Lightning’s Kucherov leaves game vs. Hurricanes

Not only did the Tampa Bay Lightning lose their second-straight game on Tuesday, but now they have to worry about the health of Nikita Kucherov.

In the Lightning’s 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Kucherov left the game near the end of the second period and didn’t return for the third.

It’s unclear what caused Kucherov to leave the game, but Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters that he was feeling “under the weather” prior to the matchup.

However, Cooper had no update on Kucherov’s status when asked about it after Tuesday’s game.

The Lightning star played 15:17 and was a minus-2 before he was forced to exit.

In 61 games for the Lightning this season, the 31-year-old Kucherov has 28 goals and 64 assists and is third in the league scoring race with 92 points.

The Lightning sit third in the Atlantic Division, three points back of the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs.