In a crowded field of generational talents, Tampa Bay Lightning wing Nikita Kucherov hides in plain sight.That’s often the case with Kucherov, who just won his second consecutive regular-season scoring title and third overall.

Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

In a game in which the story line going in was the return of Matthew Tkachuk (who did not disappoint), the story within the story was just how many things could have possibly gone wrong for the Tampa Bay Lightning in its playoff opener against the Florida Panthers.