NHL playoffs 2018: Nikita Kucherov in middle of everything as Lightning beat Devils in Game 4

Jim Cerny

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NHL playoffs 2018: Nikita Kucherov in middle of everything as Lightning beat Devils in Game 4 image

NEWARK, N.J. — You couldn't keep your eyes off Nikita Kucherov Wednesday night at the Prudential Center. Whether it was scoring two goals, assisting on a third, disrupting the opponent's offensive flow with solid defensive play or delivering a crushing — and controversial — hit on Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen, Kucherov was at the heart of the Lightning's 3-1 victory in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against New Jersey.

"I thought he was the best all-around player on the ice tonight," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "Kuch tonight flexed his muscles."

After the Devils jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Kyle Palmieri's 5-on-3 power play goal, Kucherov assisted on J.T. Miller's tying tally at 11:30 of the first period and then roofed a shot from the slot over the shoulder of Cory Schneider to make it 2-1 less than four minutes later. That turned out to be the game-winner. He finished off the Devils with an empty-net goal with 1:08 remaining in regulation.

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Kucherov told reporters he was "pissed off" after Tampa's 5-2 loss to the Devils in Game 3 Monday and carried that into Wednesday's contest.

He was flying all over the ice, leading his team with seven shots on goal and nine shot attempts in 20:28 worth of ice time. Leading by example, Kucherov "played the right way" — his words — a solid 200-foot game, and not just in the offensive zone.

"He did nothing but lift our team," offered Cooper.

In a physical contest, Kucherov also delivered the game's biggest hit, one that was either dirty or exemplary depending on which side of the line you sit.

Roughly a minute after scoring his first goal of the night, Kucherov leveled Vatanen near the boards in the offensive zone, leaving the Devils' top-pair defenseman crumpled on the ice. Vatanen went straight to the dressing room and did not return, leaving New Jersey with five defensemen for the final 44 minutes of the game.

"I actually thought that was a heckuva' hockey hit," Cooper said. "The only bad thing about it is that Vatanen got hurt. It was a bang-bang play, and I don't think (Vatanen) thought he was going to get hit, but, to me, it was a good hit."

Cooper's counterpart, Devils coach John Hynes, was irate that the hit went unpenalized, seen screaming expletives at the officials from the front of New Jersey's bench.

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After the game, Hynes said in an angry, clipped tone, "I don't have any comment on it. It does me no good to get into it."

There was a ripple effect from that hit. The Devils lost their best defenseman. The Lightning were energized. And Kucherov was a target for quite some time afterwards — by the angry fans and Devils players — with several scrums and penalties on both sides the remainder of the night.

"I didn't want to hurt him, definitely, but if I see a guy with the puck, I'm going to finish him," said Kucherov, known more for his offensive flair — he was one of only three NHL players to reach 100 points this season — than physical play.

Miller acknowledged that the latter part of Kucherov's game Wednesday was just as important as his three-point effort.

"I couldn't believe it was him, that's a big-league hit right there," Miller said. "That's the type player he is. He's competitive, wants to win really bad.

"Any time you see one of your top offensive players, one of the best in the league, hit a guy like that — that's a big-time hit — that gives the group a spark, sent the message that this is a big game."

Of course, the offensive contributions can not be overlooked either. Kucherov has at least one point in all four games of this series, so far, and his nine points are tied with Sidney Crosby and David Pastrnak for the league lead in the postseason. Kucherov's goals Wednesday lifted him into second place on the franchise's all-time playoff list with 26.

In 49 career postseason games, Kucherov now has 51 points, third most in Lightning history and just one behind Vincent Lecavalier for second place.

"It doesn't matter who scores, just as long as we win," Kucherov said.

One more win, and the Lightning are on to the second round of the playoffs. That first opportunity to advanace comes Saturday, when the Lightning host the Devils in Game 5, up three games to one.

And Kucherov will be in the middle of it all again -- the league deciding Thursday not to meet with him about the hit on Vatanen.

Jim Cerny