Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov ties franchise all-time points record

Steven Stamkos, meet Nikita Kucherov.

With a goal in the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, Kucherov has tied Stamkos as the highest scoring player in Lightning franchise history with 1,137 points.

The goal came on a breakaway just over five minutes into the third period, when Kucherov poked the puck away from Vegas defenseman Jeremy Lauzon at the Tampa Bay blueline, exhibited some of his trademark deceptive stick handling, and beat goaltender Carter Hart clean to the blocker side for the Lightning’s sixth and final goal of the game.

It was the winger’s third point of the night, as he assisted on Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli goals earlier in the game.

Forwards Martin St. Louis (953), Vincent Lecavalier (874) and current Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman (814) round out the rest of the top five on the Lightning’s all-time franchise scoring list.

In nine games this season, Kucherov has four goals and nine assists for a team-leading 13 points. Last season, the Russian national notched 44 goals and 86 assists for 130 points in 76 games en route to winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

Selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Kucherov had a modest rookie season in 2013-14, putting up just nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 52 games. Over the next couple of seasons, Kucherov established himself as a high quality top six forward, playing on the Lightning’s “triplets line” along with Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat.

In the 2016-17 season, Kucherov ascended into being one the game’s truly elite offensive threats, and hasn’t looked back since.

Over his career, Kucherov has won two Stanley Cups, two Hart Trophies, and three Art Ross Trophies.

Kucherov’s first chance at breaking Stamkos’ record comes on Friday when Tampa Bay visits the Colorado Avalanche.