TAMPA – When Nikita Kucherov left the ice in the third period of Saturday's game against the Washington Capitals, he immediately reached for the area around the inner part of his left leg.
After missing last season's abbreviated 56-game regular season due to hip surgery, the sight of Kucherov departing the ice in discomfort left the Tampa Bay Lightning with an uncomfortable feeling. Those fears turned to reality on Monday as the Lightning returned to practice minus the former MVP and Art Ross Trophy winner on the ice.
That sight has been all too common for the defending Stanley Cup champions, ...
