New York. As if that wasn’t enough of how good the current champions really are, superstar Nikita Kucherov appears to have found the shape of the Stanley Cup, too.
He scored both goals and perhaps the most beautiful assist in the entire playoffs when last night Tampa won the unexpectedly sweet opening game of the series against Florida.
“He was absolutely world class, I can’t help but shake my head,” Corey Berry says after the 4-1 victory
At the end of the second period in the first Florida Derby at Sunrise just west of Fort Lauderdale, Nikita Kucherov created her own small artwork.
He grabbed the disc in its own area and flew away over the ice. After crossing the Blue Line, he easily and provocatively deflected his star back Aaron Ekblad, coming out completely against fellow countryman Serge Bobrovsky and was on the verge of a shot. Then he instead hit, mid-cut, a completely surprising diagonal pass to Corey Berry, who just had to put the disc in an empty bag.
– It seemed easy and I’ve always said the same thing about Coach. He knows what opponents have to do before they know him, cheers coach John Cooper.
Corey Berry cheers, too.
– Yes, that was world class. I can’t help but shake my head, he really is a Hall of Fame player.
With that goal, Perry tied the Panthers’ 1-0 lead in the opening period. Then Tampa took over and won the nice, tamed match 4-1 – without immediately acting.
– But I am satisfied with our efforts. It was the little things that decided and they are only very good at the little things, which is why they won two championships in a row. But we’re learning every night and we’ll be better next time, says Florida coach Andrew Brunet.
Victor Hedmann helped score a powerful third-half goal, scored by not-so-hot Kocherov.
The second game in the series will be scheduled on Friday night.