Nikita Kucherov Ties Stamkos for Lightning Points Record

Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists to tie Steven Stamkos for the Tampa Bay Lightning's career points record, and the Lightning beat the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

The three points gave Kucherov 1,137 for his career, even with his former teammate for the most in franchise history, per The Associated Press. Anthony Cirelli scored twice, and Tampa Bay improved to 7-2, its best start since opening 7-1-1 in 2020-21, the season it repeated as Stanley Cup champion.

Nikita Kucherov's night, point by point

Kucherov had a hand in the first goal, assisting on Brandon Hagel's tip-in 4:11 into the game, per the ESPN scoring summary. He set up Cirelli for a 3-2 lead at 6:44 of the second period, then capped the scoring with a breakaway goal early in the third that made it 6-2.

He has now recorded at least one point in all 15 games he has played against Vegas. AP said that ranks behind only Mario Lemieux, with 26 games against Calgary, and Tomas Sandstrom, with 17 against Tampa Bay, among players who scored in every game against an opponent.

Lightning fans can start counting down to the next point. It makes him the franchise leader by himself.

Five goals on 14 shots

It was a wide-open game. Each team scored twice in the first period, with John Carlson scoring for Tampa Bay and Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone scoring for Vegas. Barbashev's goal was his first of the season, and Stone has five in three games.

Then the Lightning broke it open in the second. Cirelli scored off the Kucherov pass and then scored again unassisted at 10:09 for a 4-2 lead. Victor Hedman added a shot from the left point that got past Carter Hart late in the period. Tampa Bay's first five goals came on 14 shots, and Hart finished with 15 saves on 21 shots.

For Vegas fans, it was a rare off night. The Golden Knights had won seven of eight coming in.

Vasilevskiy shuts the door

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 saves, and Vegas did not score after the first period. Golden Knights forward Brett Howden, drafted 27th overall by the Lightning in 2016, played in his 500th career game.

That second-period burst is the stretch Lightning fans will want on loop.

What's next

The Lightning visit the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, then play at the Utah Mammoth on Saturday. Vegas visits the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

Kucherov played 18:19 with power-play time and is one point from the record outright, so he is the Lightning skater to start in Colorado on Friday.