Kucherov garners Player of the Week honor

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Syracuse Crunch right wing Nikita Kucherov has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 3, 2013.

Kucherov tallied five goals and four assists for nine points in three contests, extending his scoring streak to seven games and moving atop the AHL leaderboards.

On Wednesday night in Albany, Kucherov scored two power-play goals 69 seconds apart in the first period, then assisted on a pair of third-period goals to lead Syracuse to a 4-1 victory. On Friday, he again tallied two goals and two assists – his third four-point game of the season – before scoring in the shootout to help the Crunch to a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Rochester. And Saturday, Kucherov scored again and took a game-high nine shots on goal in Syracuse’s 4-2 loss to Binghamton, finishing the week with a point on nine of the Crunch’s 10 non-shootout goals.

A second-round draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2011, Kucherov leads the AHL with 11 goals and is tied for first with 20 points in 10 games for Syracuse. His six power-play goals and 11 power-play points are also tops in the league. Last season, the 20-year-old rookie played junior hockey in the QMJHL, totaling 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points in just 33 games between Quebec and Rouyn-Noranda. A native of Maykop, Russia, Kucherov represented his country in the World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal in 2012 and bronze in 2013.

In recognition of his achievement, Kucherov will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Crunch home game.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week