Nikita Kucherov delivered three assists in his NHL debut with a new team, marking his first action since publicly requesting a trade, but the Tampa Bay Lightning fell short in a hard-fought shootout loss to the Nashville Predators. The game highlighted the forward’s immediate impact on offense despite his team’s late-season setback, raising questions about how his arrival might reshape the Lightning’s playoff push. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if his chemistry with the roster can translate into consistent wins as the season winds down. The shootout defeat adds another twist to an already unpredictable offseason for both franchises.

NASHVILLE -- Nikita Kucherov had three assists in his first game after he requested a trade, but the Tampa Bay Lightning lost 5-4 to the Nashville Predators in a shootout at Bridgestone Arena on ...