TAMPA, FL. - Nikita Kucherov’s season debut was the first game of the playoffs and he started with a bang. In the first round against the Florida Panthers, Kuch finished with 11 points. He added seven more in the next round against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“I’m assuming you’re asking if Kuch is a good player and he is a really good player,” said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.

Facts only from Jon Cooper!

Here’s another one –For the second straight postseason, Kucherov is leading all skaters in points. Since 2014, Kuch has 118 points in the playoffs – the most over that span.

“He’s remarkably gifted,” said Cooper. “He does everything with, it’s like with grace.”

While Kucherov can put the puck in the net, his specialty is setting up others for goals.

“He’s an elite, elite player, one of the best in the league,” said Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman. “He’s just so good at finding open ice and so calm with the puck.”

“Kuch has a wow moment every game,” said Lightning center Blake Coleman.

“There’s guys that have quality, and Kuch has that quality in making plays,” said Cooper.  

Kucherov is also elite as deflecting praise and putting it on his fellow teammates.

“He did a hell of a job jumping out and put it in,” said Kucherov after an assist to Brayden Point.  And after a pass to set up Ondrej Palat: “He did a hell of a job shooting that.”

 Kuch does his talking on the ice, which is just fine by his team. The Bolts are two wins from another Stanley Cup final. If they can get past the Islanders, a bit a credit will go to the man wearing 86, making plays all over the ice.

“It’s fun to watch,” Cooper said.