Tampa — Nikita Kucherov became the fifth player in NHL history and the second this season to reach 100 assists in a season on Wednesday.
The Tampa Bay Lightning forward reached the milestone when he scored on Brayden Point's power-play goal at 17:05 of the second period in a 6-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena. Kucherov faked a one-timer from the right circle to the point, and he scored on a wrist shot from the slot.
Kucherov played alongside Wayne Gretzky (11 times), Mario Lemieux (1988-89), Bobby Orr (1970-71) and Connor McDavid (2023-24). McDavid set the record Monday with an assist for the Edmonton Oilers against the San Jose Sharks.
Prior to that, Gretzky last accomplished the feat when he recorded 122 assists in the 1991-92 season.
The only time two players had 100 assists in the same season was 1988-89 when Gretzky and Lemieux had 114 apiece.
Kucherov also scored Wednesday and leads the NHL with 144 points (44 goals, 100 assists). The five-time All-Star won the Hart Trophy in 2019 and helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021.
Kucherov set NHL records for most assists by a wing this season and broke his own record for most points by a Russian-born player, 128 points in 2018-19.
