Nikita Kucherov has started the season in elite fashion. The Russian superstar recorded a career-high 144 points last season and has continued to build on that at the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
Tampa Bay Lightning have played 12 games this season, and Kucherov has recorded ten goals and 20 assists, which puts him tied for fourth in the scoring race, only one point behind Kirill Kaprizov, Cale Makar, and Sam Reinhart.
On Sunday, Kucherov notched a goal and an assist in a 7-4 defeat to the Winnipeg Jets. He had a primary assist to Brayden Point’s power-play goal in the first period and later tied the game to 4-4.
READ MORE: Pyotr Kochetkov shares Alex Ovechkin’s words after scoring on him
But Kucherov was also involved in a not-so-flattering incident late in the third period. Kucherov made a controversial and questionable hit on Kyle Connor from behind in a battle for the puck along the boards.
Connor didn’t see Kucherov coming, and after the hit, Connor also collided head-first with Erik Cernak’s head before falling to the ice. Connor didn’t return to the game, but afterward, head coach Scott Arniel said he was okay and that the concussion spotters pulled him from the game.
But the Jets weren’t too happy about the hit, and Connor’s teammate Logan Stanley called Kucherov out for the hit.
”I’m not a fan of that one,” Stanley said, per Sportsnet. ”[Connor’s] got his back turned and [Kucherov] kind of takes a run at him from behind. I’m glad [Connor’s] alright.”
READ MORE: Jim Montgomery explains why he benched David Pastrnak
On social media, fans were brutal in their assessments of Kucherov for the hit, and he was absolutely slammed for the hit on Connor. No one was happy that no penalty was called on the play.
”Someone tell me, is jumping into the back of the neck of another player allowed? Asking for a friend,” one said.
”Literally jumps into the back of his head. I don’t know what the refs were smoking when they called nothing here,” another said.
”Kucherov has always been the sneakiest dirty player in the league,” a third added.
