The Tampa Bay Lightning are missing a key forward in Sunday’s game against Carolina.
Minutes before puck drop, the Bolts announced that winger Nikita Kucherov would be unable to suit up because of a lower-body injury.
It’s unclear when the 22-year-old suffered the injury.
Beat reporter Erik Erlendsson mentioned that Kucherov was on the ice for his shift in the final minute of Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Kucherov did not miss any shifts yesterday in Pittsburgh, took his last shift in the final minute of the third period
— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) February 21, 2016
Kucherov has 24 goals and 49 points in 58 games this season.
No one on the Bolts is ahead of him in either category.
He’s considered day-to-day.