone thinks of their team. Additionally, Tampa had a moment in the championship where they might not make the playoffs. After the All-Star Game, Nikita called me, we talked for three hours. He wasn’t more worried about himself, but about the team that would make the top eight. They were tumbling. Only now are they positioned in the table in such a way that they can no longer be pushed out of the playoff zone.
And it’s very exciting to win a race against the best of the best in the NHL. Everyone is ambitious, everyone wants to win. Getting ahead of both Macs – McDavid and MacKinnon – is a prestigious thing. There is also a competition here. I want to win everything – such a light burns inside. Otherwise, it’s not interesting,” Kurdin told .
Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
