Nikita Kucherov joins the exclusive club after two goals and one assist in the first game to win the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final

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Tampa, Florida – Only three players in National Hockey League history have scored more than 30 points in consecutive seasons: Wayne Gretsky, Mario Lemieux and now Nikita Kucherov

The Tampa Bay Lightning star continued his impressive post-season performance, scoring two goals and assisting in a 5-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game One of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night. All of Kucherov’s points came in the third game and open game break against Tampa Bay.

“This is one of the best players in the world,” said Lightning captain Stephen Stamkos, who Kucherov put into strong play for Tampa Bay’s final goal. “He’s playing like a monster now. He’s so good.”

All concerns about Kucherov’s health appeared to have dissipated on Monday. He left the winger after only one turn in the sixth semi-final game against the Islanders on Wednesday, and coach John Cooper said it was “suspicious” that Kucherov would play in Game Seven of the Conference Finals series.

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But Kucherov downplayed the injury – and even refused to admit his exposure at all. “There were no injuries,” Kucherov said last week. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Kucherov played in Game 7 against the Islanders and looked fine against the Canadiens, as Lightning is now three wins away from a repeat of the Stanley Cup champion.

“Men are fighting through injuries; it’s kind of an inspiration to others, and so it’s so comforting, watching what men are fighting through, especially at this time of year,” Cooper said. “And the [Kucherov is] He did that and obviously he was rewarded for that tonight, his way of playing and some of the results. It was time for the finals, everyone was playing really hard and luckily for this group, why we had some success is probably because everyone is fighting through it.”

Kocherov again downplayed matters on Monday. His first goal, which gave Lightning a 3-1 lead two minutes into the third half, was a disappointment, but it came after he said he followed the coaches’ game plan, throwing a puck into the net.

“I didn’t have to do much in there, just try to throw it in the net and see what happens there, and luckily it bounced back lucky for us,” Kucherov said.

The League’s Player of the Year 2019 even tried to break his tally, saying he believed the goal should be credited to teammate Ondrej Balat.

“I thought it was Bali’s goal and I hope he will score that goal,” Kucherov said.

By playing on the ice at home, Lightning was able to control the recent change – particularly matches in which Kucherov’s streak faced Montreal youth Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Caufield, Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli’s combined streak was minus 9 in the game.

“We have complete confidence in our young players up front; we wouldn’t be at this stage of the playoffs if we didn’t have complete confidence in them and what they could do at our end,” Canadian defender Ben Shearoot said. “Of course there are rivalries that we would like to have, but that’s not a luxury you have when you’re on the road.”

Kucherov reached 30 points in just 19 playoffs. The only player to reach that number faster over the past 25 years was Pittsburgh Penguins center Yevgeny Malkin in 2009. Kucherov also escapes with the elimination run; The closest player is teammate Brayden Point, who has 23 points. It’s been even more impressive since Kucherov spent the entire regular season away from the field while rehabilitating from hip surgery on December 29.

“It was mentally difficult not to be able to play but that’s all in the past,” Kucherov said on Monday. “I’m really enjoying the moment and I’m happy to be with the boys and just excited to play in the final.”

Kucherov’s season on the bench has been met with some league controversy. Hat-tied Lightning got some relief with Kucherov (and his max hit of $9.5 million) staying in the long-term injury reserve all season, with general manager Julien BriseBois not needing to forgo any contracts to stay committed to the max. The salary cap becomes moot in the playoffs, and Kucherov returned in the first game of the first-round series against the Florida Panthers. After the Lightning eliminated the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round, Canes defender Doji Hamilton lamented, “We lost to a team that’s worth $18 million over the cap.”

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly were asked about the situation at the annual press conference before the Stanley Cup Final on Monday.

“Nothing inappropriate has been done here,” Daly said. “At the end of the day, all managers know what the rules are. The facts seem to be in line with the situation that allowed Tampa to bring back an important player in the playoffs. I make no apologies for what the sound system was and what the sound system was from the start.”

Buttman noted that the salary cap provisions have been in place since 2005.

“This is not news to anyone,” he said. “The conditions were the same, and we were convinced that there was nothing untoward.”

Daly said the National Hockey League would be open in the future to changing the rules, but that collective bargaining would have to take place with the players’ union.

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