Kucherov increasingly frustrated with 11-game goalless drought

The NHL's leading scorer is in the midst of his worst stretch of the season.

While Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov still paces the league with 66 points and is tied for fourth in goals with 27, the 24-year-old has fallen on hard times, having now gone 11 games without a goal.

Despite the unfamiliar streak for the scorer, Kucherov has tried to remain optimistic while jokingly contemplating a new strategy to climb out of the hole.

"You think, 'I just had a Grade A chance and I couldn't bury it, and this guy scores from behind (the net),' Kucherov said, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "I just might as well shoot it from my goal and it might go in."

The drought hasn't come from a lack of trying. Kucherov has fired 30 shots on goal during the 11 games, including six in the club's 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.

"This is not fun, definitely," Kucherov said. "I wish I would score. I think I'm in that kind of period where whatever I do doesn't work."

Surprisingly, Kucherov admits there were times earlier in the year where he thought he was playing poorly, but still found a way to score.

In the meantime, it's important to remember that Kucherov began the season with 12 goals in 11 games, so at anytime he could breakout, and when that happens, look out.