Nikita Kucherov (© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0b91c290-40d5-401a-89ea-a602b2ebf98a.jpeg] Nikita Kucherov (© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images) The 2024-25 regular season came to an end on April 17, and the playoffs are now here. The Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning] will kick off their first-round series against the Florida Panthers on April 22, and it is expected to be a fun one. It was an excellent regular season for the Lightning, as they sported a 47-27-8 record and finished second in the Atlantic Division standings. With this, they certainly demonstrated that they are still legitimate contenders and a team that opponents should not take lightly. Nikita Kucherov was a significant reason for the Lightning's regular-season success in 2024-25. In 78 games, the 6-foot winger recorded 37 goals, 84 assists, and a plus-22 rating. He finished the campaign with an NHL-leading 121 points and has won his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy because of it. This is also the third time he has won the Art Ross in his career. Kucherov's dominant play down the stretch helped him secure the Art Ross Trophy yet again this campaign. In his final 17 games during the regular season, he recorded an impressive 29 points. This allowed him to pass Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, who finished the campaign with 116 points. It was simply another special season for Kucherov, and he has added to his trophy collection because of it. Given how spectacularly he played this season, he should receive serious consideration for both the Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award for this campaign as well. After his latest monster season, Kucherov now has 357 goals, 637 assists, 994 points, and a plus-157 rating in 803 career NHL games with the Bolts. Recent Lightning News Lightning Announce Roster Move Ahead Of Rangers Matchup [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/6a0d1afa-b27f-4732-8b8f-e6627c8e4a46.jpeg] Lightning Announce Roster Move Ahead Of Rangers Matchup The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> have made a roster move ahead of their regular-season finale against the New York Rangers, recalling veteran forward Cam Atkinson from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightning-announce-roster-move-ahead-of-rangers-matchup] Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy Receives Massive Praise From Peers [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b6f46f6c-77a5-4ff5-91f8-c9b64df0358c.jpeg] Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy Receives Massive Praise From Peers The NHLPA has <a href="https://www.nhlpa.com/player-poll/2024-25">released their player poll</a> for the 2024-25 season, and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy received some massive praise in it. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightnings-andrei-vasilevskiy-receives-massive-praise-from-peers]
