Kucherov gets 3 points in return, Lightning top Canucks

VANCOUVER -- Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists in his return after missing two games with an undisclosed injury, and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at Rogers Arena on Sunday.

Jake Guentzel scored the go-ahead goal on a power play at 16:04 of the third period after a backdoor pass from Kucherov deflected in off him.

“'Kuch' is a special player, so when the puck is on his stick, a lot of things happen,” Guentzel said. “He made a lot of nice plays tonight.”

Brayden Point had two goals and two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves for the Lightning (14-9-2), who have won three of their past four games.

It was the second straight four-point game for Point, who has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his past five games.

“Just another kind of 'Kuch' night, factoring in on all the goals, so great to have him back,” Point said. “It was a good team effort for us, though, a lot of guys blocking shots, sacrificing, taking hits to make plays and that's why we ended up winning."

Tampa Bay lost two players during the game. Forward Anthony Cirelli left the game after getting hit awkwardly into the bench by Vancouver defenseman Noah Juulsen with 6:11 left in the first period, and defenseman Erik Cernak left after taking a hit from Canucks forward Aatu Raty on his first shift of the third period.

“Tough night, especially we're on the road here for four [games] out west, and to lose some of these guys early on, so we'll know more tomorrow,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “Nervous about these. It's hard right after the game because you don't really know, but let you know [on Monday in Edmonton].”

Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood scored, and Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves for the Canucks (14-8-4), who lost in regulation for the first time in five games (3-1-1).

Vancouver went 0-for-2 on the power play, including only generating just one shot on an early four-minute advantage after Hughes was high-sticked by Brandon Hagel. Tampa Bay went 2-for-4 on the power play.

“Special teams won the game for them, and their best players,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “But I thought 5-on-5 we were fine. It’s just obviously unfortunate, can't have that too many men (penalty that led to the winning goal). And then it’s the Kucherov show. There you go. So, that's the way I look at it.”

Hughes missed almost 12 minutes after he was high-sticked 55 seconds into the first period, but he returned wearing a full face shield and put the Canucks ahead 1-0 at 16:08. Pius Suter won an offensive zone draw back to Hughes, and the defenseman skated down the left wing almost to the goal line before spinning back and up to the top of the left circle for a backhand that beat a screened Vasilevskiy blocker side.

“He’s been doing that all year,” Tocchet said. “Big one for us. A [heck] of a goal.”

It was Hughes' 50th NHL goal in his 391st game, becoming the second fastest Canucks defenseman to reach the milestone, behind Rick Lanz (375 games). It also extended his point streak to seven games (three goals, 10 assists).

Hughes was getting medical treatment after the game and didn’t speak to media.

“He came back out, did his thing, played great for us, like he has been all year,” defense partner Tyler Myers said.

Kucherov tied it 1-1 at 4:40 of the second period. Ryan McDonagh skated into a loose puck above the left face-off dot and passed cross ice, stranding Lankinen and leaving Kucherov with an open net from the right dot.

Point scored on a power play to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead at 6:29, beating Lankinen from the left dot after a one-touch pass from Kucherov at the right dot similarly stranded Lankinen.

Kucherov had only one full practice since he was injured in his previous game on Nov. 29.

“I've watched him do that for a lot of games and to miss the games he has, hasn't played in 10 days, or whatever it is, and comes out and has three points,” Cooper said. “He's a special player and to pull games out like this, he's usually a big part of it, and he was tonight.”

Sherwood tied it 2-2 at 4:52 of the third period, one-timing a pass from Myers below the goal under Vasilevskiy from just above the crease.

After Guentzel put the Lightning back in front, Point shot into an empty net at 19:42 for the 4-2 final.

“Our 5-on-5 play and start was a lot better,” Sherwood said. “Obviously, their power play has been good for so many years and down the stretch, it's a game of inches, and it came down to special teams. I keep saying it, but there's a lot to keep building on and we’ve just got to continue to improve night in, night out.”

NOTES: Tampa Bay has scored a power-play goal in six straight games, going 8-for-18 in that time. … The Lightning outshot the Canucks 18-5 in the second period. ... Point leads the NHL with 10 power-play goals. He has 99 career power-play goals and 10 career four-point games, which is tied with Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis for third most in franchise history, behind Steven Stamkos (22) and Kucherov (30). … Kucherov has 256 career multipoint games, one behind St. Louis for second most in team history.