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Nikita Kucherov Tampa Bay Lightning In Play! magazine
Nikita Kucherov reached the 1,100-point milestone as the Lightning moved within two points of the Atlantic Division-leading Sabres. File photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
13
Mar

NHL MARCH 12, 2026 – KUCHEROV HITS 1,100 POINTS, VASILEVSKIY RECORDS NINTH 30-WIN SEASON

Nikita Kucherov (0-2—2) became the 71st player in NHL history – and 14th born outside of North America – to reach the 1,100-point milestone while Andrei Vasilevskiy (24 saves) notched his ninth consecutive 30-win season to help the Lightning (40-20-4, 84 points) move within two points of the Sabres (40-20-6, 86 points) for first in the Atlantic Division. Tampa Bay became the seventh different franchise to record 12 straight 40-win seasons (min. 70 team GP per season).

  • Kucherov (34-72—106 in 60 GP) established the second-highest point total by a player through their first 60 games of a season since 1996-97, following Connor McDavid (113 in 2022-23). Only two players born outside of North America have posted as many points through their first 60 games of a campaign: Jari Kurri (113 in 1984-85 & 110 in 1983-84) and Jaromir Jagr (112 in 1995-96).
  • Vasilevskiy became the second goaltender in NHL history to record nine consecutive 30-win seasons, following Martin Brodeur (12 from 1995-96 – 2007-08). The Lightning netminder tied Ed Belfour and Marc-Andre Fleury (both w/ 9) for the fourth-most 30-win seasons in NHL history, trailing only Brodeur (14), Patrick Roy (13) and Henrik Lundqvist (11).
  • Jon Cooper became the third head coach in League history to earn 700 wins with one franchise (regular season & playoffs), following Al Arbour (859 w/ NYI) and Lindy Ruff (704 w/ BUF).

Surging Stars build 5-0 lead against Oilers, push point streak to 14 games

Jason Robertson (2-2—4) and Wyatt Johnston (1-2—3) accounted for three of the Stars’ first five goals before Dallas defeated Edmonton and extended its point streak to 14 contests (13-0-1 since Jan. 23), the second longest in franchise history behind a 15-game run from Dec. 6, 1998 to Jan. 6, 1999 (12-0-3). The Stars (41-14-10, 92 points) kept pace with the League-leading Avalanche (44-11-9, 97 points), who had Nathan MacKinnon (1-3—4) spearhead them to a 5-1 win over the Kraken.

  • Robertson became the fourth player in Stars/North Stars history with four career 35-goal seasons, following Dino Ciccarelli (6), Brian Bellows (5) and Mike Modano (4). Johnston scored his 22nd power-play goal on the campaign to tie Ciccarelli (22 in 1986-87) for the single-season franchise record.
  • Robertson and Johnston were two of six Dallas players with multiple points Thursday. That group included Matt Duchene (1-1—2), who had a highlight-reel goal late in the third period.

SHARKS, OTHER TEAMS GAIN GROUND IN WILD CARD RACES THURSDAY

Macklin Celebrini collected a primary assist on the second of four straight Sharks goals to extend a point streak to seven games for the third time this season, while boosting his season totals to 33-58—91 (63 GP) and career totals to 58-96—154 (133 GP). His 58 assists tied Dale Hawerchuk (58 in 1981-82) and Wayne Gretzky (58 in 1980-81) for the sixth most by a teenager in a single season in NHL history.

  • Celebrini, who collected 32-32—64 in 38 games with Boston University in 2023-24, helped the Sharks halt the Bruins’ 13-game home win streak and Boston’s eight-game home win streak against San Jose that dated to Feb. 9, 2017. The 19-year-old opened up a 12-point cushion on sixth-place Kirill Kaprizov in the NHL’s scoring race this season and continues his pursuit of becoming the fourth teenager in NHL history to conclude a campaign among the top five in scoring, after Sidney Crosby (1st in 2006-07), Wayne Gretzky (2nd in 1979-80) and Ted Kennedy (5th in 1944-45).

Several other teams also gained ground in Wild Card races

  • Adam Fantilli opened the scoring to help the Blue Jackets (33-21-11, 77 points) extend their point streak to eight games (4-0-4 since Feb. 28) and move within one point of the Bruins (36-23-6, 78 points), who occupy the Eastern Conference’s final Wild Card spot. Fantilli’s six goals since the Olympic break trail only three players for the most in the NHL.
  • Owen Tippett netted the tying tally in the third period and Travis Konecny scored the lone goal in the shootout as the Flyers (31-23-11, 73 points) earned their 20th comeback win of the season – tied with the Ducks for the second most among all teams, behind the Canadiens (21). Philadelphia has 20 or more come-from-behind wins in a single season for the fifth time in the past 20 years following 2016-17 (23), 2011-12 (21), 2017-18 (20) and 2005-06 (20).
  • Jakob Chychrun collected the go-ahead goal with 1:33 remaining in regulation as the Capitals (33-27-7, 73 points) snapped the Sabres’ eight-game winning streak and climbed within five points of the Bruins. Chychrun scored his seventh game winner on the campaign, which marked the highest single-season total by a defenseman in franchise history.
  • Jimmy Snuggerud (2-0—2) extended his goal streak to four games and tied Brian Benning (1986-87) as well as Wayne Babych (1978-79) for the second-longest run by a Blues rookie behind Harry York (5 GP in 1996-97) and Jorgen Pettersson (5 GP in 1980-81). St. Louis (26-29-10, 62 points) remained six points back of San Jose (31-26-6, 68 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the West.

HUGHES’ 60TH ASSIST IN 60TH GAME

A 14-game Thursday had another multi-assist outing from Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (6-60—66 in 60 GP). Hughes, who became the fourth defenseman in NHL history with five career 60-assist seasons, hit the mark for the fifth consecutive campaign and matched Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey (all w/ 5) for the second-longest run by a blueliner in NHL history behind Bobby Orr (6 from 1969-70 – 1974-75).

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Guest Writer