Kucherov exits; Lightning call out ‘dangerous play’

TAMPA — Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov left Sport 3 of the Stanley Cup Remaining following what his teammate known as “a harmful play” by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews.

Kucherov left the sport with 6:05 remaining within the third interval of Tampa Bay’s eventual 6-2 victory over the Avalanche that lower Colorado’s sequence result in 2-1.

Because the Lightning winger dealt with the puck, Toews caught his stick in Kucherov’s again after which pushed him alongside the ice and into the boards as Kucherov fell to 1 knee.

Kucherov obtained up and briefly went after Toews. He did come out for the following energy play after Toews was whistled for a cross-check, however then went to the Lightning trainers’ room.

“It is a kind of performs you do not wish to see,” mentioned Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman. “It is a harmful play. You by no means wish to see that. We’ll see if something occurs — in all probability not. But it surely’s a harmful play.”

The Toews cross-check occurred round two minutes after Kucherov hit Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson alongside the top boards on successful that would have warranted a penalty. Manson completed the sport for Colorado.

Coach Jon Cooper mentioned there was no replace on Kucherov’s standing.

“No replace on any of the gamers, sadly. We’ll do this tomorrow,” Cooper mentioned.

As for the Toews cross-check, Cooper mentioned the incident speaks for itself.

“Once you get requested questions like that, you are on the lookout for a solution that everyone within the constructing already is aware of,” mentioned Cooper. “It is a sport. It is a contact sport. However guys know what they’re doing. Good, savvy gamers know what they’re doing with their stick. All of us noticed it.”

Kucherov is the Lightning’s main postseason scorer with seven objectives and 19 assists for 26 factors in 20 video games. He had two assists within the Sport 3 win.