Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews will not face disciplinary action for a incident involving Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. A report on the matter clarified that the NHL Department of Player Safety will not pursue further punishment in this case.
During the sequence at the end of a skirmish, Kucherov appeared to be struck, and Toews was assessed a two-minute penalty. Kucherov attempted to continue, but ultimately left the game for evaluation in the locker room.
Kucherov has dealt with significant health setbacks in recent seasons, including a hip injury that sidelined him for a substantial portion of the 2020-21 campaign, followed by surgery. Early in the current season, the Russian forward also missed several weeks due to an injury.
In a game that carried heavy implications for the Stanley Cup Final, Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Colorado Avalanche by a wide margin in Game 3 with a final score of 6-2. Kucherov contributed two assists in the matchup. After three games, the series tally stood with Colorado leading 2-1.
The schedule now pointed to a rematch on June 23 in Tampa, where both teams would look to adjust strategies and momentum as the series progressed.
There was later commentary from the Lightning camp suggesting Kucherov would be available for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, underscoring the ongoing drama and timing surrounding player availability in this high-stakes series.
[Citation: NHL reporting on disciplinary decisions and game outcomes, consulted for accuracy and context.]