What Happened
Nikita Kucherov can pass Steven Stamkos for the most points in Tampa Bay Lightning history when the Lightning visit the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. Kucherov has 1,137 points in 888 games, level with Stamkos, who reached the total in 1,082 games. Elsewhere, Ian Cole is scheduled to play his 1,000th NHL game when Chicago hosts Montreal, and Nathan MacKinnon sits two points from 1,300 combined regular-season and playoff points.
Key Details
- Kucherov has 405 goals and 732 assists in 888 NHL games.
- Stamkos posted 555 goals and 582 assists in 1,082 games.
- Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 13 points in nine games this season.
- Cole has 233 points in 999 games with 10 franchises and won Cups with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017.
- MacKinnon has 1,298 points (488 goals, 810 assists) in 1,068 games.
- Tampa Bay (7-2-0) can match its best 10-game start with a win.
What It Means
Kucherov's chase comes in his ninth season with Tampa Bay, where he has been the club's leading scorer and the reigning Hart Trophy winner. A record-setting point would move him past Stamkos, a longtime teammate. Cole's milestone reflects a long career across 10 organizations, while MacKinnon's points pace places him among the fastest active players to reach 1,300.
What's Next
Tampa Bay's game at Ball Arena is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, with Chicago hosting Montreal at 8 p.m. ET. Both milestones could be settled Friday.