- Nikita Kucherov assisted on a power-play goal Saturday for career point No. 1,138
- That moves him past Steven Stamkos as the Lightning’s all-time points leader
- Read below for how he got there and what comes next
Nikita Kucherov is the Tampa Bay Lightning’s all-time points leader.
The winger passed Steven Stamkos on Saturday in Utah, picking up an assist on a first-period power-play goal for the 1,138th point of his career.
The play came midway through the first period. Brayden Point scored on the man advantage at 12:42, with Kucherov and defenseman Nick D’Astous collecting the assists. The goal made it 3-1 Tampa Bay at the time.
The NHL’s account marked the moment right away:
The Lightning poured onto the ice to celebrate with him. Take a look at the scene from our clip:
Kucherov got there in his 890th game, all of them in Tampa Bay. Stamkos needed 1,082 games to collect his 1,137 points, so Kucherov beat that mark by almost 200 games. Stamkos took the record from Martin St. Louis in 2022 and held it for four years.
The chase has been quick. Kucherov was four points shy earlier this week, then tied Stamkos with a breakaway goal against Vegas on Tuesday. The Lightning lost to Colorado 6-3 on Friday, and Saturday gave him the chance to finish the job.
He won his second Hart Trophy last season. He also owns three Art Ross Trophies and two Stanley Cups, and he came into the night with 13 points in 10 games this season.
The Lightning visit Nashville on Oct. 31, and Stamkos plays for the Predators now.
