KUCHEROV, HEDMAN, POINT HELP LIGHTNING RACE TO 3-0 LEAD IN GAME 2 WIN
Nikita Kucherov (0-2—2), Victor Hedman (0-2—2) and Brayden Point (1-0—1) combined for 1-4—5 in the first period as the Lightning raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening 15:16 and thwarted a comeback attempt by the Stars to even the Stanley Cup Final at 1-1.



* Kucherov boosted his League-leading point total this postseason to 28 (6-22—28 in 21 GP) and set a franchise record for most in a playoff year, eclipsing the previous mark of 26 set by Brad Richards in 2004 (12-14—26 in 23 GP). Point (10-16—26 in 19 GP) moved into a tie for the most playoff goals by any player this year and equaled Richards’ point total from 2004.

* Kucherov recorded his 25th career multi-point game in the postseason to pass Martin St. Louis (24), another cornerstone from their run to a Stanley Cup in 2004, for the most in Lightning history.

* Hedman has recorded 49 career playoff assists (16-49—65 in 105 GP), which trails only Duncan Keith (18-68—86 in 135 GP), Kris Letang (21-59—80 in 136 GP) and Zdeno Chara (18-52—70 in 195 GP) for the most among active defensemen.

* Hedman has 0-6—6 in eight career games in the Stanley Cup Final, while Kucherov has 1-4—5 (8 GP). Only two other players in franchise history have recorded five or more career points in the Stanley Cup Final: Richards (4-5—9 in 7 GP) and St. Louis (4-2—6 in 7 GP).



LIGHTNING, VASILEVSKIY REMAIN UNBEATEN FOLLOWING A PLAYOFF LOSS IN 2020
Andrei Vasilevskiy (27 saves), who has started all 21 Lightning games and has yet to be relieved, improved to 6-0 in the contest immediately following a loss this postseason. Only one goaltender in NHL history has won each of his first seven games following a loss in a playoff year, which coincidentally was Nikolai Khabibulin with Tampa Bay during the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs (7-0).

* Vasilevskiy improved to 30-21 in 54 career playoff appearances (2.41 GAA, .919 SV%). He became the fifth active goaltender to reach 30 career playoff wins in 54 appearances or fewer, following Marc-Andre Fleury (48 GP), Corey Crawford (50 GP), Tuukka Rask (52 GP) and Jonathan Quick (54 GP).

* Vasilevskiy (26 years, 58 days) also became the fifth-youngest goaltender in NHL history at the time of his 30th career playoff win.



36-YEAR-OLD PAVELSKI TALLIES 10TH GOAL OF 2020 POSTSEASON
Stars forward Joe Pavelski also scored his 10th goal this postseason to move into a tie for the League lead (10-5—15 in 23 GP). He became the fourth player in NHL history with a double-digit goal total in a playoff year at age 36 or older, joining an elite trio who are all members of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the 100 Greatest NHL Players list.



* Pavelski scored the 58th playoff goal of his NHL career (58-57—115 in 157 GP) to tie Stars icon Mike Modano (58-88—146 in 176 GP) for second place on the NHL’s all-time list among U.S.-born players. Joe Mullen ranks first with 60 (60-46—106 in 143 GP).

WINNERS OF REMAINING FIVE NHL AWARDS REVEALED BEFORE GAME 2
Winners of the remaining five regular-season trophies were revealed before Game 2. The NHL also announced the list of players voted to the 2019-20 First and Second All-Star Teams as well as the All-Rookie Team.

* Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl won the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,” as selected by the PHWA. Draisaitl also received the players’ vote for the Ted Lindsay Award, presented annually “to the most outstanding player in the NHL,” as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

* Draisaitl became the first German-born NHL player to win the Hart Trophy and fourth player in Oilers history, following Wayne Gretzky (8x; most recently in 1986-87), Mark Messier (1989-90) and Connor McDavid (2016-17).



* Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (Calder Memorial Trophy), Predators captain Roman Josi (James Norris Memorial Trophy) and Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (Vezina Trophy) were the other players to add to their trophy case on Monday.

* All winners of 2019-20 regular-season trophies can be found here, with more information available via the 2020 NHL Awards presented by Las Vegas Information Guide.


QUICK CLICKS

* NHL statement on COVID-19 testing results
* Barenaked Ladies performs anthems before Game 2 of Stanley Cup Final
* Steven Stamkos 'inching his way closer' to Cup Final return for Lightning
* Sidney Crosby, Matt Cullen win 2020 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy awards
* Bob Nevin dies at 82, was two-time Stanley Cup champion with Maple Leafs

PREVIEW OF WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
The Lightning and Stars will contest Game 3 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.

* When a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final is tied 1-1 (since 1939), the winner of Game 3 owns an all-time series record of 22-7 (.759).

* When any best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 owns an all-time series record of 222-107 (.675) including a 7-1 mark in 2020.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.