Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman carries a "Tampa Strong" flag in honor of the victims of Hurricane Milton before an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Kucherov gets 4th goal of the season, Lightning beat Canucks 4-1 in Milton-delayed home opener

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nikita Kucherov scored his fourth goal of the season, and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 in their hurricane-delayed home opener on Tuesday night.

Kucherov had a hat trick the last time the Lightning took the ice, and he was the one to open the scoring against the Canucks off a feed from Darren Raddysh 3:55 into the game.

The Lightning were scheduled to open the home season Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, but the game was postponed due to the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel each had a goal and an assist in the win, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves in net.

Conor Garland scored Vancouver’s only goal on a power play in the third period. Arturs Silovs stopped 24 shots for the Canucks.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (40) moves the puck around Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Takeaways

Canucks: Vancouver is 0-1-2 after winning 50 games last season. The offense has eight goals, including five in the first period, through three games.

Lightning: After spending most of last week in Raleigh, North Carolina, due to Hurricane Milton, some players and staff, including coach Jon Cooper, are staying in hotels due to ongoing power outages. The off-ice situation has not affected their performance in games.

Key moment

After Tampa Bay failed to make it 3-0 during a late second-period power play, Vasilevskiy made strong saves on Tyler Myers and Brock Boeser. Garland also put a shot off the post during that stretch.

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates with the bench after his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Key stat

Kucherov had a point on all of the Lightning’s first five goals to start the season. Only Connor McDavid (nine, 2018-19), Adam Oates (seven, 1986-87), Andre Boudrias (six, 1973-74), Bill Cowley (six, 1938-39) and Aurele Joliat (six, 1929-30) have longer streaks.

Up next

The Lightning remain at home Thursday night to face the Golden Knights. Vancouver plays Florida on the road on Thursday night.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) stops a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Vancouver Canucks’ Carson Soucy (7) keeps Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jake Guentzel from a rebound. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) stops a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) as center Jake Guentzel (59) and defenseman Carson Soucy (7) look for a rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Conor Sheary (73) hooks Vancouver Canucks left wing Nils Hoglander (21) for a penalty during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) takes down Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers (57) ties up the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nicholas Paul (20) and left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks with right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) and center Jake Guentzel (59) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) works around Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) and goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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