Lightning's Kucherov suffers lower-body injury, but expected to play in opener
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov shouldn't miss any significant time after suffering a lower-body injury Thursday.
The 22-year-old left Thursday night's game against the Dallas Stars early in the first period after receiving a hit from forward Remi Elie.
"He got banged up. But if we're sitting here saying, 'Is he in trouble for opening night? I don't think so. Maybe for Saturday," head coach Jon Cooper told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.
Kucherov had a slight limp after the game, but said "I'm fine'' when asked if he's okay.
— Erik Erlendsson (@erlendssonTBO) October 2, 2015
The Lightning open the regular season Thursday when the Philadelphia Flyers come to town.