Feb 1, 2026; Tampa Bay, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) warms up on the ice prior to the 2026 Stadium Series ice hockey game against the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Lightning's Nikita Kucherov Racking Up Points at Absurd Pace

Originally posted on Breakaway on SI | By Deepanjan Mitra | Last updated Feb 5, 2026 7:00 AM ET

The numbers barely seem real. Nikita Kucherov is producing at a pace that belongs in a hockey video game, stacking points at a rate that has left the rest of the league struggling to keep up. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward posted another four-point performance recently against the Buffalo Sabres.

This was following a prior four-point performance against the Boston Bruins in their Stadium Series matchup at Raymond James Stadium. The Russian superstar scored three assists and delivered the final shootout goal to give the Lightning the win for the night.

With that, he has expanded a stretch of offensive dominance that has been building for months. Over his last 23 games, he has accumulated 54 points at a staggering rate of 2.35 PPG. Analyst Mike Kelly highlighted just how absurd the production has been, noting that Kucherov has averaged two points per game over a full three-month window.

The One-Timer Weapon

"He's on another planet right now," Kelly said in his tweet on Feb. 4. "54 points in his last 23 games. He's averaged 2 points per game for 3 months. 100 ways to slice it, but one driver, a dual one-timer threat."

Another 4 point night for Nikita Kucherov. He's on another planet right now.
54 points in his last 23 games (2.35 / game).
He's averaged 2 points per game for 3 months.
100 ways to slice it but one driver, duel one-timer threat.
No forward averages more 1-timer shots or 1-timer… https://t.co/ExbIqHSyFK
— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) February 4, 2026

However, what separates Kucherov from other elite scorers is not just volume but versatility. That dual threat makes every offensive zone possession a nightmare for opposing penalty kills and defensive structures.

"You never know what's coming," Kelly said.

The three-time Art Ross Trophy winner sits third in the NHL scoring race with 90 points through 50 games, trailing only Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. However, Kucherov leads the league in points per game at 1.80, placing him ahead of both rivals in terms of pure efficiency.

Fueling a Lightning Surge

Kucherov's offensive explosion has coincided with Tampa Bay climbing to the top of the Atlantic Division. The Lightning hold a commanding 36-14-4 record and sit first in the Eastern Conference heading into the Olympic break.

Nikita Kucherov in 2026:

-11 goals
-28 assists
-39 points

Absurd. ⚡ pic.twitter.com/kUCnCDAfDK
— NHL (@NHL) February 4, 2026

His recent stretch includes a nine-game point streak totaling 23 points and multiple four-point performances. Kucherov has delivered multi-point games with remarkable consistency throughout this run, turning what was already a strong season into a potential Art Ross Trophy campaign.

At 32 years old, Kucherov continues to find new levels of production. His ability to control offensive possessions through that lethal one-timer combination makes him the most dangerous playmaker in hockey right now, and the Lightning are reaping the rewards of his brilliance as they prepare for a deep playoff push this spring.

This article first appeared on Breakaway on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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