Team Russia's Nikita Kucherov survives scary moment

PRAGUE -- Nikita Kucherov's hockey worlds collided in a World Cup of Hockey 2016 pretournament game at O2 Arena on Saturday.
At 5:52 of the second period of Team Russia's 2-1 shootout loss to Team Czech Republic, Kucherov was attempting to carry the puck over the offensive blue line when he was involved in a leg-on-leg collision with Team Czech Republic left wing Ondrej Palat.

In their NHL lives, Kucherov and Palat skate together on the Tampa Bay Lightning's "Triplets" line with Tyler Johnson. But, in the World Cup, which begins on Sept. 17 in Toronto, they will be opponents.
And, for a moment, it appeared Palat had injured his Lightning linemate on the play. Kucherov was slow to get up off the ice and flexed his left knee a few times before skating to the bench.
The good news was Kucherov didn't miss any shifts and later scored Team Russia's goal.
"It was a little sore at first, but then it was fine," Kucherov said of his left leg.
Palat received a kneeing minor for the collision, but Kucherov insisted it was his own fault.
"That was my mistake," he said. "I shouldn't go in the middle of three guys. That was my bad. It's a game. There's no friends."
Regardless, Palat skated over to apologize.
"He checked me out and he said, 'Sorry,'" Kucherov said. "I said, 'Don't worry. It's my bad.' He's my friend. I know he wouldn't do it to me on purpose, but it's a game and you have no friends out there. I'll be fine. We joked about it."

After being able to laugh off what potentially could have been a dangerous collision, Kucherov went back to concentrating on finding chemistry with his Team Russia linemates, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Kuznetsov.
Kucherov also scored in Team Russia's 4-3 win against Team Czech Republic in St. Petersburg on Thursday, but Ovechkin said Friday the line needed to improve its play overall and control the puck in the offensive zone.
"When you're a great player, you always want to do better, right?" Kuznetsov said. "So, all we have to do is find the chemistry between us and get back in game shape. Right now, your brain is a little bit slow and your legs [too]. But I think our game is coming and I think we're going play better."
The line combined for four shots on goal Thursday, one from Ovechkin, who averaged an NHL-high five shots on goal per game last season with the Washington Capitals. They didn't start well on Saturday either.
In a game when Team Russia was outshot 34-21, Ovechkin, Kuznetsov and Kucherov didn't have a shot on goal until Ovechkin's from the left circle with 7:27 remaining in the second period. That was the first shift of the game when they were able to generate some sustained offensive-zone pressure.
Ovechkin finished with two shots on goal and seven attempts. Kuznetsov and Kucherov each had two shots on goal.
"I think in the second period we started to get better," Kucherov said. "Every little thing has to be done at the same time and you have to make sure you play the right way. For us, we've got to build on what we did in the second period and in the third and move forward from that."

The line has the potential to be among the best in the World Cup. Ovechkin led the NHL with 50 goals last season, Kuznetsov finished 10th in the League and led the Capitals with 77 points, and Kucherov scored 30 goals and led the Lightning with 66 points.
It might appear Kucherov, 23, is the third wheel on the line because Ovechkin and Kuznetsov have played together at times on the Capitals. But Kucherov has some history with Kuznetsov. They played together for two games at the World Junior Championship in Calgary and Edmonton in 2012 and helped Russia win the silver medal. They demonstrated a little chemistry on Kucherov's goal Saturday, which gave Team Russia the lead 1:04 into the third period.
Kuznetsov threaded a pass from the left corner between the legs of Team Czech Republic center Martin Hanzal before it also slid past Michael Frolik and Jakub Nakladal and found Kucherov alone at the right post for the one-timed goal.
"He's a smart player and if he has the puck I just need to find space," Kucherov said of Kuznetsov. "I'm comfortable with him. I trust him that he can make the play and I feel confident in him. You see what he did. It was just a ridiculous pass backdoor. That's how quick he can do it."