Nikita Kucherov may want out of Tampa Bay. The home crowd still has his back.

The reigning NHL MVP set up two goals Tuesday night as the Lightning beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. It was his first home game since he asked the team for a trade.

Fans mostly greeted him warmly. Some held up signs at the glass during warmups that read "We Stand with Kuch 86" and "Pay Stay Kuch."

Point does the scoring

Brayden Point scored twice in the first period. Kucherov fed him for both goals, the first one on the power play.

Anthony Cirelli made it 3-0 in the second period with his fifth goal of the season.

Detroit fought back. Lucas Raymond scored in the second period and J.T. Compher added a power-play goal early in the third to make it 3-2.

The Red Wings pulled their goalie for the final three minutes. Ryan McDonagh sealed it with an empty-net goal with one second left.

The win was Tampa Bay's seventh straight at home.

Why he wants out

Kucherov now has five assists in two games since he told the team he wants to be traded.

He said Monday the request is about how he has been treated by general manager Julien BriseBois. "It was never about the money for me," Kucherov said. "More about poor communication and respect."

Kucherov is in the last season of an eight-year, $76 million contract. He has won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning and was named league MVP in 2018-19 and 2025-26.