TAMPA - Nikita Kucherov became the Tampa Bay Lightning’s all-time points leader Saturday, recording an assist on a Brayden Point power-play goal against the Utah Mammoth to push his career total to 1,138 points and surpass longtime teammate Steven Stamkos atop the franchise’s record books.
The milestone assist was a fitting one: Point has scored 169 goals off Kucherov setups over their careers together, more than any other player who has shared the ice with the reigning NHL MVP. Stamkos, the previous franchise record holder, scored 133 goals assisted by Kucherov.
“He’s helped our team do a lot of special things,” Point said of Kucherov. “And to be part of that, it’s awesome. Playing with him has been one of the highlights of my career, for sure.”
Point, who has recorded 326 goals over his 11 NHL seasons, said one Kucherov pass stands above the rest: a no-look feed from behind the net on June 15, 2021, during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Semifinal against the New York Islanders. Kucherov won a race to the puck along the boards, circled behind the Islanders net and slid a blind pass to Point at the right post for the 1-0 goal.
Victor Hedman, another longtime Lightning teammate, also had a front-row seat to Kucherov’s climb through the franchise record books. The record-breaking night adds to a career that already includes the NHL’s MVP award and multiple Stanley Cup championships with Tampa Bay.