Panthers center Trocheck returns to ice after fracture
Florida Panthers center Vincent Trocheck was back on the ice and skating Friday, barely six weeks removed from fracturing his right ankle.
The team released a photo of Trocheck on the ice before the team practiced. There is still no timetable for his return.
Trocheck had three goals and 11 assists in 18 games before he got hurt in a gruesome scene after crashing into the boards Nov. 19 at Ottawa, and had surgery to repair the fracture two days later. Trocheck has said that he plans on returning to the team this season.
He had career-highs of 31 goals and 44 assists for the Panthers in the 2017-18 season.
Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning got off to a strong start last season, only to lose momentum after Christmas. They aren’t about to let that happen again, as the Los Angeles Kings found out.
Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists as the Lightning kept steamrolling along, beating the Kings, 6-2, late Thursday night for their seventh consecutive victory.
“This group has been together for quite a while, so we know what we’re capable of,” Tampa Bay forward Ryan Callahan said. “Make sure we continue to rise and continue to play well, not have that dip we had last year, and so far out of the break we’ve done that.”
The NHL-leading Lightning have earned at least one point in 16 consecutive games — the longest streak in the league this season. They are 15-0-1 during the run.
“We’re on a good stretch, obviously, and we’re having fun with it,” Callahan said. “We’re coming to the rink and we’re ready to work is the biggest thing. [Thursday] was no different.”
The Lightning jumped in front, 3-0, in the first period, with Kucherov getting his 400th NHL point by scoring on a 5-on3 power play at 6:28.