The Headline
Last night the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2, on the strength of Louis Domingue’s performance (stopping 22 of 24 shots), and two goals from Nikita Kucherov. The story isn’t even that the Bolts defeated the Red Wings 14 times straight; it’s that Kucherov managed to surpass Vincent Lecavalier for most points scored in a single season, at 110. [Raw Charge]
After Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild, the Lightning were gifted the bottom scraping Detroit Red Wings to get themselves back in the win column. Don’t let the final score fool you, the Lightning dominated the Red Wings and were victims of a flukey tip and a garbage time goal that did little other than dress the final result. Even with the Lightning marching themselves into the penalty box during the middle frame, the Red Wings did little to threaten them at any point. Nikita Kucherov broke Vincent Lecavalier’s single-season points record this evening with a two goal effort and further cemented himself as one of the greatest players to ever wear Lightning blue.
Interesting note from tonight’s game: the Wings are the only team this season to lose to three different Lightning goalies. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Louis Domingue, and Eddie Pasquale have each notched a win against Detroit.
— Matt Sammon (@SammonSez) March 10, 2019
The problem is, Kucherov’s single-season points total is only going to increase. We still have 13 games left in the season, and Kucherov’s high-water mark is going to be fearsome and hard to ever defeat again.
We are lucky to be living in these times to see Kucherov breaking franchise records, nearly every game.
Straight to the top!
That goal makes Nikita Kucherov the new #Bolts franchise leader for most points in a single season, passing Vinny Lecavalier (108 in 2006-07). ⚡️ #Klutcherov pic.twitter.com/owkUHkAWuA
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 10, 2019
Nikita Kucherov established a @TBLightning record for most points in a season, eclipsing the previous mark of 108 set by Vincent Lecavalier in 2006-07 (52-56—108 in 82 GP). #NHLStats #DETvsTBL pic.twitter.com/wjvACSQsaZ
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 10, 2019
Kucherov sets new Lightning record [WFLA]
Kucherov collected his 109th point against the Detroit Red Wings, scoring a goal to make it 2-0 in the first period. This surpasses the previous mark of 108 set by Vincent Lecavalier in 2006-2007. Kucherov went on to score in the 3rd period, pushing his point total to 110.
Passing the torch. ⚡️#Klutcherov | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/VOI5XMlbZc
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 10, 2019
First star goes to Kucherov, gives his stick and puck to a fan Postgame. 🌟
2 goals +2 vs DET.
33-77-110 points. pic.twitter.com/25gBXpiCcX— Caley Chelios (@CaleyChelios) March 10, 2019
The Bolts
So on Friday night the Tampa Bay Lightning clinched without even needing to play. Thanks, Montreal!
Lightning clinch playoff spot a month before postseason begins [Scrum Sports]
Ultimately, this team will be judged by its playoff performance. However, what the Lightning have accomplished up to this point is highly impressive. They own a 15-point lead on the Boston Bruins, who sit in second place in both the Atlantic Division and the entire NHL.
More work left for Lightning despite clinching playoff berth [Tampa Bay Lightning]
”We’re far from accomplishing what we want to do,” Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos said. “We want to continue to get better. We thought our last game just wasn’t a good indication of that. We’ll look to get back at it tonight. Making the playoffs is one thing, but we’ve talked about this team and the expectations that we have greater than that. We’re on the first step and just want to continue to get better these last few games.”
Are we surprised, though?
The @TBLightning are headed to the #StanleyCup Playoffs. ⚡ pic.twitter.com/4dNvHJA54F
— NHL (@NHL) March 9, 2019
Congrats, @TBLightning! pic.twitter.com/10V4LQEsnm
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) March 9, 2019
Hear from Jan Rutta as he talks his debut in a @tblightning uniform, his approach to tonight’s contest, and what the Lightning need to do to secure a victory in the third period.#GoBolts #NHL pic.twitter.com/W2ZoVbMvWF
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) March 10, 2019
The Prospects (and Little Brother Conacher)
The Syracuse Crunch have a few records to boast of too.
Lost in the shuffle last night was that Alex Barre-Boulet’s 53rd point matches Mathieu Joseph’s total from last season as the most by an #SyrCrunch rookie during the Lightning affiliation. https://t.co/meUqfv0Y30
— Lukas Favale (@LukasFavale) March 9, 2019
100 @TheAHL games for @Stephens2727.
Congrats on your @BurdickFord milestone. pic.twitter.com/HoDxoRtLyV
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 10, 2019
With an assist, Cory Conacher has broken his tie with Yanni Gourde to become the all-time #SyrCrunch scorer during the Lightning affiliation with 158 points. Alex Barre-Boulet also moved past Mathieu Joseph with his 54th point for most by a Crunch rookie in the Lightning era https://t.co/62YhOg1AXr
— Lukas Favale (@LukasFavale) March 10, 2019
The Crunch went on to lose to the Springfield Thunderbirds by a score of 4-3.
We walk away with a point. #SYRvsWBS
📝: https://t.co/eTfAdIF75c pic.twitter.com/eaKE5mPnpd
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 10, 2019
The Orlando Solar Bears won their game against the Newfoundland Growlers 4-2. Connor Ingram stopped 25 of 27 and looked solid overall in the win.
Colby McAuley’s impact was felt in his return to the lineup tonight with a hat trick in the Solar Bears’ 4-2 win over the Growlers. Read up in our @AdventHealth Postgame Report: https://t.co/9VoldClV3Z
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) March 10, 2019
And we’ll end with one final D’awwwwwww.
So many emotions, so many people to thank! A night that I will never forget. #StickItToCancer pic.twitter.com/3YPeMVkxt1
— Shane Conacher (@SConacher19) March 9, 2019
