Examining Kucherov's uncanny ability to score from wherever he wants

By now, the hockey world is well aware of Nikita Kucherov's penchant for scoring goals, and after netting 40 in 2016-17, it appears the mystery on how to slow down the Russian sniper is yet to be solved.

Kucherov, who's potted five goals in five games to start the new campaign, is a strong possession player, has great linemates, fires a ton of shots on goal, and gets top minutes at both even strength and on the powerplay - all of which are key ingredients to producing a high number of goals.

However, no matter how you boil it down, the bottom line when it comes to Kucherov is he can score from anywhere, in any way. Below, we'll take a look at multiple examples of his unique goal-scoring versatility.

Backhand magic

Here's a look at Kucherov's latest goal, the game-winner in Saturday's contest versus St. Louis.

It's Nikita Kucherov's world.

We're just living in it. " #STLvsTBL pic.twitter.com/qaiDOioT6Y

- Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 15, 2017

Even after losing balance, Kucherov had the wherewithal to catch goaltender Jake Allen briefly sliding to his left, and expose a small gap beneath his blocker.

If you're a Lightning fan, the finish must look very familiar.

Monday against Washington, Kucherov scored a nearly-identical goal. With defenseman Taylor Chorney at his mercy, Kucherov turned on the jets and went upstairs in tight on a shot not many players in the world can pull off at full speed.

The release

Backhand be damned, Kucherov's wrist shot is his bread and butter. Thursday against Pittsburgh, he reminded us of that.

The Penguins gave Kucherov a comfortable cushion as he entered the zone, which proved to be a fatal mistake. Coasting above the circle, Kucherov rifled a perfect far-side shot, one he made look far too easy from such a distance.

Note how he waited until Brayden Coburn blocked the goaltender's vision before uncorking that lethal release at the perfect moment.

One-timer

He's yet to convert on one so far this season, but you can count on Kucherov scoring a one-timer sooner rather than later. Especially considering he scored three in one game from the exact same spot a year ago.

While Alex Ovechkin's power play office is on the left circle, Kucherov's is on the right. Looking at his shot locations at five-on-four last season, it's easy to see where he does his damage.

(Chart courtesy: hockeyviz.com)

In three seasons as a full-time NHLer, Kucherov has seen his goal totals rise each year. Considering his arsenal of shots and ability to score from all over the ice, you can expect that trend to continue in 2017-18.

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