Kucherov, Nikita

SM-liiga (Finland):
JYP 5 @ HIFK 2
Riku Helenius, JYP, DNP
Season totals: 0-3-0, 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .888 sv%

Ex-Lightning forward Eric Perrin had a helper in JYP's 5-2 thumping of HIFK. HIFK features former Lightning draft picks Eero Somervuori and Erikki Rajamaki, who were both scoreless in the match. JYP leaps out of the basement over 3 teams into 11th on the SM-liiga table with the win. They face SaiPa on Tuesday.

KHL (Russia):
Spartak Moscow 2 @ CSKA 1 (SO)
Nikita Kucherov, CSKA, 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Season totals: 7 GP, 0-0-0, -2, 2 PIM

Why do I hate it when 18 year old Russians stay in the KHL rather than coming to North America to develop? This is why. Nikita Kucherov was scoreless and -1 in a sparing 4:59 of ice time in CSKA's 2-1 shootout loss to Spartak. Young players need to play to get better. Period. CSKA faces Novosibirsk next on Sunday. Here's hoping Kucherov actually gets some ice time.

MHL (Russia Jr.):
Chelyabinsk Jr. 5 @ Togliatti Jr. 6 (SO)
Nikita Nesterov. Chelyabinsk Jr., 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 10 GP, 4-4-8, +10, 10 PIM

Nikita Nesterov was scoreless in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 6-5 shootout loss to Togliatti Jr. Chelyabinsk Jr. plays Yaroslavl Jr. next Friday.

KHL:
Dynamo Riga 5 @ CSKA 3
Nikita Kucherov, CSKA, 0-0-0, -2, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Season totals: 6 GP, 0-0-0, -1, 2 PIM

Nikita Kucherov had a rough 6:57 of ice time in CSKA's 5-3 loss to Riga. Ex-Lightning camper Niklas Persson had a pair of assists in the loss for CSKA. CSKA plays Spartak Moscow on Friday.

MHL:
Chelyabinsk Jr. 5 @ Orenburg 7
Nikita Nesterov, Chelyabinsk Jr. 0-1-1, -2, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 8 GP, 4-4-8, +10, 10 PIM

Nikita Nesterov had a shorthanded assist, but was an uncustomary -2 today in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 7-5 loss to Orenburg. Chelyabinsk Jr. draws Ufa Jr. on Tuesday.

SM-liiga (Finland):
JYP 1 @ Pelicans 3
Riku Helenius, JYP, Loss, 27/30, 3.09 GAA, .900 sv%
Season totals: 2 GP, 0-2-0, 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .887 sv%

The good news is Riku Helenius has started the season in a tandem situation for JYP in the SM-liiga. The bad news is he's still looking for his first win after falling 3-1 to Lahti today. Ex-Lightning player Eric Perrin had a helper on JYP's only goal. JYP faces Blues Espoo tomorrow.

KHL (Russia):
CSKA 3 @ Poprad 2
Nikita Kucherov, CSKA, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 5 GP, 0-0-0, -2, 2 PIM

CSKA overcame a goal by ex-NHLer Ladislav Nagy to defeat Slovakian-based Poprad 3-2. Nikita Kucherov played 8:11 in the match. Ex-Lightning prospect Vladimir Mihalik was -1 in 17:24 on the blueline for Poprad. CSKA faces Dynamo Riga on Sunday.

MHL (Russia Jr.)
Chelyabinsk Jr. 7 @ Nizhnekamsk Jr. 3
Nikita Nesterov, Chelyabinsk Jr., 0-0-0, +2, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 7 GP, 4-3-7, +12, 10 PIM

Nikita Nesterov may be cooling off offensively, after back-to-back scoreless games, but he did run his +/- to +12 in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 7-3 shellacking of Nizhnekamsk Jr. Chelyabinsk Jr. draws Orenburg on Sunday.

KHL
Dynamo Riga 5 @ CSKA 3
Nikita Kucherov, CSKA, 0-0-0, -2, 0 PIM
Season totals: 4 GP, 0-0-0, -2, 2 PIM

Ex-NHLer Sandis Ozolinsh had a goal in Dynamo Riga's 5-3 win over CSKA. Nikita Kucherov played 6:57 in the match. CSKA faces Slovakian side Poprad on Friday.

MHL
Novokuznetsk Jr. 3 @ Chelyabinsk Jr. 4 (SO)
Nikita Nesterov, Chelyabinsk Jr., 0-0-0, +1, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 6 GP, 4-3-7, 10 PIM, +10

Nikita Nesterov was held scoreless but did run his season +/- to +10 in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 4-3 shootout win over Novokuznetsk Jr. Chelyabinsk Jr. plays Nizhnekamsk Jr. on Friday.

SM-liiga (Finland)
Karpat 3 @ JYP 2
Riku Helenius, Loss, 20/23, 3.12 GAA, .870 sv%
Season totals: 1 GP, 0-1-0, 0 SO, 3.12 GAA, .870 sv%

Riku Helenius and JYP allowed a pair of third period goals to squander a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes in their 3-2 loss to Karpat. Ex-Lightning forward Eric Perrin had a helper in the match for JYP. JYP's next game is on Wednesday against Blues Espoo.

KHL (Russia)
St. Petersburg 4 @ CSKA 1
Nikita Kucherov, CSKA, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 3 GP, 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM

Ex-Lightning forward Evgeny Artyukhin had a goal and ex-Lightning draft pick Fedor Fedorov had an assist is St. Petersburg's 4-1 thumping of CSKA. Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov played 11:31 in the loss for CSKA. CSKA faces Dynamo Riga on Monday.

Elitserien (Sweden)
Lulea 1 @ Frolunda 2
Johan Harju, Lulea, 1-0-1, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Season totals: 2 GP, 1-0-1, E, 0 PIM

Johan Harju scored the game opening goal off assists from Niklas Olausson and ex-Stars second rounder Johan Fransson, but Lulea fell 2-1 to Frolunda. Lulea faces Djurgardens next on Thursday.