Kucherov will break one of the main records of the Russian NHL. He is already among the top 3 in the ranking.
Sergey Emelyanov March 23, 2024, 09:00 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Nikita is a few steps away from her own achievement. Setting a new benchmark for future seasons is a mere formality.
The next game of the National Hockey League regular season yesterday became a new charity performance for the Russian star of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nikita Kucherov. Continuing the desperate fight for the award for the best scorer of the regular season, the Russian forward gave a brilliant concert in San José, becoming the main protagonist of the match against the local sharks (4-1).
Already in the fifth minute of the first half, Kucherov scored the first assist of the match, thanks to which he set a new club record for the length of an assist streak. Nikita surpassed his own achievement, which he had set earlier this season, setting a new bar of 12 matches.
But this was only the prelude to Kucherov’s main creations on the ice of the SAP Center. In the third half, the Russian helped his teammates three times and finally finished the game with four assists. Especially great was the assist for the Lightning’s final goal in this game. Kneeling, pinned against the boards, surrounded by three opponents, Kucherov managed to make an accurate pass to Braden.
Point, who put the point:
This is crazy! Kucherov made a fantastic pass from his knees and broke another record
The completed assist poker allowed the Russian to once again create a significant lead in the NHL scoring race. After yesterday’s benefit, Nikita has 122 (41 + 81) points in 68 games, while his closest pursuer, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, has 119 (43 + 76) points in 70 games. He doesn’t count out Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid with his 112 points (26 goals, 86 assists) in 65 games.
The 30-year-old Russian had recently established a new national achievement among Russians who previously played or currently play in the NHL. Kucherov became the first Russian in NHL history to score more than 120 points in a season twice. Previously, this level was basically traded for only three Russian players in the history of the North American league.
One of these players was Kucherov, who holds the record for points in a regular season among Russians. Five years ago, the Tampa Bay forward finished a quiet season with 128 hits. Additionally, the milestone of 120+ points was achieved by Alexander Mogilny (127, 1992/1993 season) and Sergei Fedorov (120, 1993/1994).
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It is now absolutely obvious that only something extraordinary can prevent Kucherov from rewriting his own achievement, raising the scoring bar to a completely different level. Until the end of the regular season, the Lightning still has 13 games left to play, and this number of games should be more than enough for the Russian to score at least seven points. And then each subsequent effective action will raise the scoring goal to an increasingly higher level.
At the same time, Kucherov should set a new assist record among Russians in NHL history. Now in that classification a unique image has emerged. Nikita already owns the first three lines. In the 2018/2019 season he gave 87 assists, in the 2022/2023 season – 83, and this year – 81.
No other Russian who played in the NHL managed more than 80 assists. Kucherov is capable of aiming for at least 90+, or even 100+, this season. Why not, if he is capable of giving four assists per game?
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Only one active player has more games with 4+ assists in a season than Kucherov
