Kucherov departs with lower-body injury after taking awkward hit

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov was ruled out for the remainder of Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins after suffering a lower-body injury in the second period, the team announced.

Kucherov took an awkward hit behind the net from Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson.

This is the collision that injured Kucherov. Possible hyperextension of the knee or his arm/shoulder got caught up against the boards while reaching out. Really hard to tell. pic.twitter.com/4wRV0AeFxP

- Bolts Jolts (@BoltsJolts) February 12, 2020

Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli was also forced from the game with a lower-body injury. The 22-year-old exited in the first period after logging six minutes of action.

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper could not offer a postgame update on either player and said the team would hopefully know more after its off day Thursday, according to The Athletic's Joe Smith.

Kucherov picked up his 43rd assist of the campaign on Tampa Bay's first-period tally and leads the club in both goals (27) and points (70) through 56 games this season.

The Lightning were also without captain Steven Stamkos, who was sidelined for a second straight game with a lower-body injury of his own.

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