Lightning star ties impressive franchise mark with big night vs. Hurricanes
Four seasons removed from capturing the Hart Trophy, Tampa Bay Lighting star Nikita Kucherov is making an early case to win it again.
On Friday, Kucherov equaled a franchise record, tallying six points in the Lightning's 8-2 thrashing of the Carolina Hurricanes. Kucherov ties the Lightning mark set by Doug Crossman during the team's inaugural season in 1992-93.
With the Lightning trailing the Hurricanes 1-0 through one period, Kucherov helped them come alive in the second, scoring his 14th goal of the season while assisting on two others to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead after two. Then, in the final period, Kucherov repeated his second-period feat as the Lightning pulled away with a five-goal third.
Per Stathead, Kucherov is only the 18th player since 2000 to post six points or more in a game and the first since Patrick Kane in the 2021-22 season.
If Kucherov's six-point night wasn't enough proof of his impact on the Lightning's victory, Tampa Bay recorded 10 shots with the star forward on the ice, scoring on eight of them. Even wilder, the Lightning won for only the seventh time in franchise history in a game finishing with 15 shots or fewer, per Lightning beat writer Chris Kenn.
In total, 10 Lightning players finished with at least one point on Friday, with four, including Kucherov, recording two or more. Center Brayden Point finished a point behind Kucherov, scoring a hat trick while adding two helpers. Meanwhile, winger Brandon Hagel added a goal and two assists and captain Steven Stamkos contributed one goal and assist in the victory.
Kucherov is riding a five-game point streak (four goals, eight assists) and leads the NHL in goals (15) and points (35), while his 20 assists are third behind only Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (24) and Vancouver Canucks defender Quinn Hughes (23).
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