The Latest Breaking News from Nikita Kucherov

RALEIGH, N.C. — For those wondering how the Carolina Hurricanes would fare after the NHL trade deadline, here’s their response:

PITTSBURGH — The mood inside PPG Paints Arena, pure jubilation after the Penguins exploded for five goals in the span of four minutes, 27 seconds Sunday, could not have been more different than it was inside this building just three nights earlier.

DETROIT — The Red Wings' surge up the standings hit a roadblock Saturday named Andrei Vasilevskiy.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Lightning knew how dangerous the Sabres were going into Thursday night’s game, and they are sure of it now. Buffalo defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin scored a short-handed goal 1:41 into overtime to send Tampa Bay to a 6-5 loss at Amalie Arena.

SUNRISE, Fla. — The past two seasons, the Lightning spent the second half of the regular season jostling with the Panthers for playoff positioning near the top of the Atlantic Division.

TAMPA, Fla. — Something had to give.

TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Stamkos left the building Thursday night with everyone wanting just one more goal. The Lightning captain snapped a four-game drought with a power-play goal to pull within a goal of the 500 mark in a 5-4 win over the Vancouver Canucks at Amalie Arena.

TAMPA, Fla. — Not much has had to be said in the Lightning locker room since their loss in Winnipeg Friday night. They knew how much their own mistakes cost them against the Jets, and the defeat didn’t sit well with coaches or players.

TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Stamkos celebrated New Year’s Eve Saturday night by snapping a six-game goal drought and helping the Lightning rally and beat the the Coyotes, 5-3, Saturday night at Amalie Arena.

TAMPA, Fla. — Closing their six-game homestand Thursday night against a Blue Jackets squad with the fewest points in the Eastern Conference, the Lightning had to be careful not to be lulled into a letdown game.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Lightning were on their heels midway through the second period Tuesday night. A relentless Seattle Kraken forecheck was buzzing, Tampa Bay was fighting to get the puck out of its own end, and it seemed like just a matter of time before it relinquished its one-goal…