Lightning star winger misses game vs. Red Wings due to illness

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that star winger Nikita Kucherov will be held out of Friday night’s game due to an illness. Kucherov has three points, one penalty, and a minus-eight through four games this season. He is one of seven Lightning players with three points so far.

There is simply no replacing Kucherov in the lineup, even if his early season has been quiet. He is a three-time Hart Trophy finalist and took home the MVP title in 2019. He’s led Tampa Bay in scoring in each of the last two seasons, with an incredible 144 and 121 points, respectively. At the age of 32, Kucherov has already amassed the second-most points in Lightning history (997), only behind longtime captain Steven Stamkos (1,137).

Tampa Bay will undoubtedly be handicapped without Kucherov, who has averaged 20:29 in ice time on the season. They’ll have to bump each of their right-wingers up a line, likely leading to Gage Goncalves on the top line and Conor Geekie in the top-six. That movement could open an opportunity for Jack Finley or Scott Sabourin to step onto the fourth line. Finley posted no scoring in one NHL appearance this year, while Sabourin posted two points in two AHL games before a call-up earlier today. Tampa Bay will have to hope the added grit brought by Finley or Sabourin can keep them level with a Detroit Red Wings team that’s started the year with a 3-1-0 record.