Kucherov, Lightning Pick Up Right Where They Left Off with Win Against Toronto

Mike Smith
9 hours ago
4 min read

Kucherov celly — Nikita Kucherov scored his team-leading 30th goal of the season Wednesday night to help the Tampa Bay Lightning to victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-2. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

By MIke Smith | Thunderstruck Sports

Brayden Point returned to the lineup for the first time in 11 games to score twice and earn an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, 4-2. Nikita Kucherov and Gage Goncalves both had a goal and two assists, while Charle-Édouard D'Astous added two assists.

The Lightning are now 20-1-1 in their last 22 games and are on a six-game winning streak.

Tampa Bay had two opening goals nullified by offside calls early in the first period, stymying its offensive attack. Toronto held the Lightning to only four shots in the period and missed the net a dozen times.

Point Makes Emphatic Return

Point would finally break through to put Tampa Bay on the scoreboard at 7:07 of the second period when D'Astous found him rounding to the left of Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz. Helped with a screen by Goncalves in front of the crease, Point lifted the puck over the pad of Stolarz and into the back of the net.

The goal was the first for Point since scoring and then getting injured soon thereafter in a 5-2 win over Philadelphia on January 12th. The Bolts forward missed the next 11 games, including a chance to represent Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, due to a lower-body injury.

Goncalves scores against Stolarz — Gage Goncalves scores on a breakaway against Anthony Stolarz on Wednesday night. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

Goncalves would score 51 seconds later at 7:58 when Kucherov found the second-year forward splitting Toronto defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe at the blue line. Goncalves then deked Stolarz with a double move on the breakaway, sliding the puck past the goal line as he barrelled head-first into the net.

Kucherov Continues To Set The Bar

Kucherov's assist on Goncalves' goal was the 700th of his NHL career. He ranks at the top of the Lightning career assist leaderboard, with captain Victor Hedman trailing with 636. However, Kucherov wasn't finished.

Kucherov scored his team-leading 30th goal at the 2:59 mark of the third period to make the score 3-0. The goal was the 386th of his career as he moves past Vincent Lecavlier on the Bolts' all-time list for second behind Steven Stamkos' 555 goals.

Kucherov goal vs Toronto — Nikita Kucherov powers a slapshot through the Toronto defense past Anthony Stolarz for his 30th goal of the season. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

"He's (Kucherov) kind of the straw that stirs the drink for us and keeps it going," Lightning assistant coach (and acting head coach) Rob Zettler said after the game. "And he's showing over and over and over again, showing the world how good he is."

John Tavares put Toronto on the board at the 16:19 mark when Lightning forward Jake Guentzel missed an empty net opportunity, allowing Toronto back in the game and bringing the score to 3-1.

Point Celly — Brayden Point celebrates his 12th goal of the season and first since his return from injury Wednesday night at Benchmark International Arena. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstuck Sports

The Lightning immediately answered 11 seconds later when Kucherov earned his 701st assist by finding Point in the slot for a wrist shot for his second goal at 16:30 to make it 4-1.

Matt Knies kept Toronto in the game with his 15th goal of the season at the 17:13 mark. However, Tampa Bay held on to win, 4-2.

Vasy v Nylander — Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stops one of two breakaway attempts by Toronto's William Nylander. Vasilevkiy stopped 33 of 35 shots for the win. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

Absent from Thursday night's game was Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. Cooper's father, Robert, passed away this week, and the two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach is with family. A formidible precense behind the bench, Cooper was in the hearts of his players and coaches Wednesday night.

"The best thing we could do for Coop is play our hearts out," Zettler said. "And I think the guys did that tonight. You know, they worked hard. They gave it their best. It was a hell of an effort with him in the back of our minds the whole time."

"Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with him (Cooper). This is really tough for him," Point said Wednesday night. "This was a big one for us that we really wanted to get for him."

Three Stars of the Game

Brayden Point, Tampa Bay. Two goals and an assist on his return to action after missing 11 games due to injury.
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay. A goal and two assists, including his 700th.
Gage Concalves, Tampa Bay. A goal and two assists for the first three-point game of his career.

Honorable Mention: Charle-Édouard D'Astous: Two assists coming back from injury, missing five games.