Lightning's Nikita Kucherov delivers another unenthusiastic NHL playoffs campaign

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May 4, 2026 - 16:37

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Lightning's Nikita Kucherov delivers another unenthusiastic NHL playoffs campaign originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

On Sunday night, the Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 despite being outshot 29-9.

Montreal’s nine shots on goal were the lowest total recorded in a Stanley Cup Playoffs win, according to Sportsnet Stats. But the Canadiens’ zero-shot second period and fortunate bounces on their two goals aren’t the main talking points; it’s once again the confusing play of Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov.

Kucherov struggled hard in Game 7. He had several poor turnovers, one of which led to a penalty, and he found it nearly impossible to get shots past the Canadiens’ defenders. Arguably, one of the best playmakers in the NHL was unable to set up his teammates for shots in high-danger areas as he had in the regular season.

A player who makes the game look easy in the regular season becomes unable to make similar plays. Pucks roll off his stick, his touch passes become inaccurate, and his pinpoint accuracy disappears.

But Kucherov’s struggles this post-season aren’t just a one-time thing. This is something we’ve seen now in four consecutive playoff trips. The Lightning have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in four straight years. Kucherov has also failed to record a point in any of the seven Game 7s he’s played in throughout his career.

MORE: Fewest shots in an NHL playoff win: How Canadiens took Game 7 over Lightning despite historically low shot output

In those four playoff appearances, Kucherov’s production and overall impact on the game have taken a massive hit. In his last 23 playoff games, the 32-year-old has scored just two goals and 23 points. For most players, a point-per-game pace in the playoffs is very good, but Kucherov has notched 113, 144, 121, and 130 points in the past four regular seasons.

So his production has significantly faltered.

To provide further evidence, when the Lightning reached the Stanley Cup finals in three straight years, Kucherov posted seven goals and 34 points in 25 games, eight goals and 32 points in 23 games, and eight goals and 27 points in 23 games.

So why have his numbers faltered? While Kucherov may have been the best producing forward on the Lightning during those cup runs, those teams featured Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos, as well as defenseman Victor Hedman and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, all at the peak of their powers.

Stamkos did miss the 2020 Cup run, but was a critical part of the next two. Although Point is still with the Lightning, his season was riddled with injuries, and Kucherov’s lowest point total of the three Cup runs came when Point was injured in the second round.

Point opened the game up for Kucherov, and he was a clinical finisher.

Additionally, Hedman and Vasilevskiy were the Conn Smythe winners when the Lightning won the Stanley Cup.

MORE: Any Way The NHL Can Make Canadiens Vs. Lightning A Best of 9? Or 11? Or 13?

Hedman was a dominant two-way force, eating big minutes and recording 22, 18, and 19 points. As for Vasilevskiy, he was stealing games for the Lightning. He was posting historic numbers and setting records for shutouts in series-clinching games and in games following a loss.

There’s no denying that Kucherov wasn’t vital to the Lightning’s success, but Kucherov wasn’t the No. 1 guy, like he has been these past four years.

It’s unfair to deem Kucherov a playoff choker, but it’s not out of the realm to claim that he hasn’t been able to step up and lead the Lightning as the team’s true superstar.