We billed this match-up as Nikita Kucherov, the number one point man in the NHL, versus Nathan MacKinnon, the number two point man in the league, and it didn’t disappoint. Kucherov had three points to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. MacKinnon had two points (and a bloody nose) in the loss. Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point, and Steven Stamkos had multipoint nights as the Bolts picked up their third win in a row.
Clad in their new all-black third jerseys, the Lightning, who haven’t played on home ice in 13 days, got off to a fast start.