Cooper 'not sure' if Kucherov will play Game 7 vs. Islanders

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper 'not sure' if Nikita Kucherov will play Game 7 against Islanders

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/25/21

With a spot in the Stanley Cup Final on the line, the Tampa Bay Lightning could be without star forward Nikita Kucherov for Friday's do-or-die Game 7 against the New York Islanders.

Bolts head coach Jon Cooper said Friday morning that he's "not sure" if Kucherov will play Game 7 after suffering an injury in Game 6, according to team reporter Bryan Burns.

Jon Cooper said he's "not sure" if Nikita Kucherov will play Game 7. "We'll have to wait until tonight." #Bolts #NYIvsTBL
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) June 25, 2021

Kucherov suffered an undisclosed injury in the first period of Game 6. He was cross-checked by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield and continued his shift before eventually skating off in pain.

The 28-year-old has been one of Tampa's best players this postseason, scoring five goals to go along with 22 assists in 17 games. If he can't play Game 7, it'll be a massive blow for the defending champions as they look to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season.

Whichever team wins Friday's contest will play the Montreal Canadiens in the final series of the postseason.

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