Player of the night. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have played six games this season. Forward Nikita Kucherov has scored a goal in all of them.
He continued that goal scoring streak on Monday night in the Lightning’s 3-2 win in Detroit by scoring a pair of goals, including the game-winner to help lift them to their eighth consecutive win over the Detroit Red Wings.
With that win the Lightning now have the best record in the NHL, while Kucherov’s seven goals are the second most in the league, trailing only Alex Ovechkin (nine).
Kucherov has seen his production increase every year he has been in the NHL. He set a career-high with 40 goals a year ago and seems like he is on track to top that mark this season. Now playing in his age 24 season he should be right in the thick of his prime years in the NHL. When it comes to pure skill and offensive production there are only a handful of players in the league that can top what Kucherov is doing.
Highlight of the Night.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilievsky stopped 29 shots on Monday night but perhaps none were better than this pad save to rob Tomas Tatar right on the door step.
Vasi with the saves that make you go 😲. #TBLvsDET pic.twitter.com/S9CSXXK4DK
— NHL (@NHL) October 17, 2017
Vasilevskiy had a slow start to the season but has been outstanding in his past two games, stopping 57 out of 60 shots in the Lightning’s wins over the St. Louis Blues and Red Wings.
Factoid of the Night.
Justin Abdelkader scored on a penalty shot for the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night becoming the first Red Wings player to do that in nearly 10 years.
Ten years?! That seems like a heck of a long time between penalty shot goals for a team.
Justin Abdelkader is first @DetroitRedWings in nearly 10 years to score a penalty shot goal. Last: V. Filppula on Dec. 15, 2007. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/6IJ36YjbEh
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 17, 2017
Misc.
-- Mike Green continued his incredible start to the season by scoring his first goal of the season for the Detroit Red Wings. He is now up to nine points in five games this season.
-- Steven Stamkos picked up a pair of assists in the win for the Lightning, giving him eight on the season. Once he starts scoring goals (he only has one so far) he is going to be a force. His absence a year ago was a big reason why the Lightning fell just short of the postseason. With him back healthy they now have two of the top offensive players in the league (Nikita Kucherov).
Scores
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Detroit Red Wings 2
