KUCHEROV NETS FOUR POINTS TO MAINTAIN ELUSIVE SCORING PACE

Nikita Kucherov (1-3—4) posted at least four points for the fourth time this season to extend his overall point streak to 12 games (8-19—27), posting his seventh consecutive multi-point showing (6-15—21). He now leads the League with 20-49—69 at the midpoint of Tampa Bay’s season, marking the 53rd instance in NHL history of a player accumulating at least 69 points through 41 team games. This marks the eighth occurrence since 1993-94.

* Kucherov is the second player this season to record multiple points in seven consecutive team games, joining Toronto’s Auston Matthews (10-6—16 in 7 GP from Oct. 3-15). The only other player in Tampa Bay history to achieve the feat is Vincent Lecavalier, who had multiple points in eight straight contests from Nov. 3-19, 2007 (7-14—21) - also the NHL’s last such run longer than seven games.

* Kucherov has collected at least four points three times in his past five outings. Only three others have achieved that feat since 1996-97: Mario Lemieux in 1996-97 and 2001-02, Jaromir Jagr in 1998-99 and Nisse Ekman in 2005-06.

* The 25-year-old has scored a goal in eight of his past nine outings, including an active five-game goal streak, to hit 20 goals for the fifth consecutive season. Selected 58th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, Kucherov’s latest outing also made him the first member of his draft class to hit 400 career points (167-236—403 in 406 GP).

* Since Nov. 15, Kucherov has recorded at least one point in 22 of 23 games (13-38—51). He has at least one point in all but eight games in 2018-19, with only Detroit, Buffalo, Ottawa (2x), Nashville, Arizona, Vancouver and Florida holding him off the score sheet.

LIGHTNING ENTER SECOND HALF WITH 12-POINT LEAD ATOP STANDINGS

Tampa Bay recorded its seventh straight victory and pushed its point streak to 16 games (15-0-1) dating to Nov. 29. Since 2008-09, only four different teams have had a point streak of at least 16 games: Boston (18 GP in 2017-18, 16 GP in 2013-14), Columbus (18 GP in 2016-17), Chicago (24 GP in 2012-13) and Vancouver (17 GP in 2010-11).

* The Lightning (32-7-2, 66 points) opened a 12-point lead for first place in the NHL standings over the Maple Leafs (26-12-2, 54 points) and Flames(25-13-4, 54 points). This marks the first time in the expansion era and just the eighth time in NHL history that a team has led by at least 12 points in the overall standings at the mid-way point of their season.

* This marks just the second instance of a team holding a lead of at least 10 points at the midway point of a scheduled featuring at least 80 games. The Canadiens held a 10-point lead over the Flyers through their 40th game in 1976-77.

OVECHKIN HITS 30-GOAL MARK FOR 14TH CONSECUTIVE SEASON

Alex Ovechkin scored his League-leading 30th goal this season (30-16—46 in 39 GP) to become the second player in NHL history to score at least 30 goals in each of his first 14 seasons, joining longtime Capitals forward Mike Gartner (15; 1979-80 to 1993-94). Only one other player has reached the 30-goal mark in 14 or more consecutive seasons at any point in his career: Jaromir Jagr (15; 1991-92 to 2006-07).

* Ovechkin became the sixth player in NHL history to reach the 30-goal mark in at least 14 total seasons (consecutive or otherwise), joining Gartner (17), Jagr (15), Gordie Howe (14), Wayne Gretzky (14) and Marcel Dionne (14).

* This marks the fifth time that Ovechkin has been the first in the League to hit 30 goals, with each of those instances coming in the past seven seasons (also 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18). It marked the third time in his career that he reached 30 goals in fewer than 40 games (also 2007-08: 39 GP and 2013-14: 34 personal GP, 36 team GP).

* Ovechkin (33 years, 108 days) became the third player in NHL history to be the first to 30 goals in a season at age 33 or older, joining 34-year-oldBill Cook in 1930-31 and 36-year-old Teemu Selanne in 2006-07. He became the second player in League history to be the first to 30 goals in consecutive seasons after celebrating his 30th birthday, joining Phil Esposito in 1973-74 (age 31) and 1974-75 (age 32).

SKINNER, PASTRNAK KEEP PACE AS LINDHOLM JOINS 20-GOAL CLUB

Jeff Skinner, David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm all found the back of the net to keep pace in the scoring race, which now features 22 players with at least 20 goals. The League will reach its mid-point this weekend, with the 635th game slated for tonight (of 1,271 GP). The last season to feature as many 20-goal scorers at this stage was 1996-97 (30 in 635 GP).

* Skinner scored his 27th and 28th goals of the season to move into sole possession of second place in the League. He also picked up his seventh game-winning goal to tie Elias Pettersson and Gabriel Landeskog for the most such goals this season. He is the first Sabres player with at least seven such goals in one campaign since Derek Roy in 2008-09 (82 GP) and four shy of matching the single-season club record shared by Danny Gare (11 in 1979-80, 76 GP) and Alexander Mogilny (11 in 1992-93, 77 GP).

* Pastrnak posted 1-1—2 for the second straight game, including his team-leading 25th goal of the season. The 22-year-old forward is the firstBruins player to score 25 goals in the team’s first 41 games of a season since Cam Neely hit the mark in the club’s 37th contest in 1993-94.

* Lindholm joined teammates Johnny Gaudreau (23) and Sean Monahan (22) in the 20-goal club. This marks the second time in Flames franchise history that they have had at least three players score 20 or more goals by the team’s 42nd game (also 1987-88).

VETS RALLY WILD PAST MARNER’S HOT START IN TORONTO’S “NEXT GEN GAME”

The Wild were led to victory by three of the highest-scoring players in franchise history, with Jared Spurgeon (1-2—3), Zach Parise (1-1—2) andMikko Koivu (1-0—1) all scoring as Minnesota erased an early 2-0 deficit to win in Toronto. Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner opened the scoring just seven seconds into Toronto’s Next Generation Game to match the franchise record for fastest goal from the start of a game.

* Koivu (199) and Parise (157) rank second and third, respectively, on the all-time franchise goals list behind Marian Gaborik (219). Spurgeon (61), meanwhile, is the all-time franchise leader in goals by a defenseman.

* The Wild staged a multi-goal comeback to win for the fourth time this season. Overall, there have been 83 multi-goal comeback wins in the League in 2018-19 (83 of 628 GP; 13%).

QUICK CLICKS

* Bruce Boudreau's mom sees son coach for first time in native Toronto

* NHL Network revealing daily code words on-air, giving fans chance to attend All-Star Weekend

* Devils sign head coach John Hynes to a two-year extension

* 2019 NHL All-Star Last Men In candidates debated by NHL.com

* MUST SEE: Mathew Barzal uses home run swing to score

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION

The information above was supplied by the NHL PR department.