One of Lightning poster/fans on our forum pointed out that Kucherov laid 1st round playoff-egg after winning Art Ross last time (
Blue-Jackets 1st rd). Found that interesting, and after sleeping on it, this could be reasoning to why Kucherov looks so darn off. Kucherov doing this once after Art Ross sure. But..... twice after winning Art Ross is starting a pattern. Something might be up, and while X's & O's interest me within sports. The human factor & mental part of sports intrigues me more so. I'll leave the X's & O's to others here: do enjoy reading those X's & O's analyses by the way (
Just because I don't hit like much, doesn't mean I don't read or appreciate everyone's postings) Grrrrr.... them darn like-buttons!!! So thanks again to those who post and give great X's & O's info/stats, wanted to say this before crawling back into lurk mode here soon.
P
ossible reasons to Kuch is laying another playoff egg after Art Ross
- Kuch is playing another good D, any good D or goalie can make anyone look worse.
- When considering Lightning's lack of bottom 6 scoring help, and Florida being better Defensively, this allow Panthers to locked down stars better.
- But only thing with D being reasoning: is Kuch has faced tough D during playoff many times over all since 2015. Kucherov has preformed and shown he's capable of handling great D/goalies in playoffs. Even when rest of team is laying eggs.
- Plus,, Kucherov is making unforced errors to much, while having space/time, that he barley makes (bad passes, puck handling, etc.).
- I'm starting to think: Kucherov just doesn't play under individual-accolades-microscope well at all. This is amplified 10-fold when Kuch's individual attention is across all of Hockey world.
- Kucherov goes into fumble & stumble mode: The Kuch we're witnessing right now can't even make basic passes, with plenty of space, alone special plays he's known for. Some pass attempts are like 1-2 yards off, it's like watching a completely different player these last 3 games.
- Maybe it's Kuch's "Sorta" shy-humble personality that wants to stay unnoticed that causing some of this. Kuch just wants to play "Team Hockey" and "Win playoff games". Kucherov has never cared or doesn't care now about individual accolades. (NHL All-star game anyone?)
- Who knows, but Lightning only go as far as "QB Kucherov" takes them. This has been so since 2015 and don't see any reason to why that would change now.
- This is even more so now when we consider Lightning are dealing with what "Salary Caps" are suppose to do, weaken successful teams. Lightning had worse success timing -vs- cap timing any multiple "Cup" winner dealt with ever. This smacked Lightning slap silly!!! Like a professional fighter might do to some chump on-the-streets. But that understandable, it happens. To Lightning credit, they've done well to stay playoff competitive, to tell ya the truth.
- Still, Lightning can't afford bad Kucherov now more than ever. If this version of Kucherov played this regular season, Lightning are maybe NHL bottom-dweller.
If Kucherov wins another Art Ross, maybe Lightning should give Kucherov a few Bud-lights or more, before playoff game to loosen him up, >>>>
Winning Cup + Bud-light = Not shy Kucherov and very "I don't give a ---k" personality. Maybe that follows Kucherov onto ice.....
Many NHL fans probably think Kucherov is that personality from press-conference & "Cup" parades
(Nope, that's far from truth: Kucherov is as shy as they come & hates individual media attention, Really hates it!!!). With this being so, don't think Kucherov would handle any NHL market that has huge-crazed media following team. That would bring something Kuch really doesn't like, handle well, etc . Lightning/Tampa is perfect place/environment for Kucherov, he gets to hang low-profile all season long
(I give NHL stars benefit of doubt in those situations, it can be to much. Also try not to rag on any NHL player dealing with that either) Watch other Kuch interviews, one will see a shy Kucherov that could succumb to pressures that great individual achievements bring about. Mental part of sports is fascinating to me; Throw in when Kucherov mentions "Lightning" head space of knowing Lightning would win more "Cups' and make SCF appearances after appearance, If the Lightning could ever get 1st mental block of 1st "Cup" done with. During that Bud-light: truth srum did it;s thing, Kucherov showed us all: he is very aware of mental part of game, what that can do to any team/players, and what happens if team/players overcome that or doesn't.
Florida is to great of a team, and legit "Cup" contenders, to have Kucherov playing this way and win. Lightning have/are only going as far as Kucherov carries them. Florida notched up even more pressure with great D and goalie play this series (
Last couple years too) This helped neutralize an already messed up Kucherov. Doubt Lightning comeback from 0-3 against this version of Florida, but if Kuch could get that mental block corrected, who knows what could happen? Could be similar to how Lightning's finally got that 1st 'Cup" mental-block that had ahold of them. After 1st "Cup", Lightning were on-the-way to attempting 3-peating during SCF's 3 yrs straight., Kucherov could go off the same way, he has it in him and rest of Lightning would feed of this like they always do. Lightning have been in last 2 games, and even could've won them. That's with Kucherov playing terrible as one could have nightmares about. So who knows? Dang, what am I thinking? It's nice to dream though.....
