Kucherov’s late goal gives Lightning 4-3 win over Wings

Coach Jon Cooper said after Tuesday’s game there was hope the injury to Stamkos was “minor”, pointing out it’s “not anything like” what happened nearly exactly three years ago in Boston, when the All-Star broke his right tibia November 11, 2013, forcing him to miss 45 games.

The Lightning has played without Stamkos before, not just in 2013-14 when he broke his leg, but also the first two rounds of last year’s playoffs as the All-Star was recovering from a blood clot.

“This is huge for us”, Kucherov said.

He re-signed last summer with the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2008 rather than testing free agency, was hurt during the opening period of Tuesday night’s 4-3 road win. Zetterberg tied it 3-3 with a power-play goal 9:38 into the third.

Stamkos was off to a good start to the season, registering 20 points while scoring nine goals. Tyler Johnson will slide into the No. 1 center role.

But you can also expect Stamkos’ linemate, wing Nikita Kucherov, to step up.

As per usual, the Lightning did not give up much information in terms of the nature and/or extent of Stamkos’ injury; however, given the toughness we know lives within our captain, he must be in some serious pain for him to not make his way back to the ice with the team. He’s the only skater from the 2008 class to boast over 500 points, sitting above the second-highest scoring player by almost a full 200 points (despite missing significant time first for a broken foot, then for a blood clot). “He’s been really fun to watch”.

Ben Bishop allowed three goals to the Red Wings.

BLUES 4, SABRES 1: Jaden Schwartz and Kyle Brodziak scored early in the third period as St. Louis won at home to snap a three-game losing streak. “He’s been on fire”, Hedman said. The Lightning did well in his absence previous year, making it all the way to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals – where Stamkos returned – before falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Hopefully it’s something minor”, Cooper said.