The Tampa Bay Lightning are celebrating a massive win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. But the team is also dealing with a concerning development after star winger Nikita Kucherov had to leave the game early with an injury.
Kucherov appeared to injure his leg after being knocked to the ice by Avalanche defenceman Devon Toews late in the third period. The former Hart Trophy winner could be seen hobbling down the hallway to the locker room shortly after. He did not return for the remaining minutes of the game.
Toews was given a two-minute minor for cross-checking on the play.
Kucherov's teammate Victor Hedman called the cross-check by Toews "a dangerous play."
"We'll see if anything happens," Hedman added. "Probably not."
Kucherov had two assists in the game and has 26 points in 20 playoff games. The team was already playing without Brayden Point, who didn't play in Game 3 after returning from a lower-body injury in Game 1. Nick Paul also appeared to suffer an injury during Game 3 but he continued to play with periodic trips to the locker room.
After the game, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he didn't have injury updates for any of his players.
"You're looking for an answer that everyone in the building already knows. It's a game. It's a contact game, but guys know what they're doing," Cooper said of the Toews hit on Kucherov. "Smart, savvy players know what they're doing and we all saw it, so we'll see."
The Lightning won the game 6-2 and now trail the series 2-1.
2:56
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.