When the Triplets were reunited for the third game of the Tampa Bay Lightning season, I was somewhat reserved about it and at the same time quietly optimistic. While they had been successful since their incredible 2014-15 campaign, they hadn’t been quite the same dominant force. They aren’t back to being that either and so far in a small sample size on the advanced stats side of things, they’re worse than they were in previous seasons together.
Nikita Kucherov looks to still be struggling with his timing. His passes have been off the mark, he’s mishandled pucks, and the frustration has shown on the ice.