Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov is denying that he suffered an injury in Game 6 of the team’s Stanley Cup semifinal series against the New York Islanders.
Kucherov, the leading scorer in the playoffs, missed the majority of Wednesday’s Game 6 with an undisclosed injury, but returned for Game 7 to help the Lightning clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens.
When asked by reporters how he felt returning to Game 7 and if he had any lingering effects from the injury, Kucherov downplayed the incident.
“There was no injury, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, per Sportsnet‘s Chris Johnston.
The 2019 Hart Trophy winner missed the entire regular season after having off-season hip surgery. Since returning in Game 1 of the opening round against the Florida Panthers, he has looked like his old self, scoring five goals and 27 points in 18 games.
Game 1 between the Lightning and Montreal starts Monday in Tampa with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet.