Lightning React to Big Nikita Kucherov Milestone

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Spencer Garrett Ostrow | Last updated Mar 25, 2025 8:34 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Lightning took the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at Amalie Arena, entering the game in a tight battle in the Atlantic Division. They trailed the Florida Panthers by four points for the division lead and were just two points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for second place.

With only 12 games left in the NHL regular season, including this one, every point mattered—and the Lightning came out flying. They netted four goals in the first period and headed into intermission with a commanding 4-0 lead.

Lightning star winger Nikita Kucherov, sitting at 98 points for the season, was just two points away from reaching the 100-point milestone for the fifth time in his career.

He first had the primary assist on the Lightning’s second goal, scored by Ryan McDonagh, to reach 99 points. Then, he picked up the secondary assist on the team’s fourth goal, scored by Brayden Point, to reach 100.

Shortly after the goal, the Lightning made a post on social media, reacting to Kucherov's milestone.

"There it is ," they wrote. "100 POINTS FOR KUUUUUUUCH."

There it is

100 POINTS FOR KUUUUUUUCH pic.twitter.com/ZQXefRMyf7
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 25, 2025

The 31-year-old recorded his four previous 100-point seasons in 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024. His highest point total came last year, when he finished with an 144.

A former second-round pick, Kucherov has been one of the NHL’s top players throughout his 11-year career. He’s earned two Art Ross Trophies, a Ted Lindsay Award, a Hart Memorial Trophy, and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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