Nikita Kucherov scores hat trick, adds assist in Lightning win over Sabres

Fantasy hockey: Kucherov put up three goals and one assist Wednesday, a normal monster night for a player already averaging 1.66 points per game.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · November 12, 2026 · Updated November 15, 2026

Nikita Kucherov scored three goals and added one assist on five shots in 17:30 of ice time Wednesday, November 11, as the Lightning beat the Sabres 8-3. One of his goals came on the power play, where he leads Tampa Bay with 4:08 a night on the first unit.

The four-point night comes from a player already averaging 1.66 points per game in his recent averages, making this a normal elite outing rather than anything requiring action. His underlying play grades 94 out of 100 among forwards in shots, scoring chances and ice time, showing how sustainable his production is. The performance also comes amid his trade request and reported pursuit of a six-year deal at $20 million annually.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Nikita Kucherov

Kucherov's hat trick and assist Wednesday represent exactly the kind of output his recent averages predict: 0.56 goals and 1.10 assists per game, or 1.66 points per night. His 20:31 average ice time and 3.2 shots per game frame the minutes and volume that support that scoring. The 94 process grade, which measures shot generation, scoring chances and ice time, suggests the production will hold.

Tampa Bay plays four games this week, on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday. Kucherov ranks first among all Lightning skaters in power-play time at 4:08 per game, and his recent averages show 0.53 power-play points per game. The trade request and contract talks add off-ice intrigue, but his on-ice value was already priced in before this game.

Leo Carlsson

Cale Makar

What to do

• Keep Kucherov in your lineup for Tampa Bay's four games this week, as his production matches his elite averages.

• Monitor the trade situation for any impact on his ice time or role, though Wednesday's 17:30 suggests no immediate change.

• Recognize that this performance, while spectacular, represents his normal level rather than a breakout worth chasing through trades.

Schedule this week