Nikita Kucherov: Man at Work

Nikita Kucherov slides over to the right faceoff circle, shimmies his hips just enough to open himself up and then rears his stick back high in the air, announcing to teammate Victor Hedman he’s ready and waiting. Hedman, sitting atop the left circle, senses the All-Star winger set up in prime position and slides the puck perfectly across the ice right into Kucherov’s sweet spot. In an instant, the stick rockets forward, delivering a one-timer that eludes the glove of Detroit Red Wings’ goaltender Jimmy Howard and pops the water bottle on the top of the net out of its…