Tampa Bay Lightning scoring winger Nikita Kucherov suffered a lower-body injury and will not return to Thursday's preseason contest against the Dallas Stars.

He exited the game as a result of hit a from Stars winger Remi Elie, five minutes after he opened the scoring in the game.

Kucherov would return to test the ailment during a stoppage, but headed straight back down the tunnel.

He tore onto the scene last season in his first full year in the league, scoring 29 goals and 65 points as part of arguably the most efficient line in hockey with Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat.