Nikita Kucherov put on another typical performance in the Tampa Bay Lightning's win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. After the team fell behind 2-0, he scored back-to-back goals to tie the game, setting the stage for a 4-2 final score.
With that effort, he got that much closer to Lightning history. He's three points behind Steven Stamkos to be the all-time leader in franchise history. At this point, knowing what Kucherov is capable of, he could at least tie the record, if not break it, as soon as Tuesday's game.
Stamkos departed from the Lightning on July 1, 2024, with 1,137 career points. For many, it's still weird to see him in another uniform. He may even still think it's weird. But this also shows that it's been some time now since he left.
Kucherov has had the chance to catch up. Even if Stamkos stayed, it would have just delayed the inevitable.
Since leaving, Stamkos has scored 127 total points. Last season alone, Kucherov scored more than that (130).
He assisted 28 of Stamkos 40 goals in 2023-24, the last year before Stamkos departed. Maybe this would have been the better timeline. It's one Kucherov is catching up to a current teammate. It is what it is. It's still a moment to celebrate two important Lightning players.
Regardless of who is ahead of who, both hold key distinctions as members of the Lighting.
Both are the only players with 400 goals and 1,000 points with the team. Some players are close to one of the two but not both.
Victor Hedman is the closest active Lightning player to the 1,000-point mark. He needs 186 more. It's tough to say he'll get there, but it's possible. However, Hedman isn't anywhere close to 400 goals. He's still 23 goals away from 200.
Brayden Point is not far off from 400 goals. He has 325. He'll get there. But he's still a ways away from 1,000 points. He's at 691 for his career. By default, he's the closest to joining Stamkos and Kucherov, but it also shows how tough it is to do what they've done.
It'll be a while before either player's standing in team history is under threat. For Kucherov specifically, it's going to be a while. No, he doesn't have an extension yet, but as far as the current narrative goes, it's expected to get done.
Fans, for now, can expect to keep enjoying seeing Kucherov pull away and leave a serious mark on Lightning history.
He's already one of two Lightning players to win the Art Ross and the Hart Memorial Trophy. The other is Martin St. Louis. However, Kucherov is the only one to win both awards multiple times.
Enjoy this in real time. It'll be a memory in a hurry.
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