Major Help On The Way For Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters that Nikita Kucherov is returning to the lineup for Thursday night's game against the Calgary Flames.

It's been a long time coming, as Kucherov has not played since October 16th's contest versus the Washington Capitals. He sustained a lower-body injury during that game, but now, he has healed and is ready to go.

Before getting hurt, Kucherov was off to another excellent start this campaign. In three games, he had a goal and three helpers. Although the Lightning certainly missed him, they have been dominant this season yet again. At this time, they have a 22-8-5 record and lead the league with 49 points. Yet, things should only improve from here, as the 28-year-old winger is easily one of the best players in the sport. That's a scary thought for the rest of the league.

Alas, let's see how Kucherov performs in his first contest in almost three months. It wouldn't be surprising if he has himself a big night.