Late in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nikita Kucherov did what no other winger in NHL history has ever done – record 100 assists in a season:
The Tampa Bay Lightning were on a power play (after Mitchell Chaffee drew a roughing penalty from Connor Timmons) and the top unit was on the ice. Lightning fans could see this one coming once the puck was worked back to the point and Brayden Point had a little space in the slot.
Kucherov had his stick in the air as he sold a one-timer. Simon Benoit came out to take it away and that left a lane to get the puck to Point in the middle of the ice. Point made a nice play to get the puck in a shooting position and beat Martin Jones for his 46th goal of the season. Nick Paul quickly dug the historic puck out from the back of the net as the bench (including a hoody-wearing Mikhail Sergachev) celebrated the moment.
Wayne Gretzky
Bobby Orr
Mario Lemieux
Connor McDavid
and now…
Nikita Kucherov.
Congratulations.
