Holtby explained how Kucherov fooled him with the "no move" move for the second time this season

BarDown Staff

Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images

This season, Nikita Kucherov has established himself as one of the best players in the NHL. The 24-year-old leads the league in points with 78 and is just 7 points away from setting a new career high.

He's been one of the biggest parts of Tampa Bay's success this season and if he continues to play at this level in the playoffs, the Lightning are going to be tough to beat.

Final numbers from tonight’s 4-2 win in DC! #TBLvsWSH pic.twitter.com/oSxoAEHG9S
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 21, 2018

Speaking of Tampa being tough to beat, Tuesday night the Capitals found that out the hard way as they lost on home ice to the Bolts 4-2. Just over midway through the 3rd period, Kucherov iced the game with a breakaway goal, but it wasn't just any breakaway goal.

When you fool one of the best goalie in the league twice in a month.... Holtby is so mad at himself after tonight’s goal!! https://t.co/ulzlHiwHNL
— Martin Biron (@martybiron43) February 21, 2018

I’ve watched it 5 times. My first reaction was accident, upon further review, Kucherov did that on purpose. It was a ridiculous move. I’m with @Buccigross on this one. https://t.co/fEAMtp61Z8
— Mike Johnson (@mike_p_johnson) February 21, 2018

Kucherov pulled off the "no move" for the third time this season and the second time against Braden Holtby. The first time he did it to Holtby was in the All-Star game.

The montage of all three #TBLightning Nikita Kucherov breakaway/shootout moves https://t.co/j1dlZL9PmD
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) February 21, 2018

If you've seen both goals, though, you can tell this one is much different than the other one and after falling victim to the "no move" for a second time, Holtby recognized that fact.

Holtby on Kucherov's goal and if ASG one was in his head: "The key to getting better is learning from your mistakes, and obviously I didn't do that. I was just trying to play it patient. I wasn't trying to cheat towards that move, and he came at it a different way."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 21, 2018

There's no doubt the move was executed differently this time and because that was the case, some of Kucherov's teammates didn't think he did it intentionally.

Some of Kucherov's teammates (Stamkos was one) were teasing him that his move (or non move) on fourth goal wasn't intentional.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 21, 2018

Kucherov, on the other hand, respectfully disagreed with his teammates.

Q: Some of your teammates were giving you a hard time. Intentional or not intentional?
Kucherov: What do you think?
Q: I've seen you do it before.
Kucherov: Well, you've seen me do it before, so I did it again.
Q:: Make extra move over puck?
Kucherov: "Something different."
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 21, 2018

We tend to agree with Kucherov and now that Holtby has fallen victim to the move that's not actually a move twice now, you have to think there's no way he'll get fooled a third time.

(H/T: Isabelle Khurshudyan)