Kucherov ejected for kneeing Panthers' Tkachuk

Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov was ejected from Monday's clash against the Florida Panthers for a knee-on-knee collision with Matthew Tkachuk.

The incident occurred late in the first period. Kucherov was handed a five-minute major and a game misconduct after a review.

Tkachuk needed help down the tunnel, but he returned to action in the second frame - much to the joy of Panthers fans.

"That's who he is," Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said of Tkachuk's return, per NHL.com's Jameson Olive. "He's incredible. He's not going down easily. You can count on him. He's going to come back no matter what. He's a true, true warrior. He battles through a lot of things."

Florida head coach Paul Maurice echoed Barkov's sentiments.

"He just knew we needed him back," he said. "He wasn't at 100% obviously. ... He tried to figure out a way tonight and we appreciate that about him."

Kucherov scored the game's opening goal before being tossed from the contest. Tampa Bay won 4-0 to draw even in the home-and-home set against its state rivals.

Lightning forward Brandon Hagel thinks his team made a statement with the victory.

"You look back at this game, especially if we make that push to the playoffs, I think this is the game you can look back at," he said, per the Tampa Bay Times' Eduardo A. Encina. "Also, this builds momentum going forward. I think everyone grew as a player, and everyone can tap the guy beside him and trust him after a game like this."

Kucherov entered Monday's slate with 49 points - tied for the fourth most in the league - in 29 contests.

Tkachuk, meanwhile, ranked second on the Panthers with 13 goals and 35 points in 30 showings before taking on the Lightning.

Kucherov was suspended one game for boarding Columbus Blue Jackets defeseman Markus Nutivaara during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.