Kucherov, Nikita

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4 @ Gatineau Olympiques 6

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: Did not play
Season totals: 18 GP, 12-19-31, +5, 2 PIM
With R-N: 12 GP, 9-12-21, +6, 0 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Kucherov re-injured his hand in Friday night’s game and missed Saturday’s game. He missed two weeks earlier this month with the injury.

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 3 @ Quebec Remparts 2

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 0-0-0, -1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG, 2 Hits
Season totals: 48 GP, 20-46-66, +21, 81 PIM

After points in seven straight games, Cedric Paquette is scoreless in his last two, including Saturday night’s big road win in Quebec City.

Val-d’Or Foreurs 1 @ Rimouski Oceanic 3

D Artem Sergeev, VDO: 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM, 3 SOG, 1 Hit
Season totals: 39 GP, 6-23-29, +16, 38 PIM

The Oceanic completed a two-game weekend sweep of the Foreurs with a 3-1 win on Saturday. Sergeev was scoreless in both games of the series.

We continue our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.

The Prospect of the Week for January 30 is … Nikita Kucherov, W, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL – Canada)

Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov made his 2013 QMJHL debut last week after missing nearly the entire month of January because of his participation in the 2013 World Junior Championships in Russia and rehabbing an injury he sustained in the tournament.

Bolt Prospects has learned that Kucherov sustained an arm injury when he was knocked to the ice late in the tourney. He returned to Quebec immediately after the WJCs to heal.

When he was deemed healthy again, Kucherov wasted no time finding the scoresheet for the Huskies, notching a goal and an assist on Friday in a loss to fellow Lightning prospect Artem Sergeev and Val-d’Or. The next day he mirrored his Friday effort with a goal and a helper in a loss to Chicoutimi. Finally, he produced a goal and two assists on Sunday in a big win over the Sagueneens to give him three goals and seven points in three games last week.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Chicoutimi Sagueneens 4 @ Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 1-1-2, -1, 0 PIM, 1 SOG, 0 Hits
Season totals: 15 GP, 11-15-26, +4, 2 PIM
With R-N: 9 GP, 8-8-16, +5, 0 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist for the second straight game since returning from an upper body injury. His Huskies outshot the Sags, 27-19, but fell at home, 4-2. The Huskies have lost four in a row and seven of their past 10.

Ontario Hockey League

Owen Sound Attack 1 @ Guelph Storm 2

C/W Tanner Richard, GUE: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season totals: 35 GP, 6-41-47, +17, 80 PIM

Guelph scored a big home win over division-rival Owen Sound, 2-1. Tanner Richard was scoreless for the victors. Blues goalie prospect Jordan Binnington has been near unbeatable lately, but Guelph was able to sneak two by him for their sixth straight win.

Windsor Spitfires 3 @ Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds 2 (SO)

D Slater Koekkoek, WIN: Did not play
Season totals: 40 GP, 6-23-29, -24, 28 PIM
With Windsor: 2 GP, 0-1-1, +2, 0 PIM
With Peterborough: 38 GP, 6-22-28, -26, 28 PIM

Slater Koekkoek (pictured, Windsor Star photo) is out for the season with an injured shoulder. He had the shoulder examined by Lightning doctors who recommended he have surgery on it for the second year in a row. He should be ready for Lightning camp next fall, though barring unforeseen circumstances, he will ultimately return to the OHL next season.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2 @ Val-d’Or Foreurs 6

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 1-1-2, E, 0 PIM, 5 SOG, 0 Hits
Season totals: 14 GP, 10-14-24, +5, 2 PIM
With R-N: 8 GP, 7-7-14, +6, 0 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

D Artem Sergeev, VDO: 0-1-1, +3, 2 PIM, 1 SOG, 2 Hits
Season totals: 35 GP, 5-23-28, +16, 26 PIM

Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov (pictured) was in the Rouyn-Noranda lineup for the first time since December 7 because of his time with Team Russia at the World Junior Championships and an injury sustained in the tournament. On Thursday, he faced fellow Lightning prospect and Team Russia teammate Artem Sergeev, who was plus-3 with an assist. Kucherov is a boost for the Huskies lineup as they move toward the playoff race.

Ontario Hockey League

Barrie Colts 2 @ Niagara IceDogs 1

D Jake Dotchin, BAR: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Season totals: 46 GP, 4-12-16, -3, 51 PIM
With Barrie: 8 GP, 2-0-2, -4, 12 PIM
With Owen Sound: 38 GP, 2-12-14, +1, 39 PIM

Lightning prospect Jake Dotchin was scoreless in a low-scoring Barrie win in St. Catherine’s. Niagara is no doubt missing uber-prospect defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who is on the verge of making the Boston Bruins.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2 @ Quebec Remparts 3

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: Did not play.
Season totals: 13 GP, 9-13-22, +5, 2 PIM
With R-N: 7 GP, 6-6-12, +6, 0 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov remains out of the Huskies lineup following the World Junior Championships. He is battling a minor injury sustained when he fell during the WJCs.

Halifax Mooseheads 4 @ Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 3

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 0-3-3, E, 2 PIM, 8 SOG, 2 Hit
Season totals: 44 GP, 17-42-59, +22, 77 PIM

Cedric Paquette assisted on all three Armada goals to extend his point streak to six games, but B-B lost to the league’s top team, 4-3. Likely 2013 top-3 picks Nathan MacKinnon (1+1) and Jonathan Druin (1 goal) paced the Mooseheads. Druin was first star in the game. Halifax leads the QMJHL by 13 points over Baie-Comeau and are 20 points ahead of the Armada, who have the fourth most points.

Ontario Hockey League

Peterborough Petes 1 @ Brampton Battalion 2

D Dylan Blujus, BRAM: 0-0-0, +1, 2 PIM
Season totals: 47 GP, 2-19-21, -5, 36 PIM

Brampton allowed just 15 shots while defeating the visiting Petes, 2-1. Blujus was on the ice for the game winning goal, scored in the third period.

Guelph Storm 5 @ Kingston Frontenacs 3

C/W Tanner Richard, GUE: 2-0-2, +2, 8 PIM
Season totals: 34 GP, 6-41-47, +17, 80 PIM

Tanner Richard (pictured) had two goals to give him three this week, which doubled his season goal totals coming into this week’s games. His second goal was scored into an empty net. His six goals are seven off his previous season high of 13. He is within one point of his career high for points in a season, set in 43 games last year.

Sarnia Sting 4 @ Windsor Spitfires 5

D Slater Koekkoek, WIN: Did not play
Season totals: 40 GP, 6-23-29, -24, 28 PIM
With Windsor: 2 GP, 0-1-1, +2, 0 PIM
With Peterborough: 38 GP, 6-22-28, -26, 28 PIM

Slater Koekkoek remains in Tampa having his shoulder evaluated. He was getting a tour of the Tampa Bay Times forum on Saturday, per Damian Cristodero of the Times.