Kucherov's Hat Trick Propels Lightning Over Hurricanes in Season Opener
Tampa Bay Lightning secure a 4-1 victory against Carolina Hurricanes amid Hurricane Milton disruptions.
- Nikita Kucherov scored a third-period hat trick, including two empty-net goals, to lead the Lightning to victory.
- Brayden Point contributed with a power-play goal for Tampa Bay, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 20 saves.
- The game marked a challenging start to the season for the Lightning, who evacuated to North Carolina due to Hurricane Milton.
- The scheduled rematch in Tampa Bay was postponed due to ongoing recovery efforts in Florida.
- Despite disruptions, the Lightning players remained focused, offering a morale boost to fans in storm-affected areas.
Tampa Bay Times 
Deadspin 
The Canadian Press 
Associated Press 
Winnipeg Free Press 