Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov records 1,000th NHL point
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov recorded the 1,000th point of his National Hockey League career in the second period of Saturday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Kucherov, 32, notched the secondary assist on Jake Guentzel’s go-ahead goal at the 12:19 mark of the middle frame to reach the milestone. Brayden Point also assisted on the goal, which sent the crowd at Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena into a frenzy.
The Lightning won Saturday’s game by a 4-3 score, with Kucherov helping set up Anthony Cirelli for the deciding power-play goal with just 3:15 remaining in regulation time to seal the victory.
THERE IT IS ⚡
1,000 POINTS FOR NIKITA KUCHEROV pic.twitter.com/eU0PWA4ZCg
A second-round pick (No. 58 overall) of the Lightning in the 2011 NHL Draft, Kucherov is the all-time franchise leader in assists and is one of only two players to score 1,000 points with the Lightning (Steven Stamkos is the other).
Kucherov made his NHL debut with the Lightning in the 2013-14 season and quickly established himself as one of the premier offensive players in the league, being named to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2017 and winning his first of three Art Ross Trophies as league scoring leader two years later. Also in 2019, Kucherov captured the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP.
In 2020 and 2021, Kucherov played a starring role as the Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, leading the league in playoff scoring both times. He had another strong run in 2022 as the Lightning reached their third consecutive Final (and fourth overall during his tenure), losing to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Lightning have had an uncharacteristically poor start to their 2025-26 season, with a 2-4-2 record and six points through eight games — putting them in 30th place in the NHL. Kucherov has two goals and seven points through six games with the Bolts this season.
In 809 games over parts of 12 NHL seasons with the Lightning, Kucherov has collected 359 goals and 1,001 points. The Maykop, Russia product has added 53 goals and 171 points in 152 playoff contests.