Read the reports of the games played on Sunday in the NHL.
Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists and became the first player in the NHL this season to reach the 100-point milestone in a big 4-1 win for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday .
Kucherov, who has 102 points, collected his 62e63e and 64e season assists on goals from Victor Hedman, Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel. Kucherov also scored his 38e campaign net into an empty net late in the third period.
This is his second consecutive season with at least 100 points, and his fourth career. On Saturday, Kucherov had three points in a Lightning victory over the New York Islanders.
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy took advantage of a rare day off and in his place, Jonas Johansson earned the victory after blocking 18 pucks.
Tyler Toffoli achieved his 25e goal of the season for the Devils, who are 2-9-1 in the second game of a two-game streak.
In his first start since December 21, Akira Schmid made 23 saves, but Schmid and his Devils teammates were unable to contain the Lightning’s top line of Point, Hagel and Kucherov.
After a scoreless first period, Kucherov needed just 4:15 to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead, scoring in the 10e Hedman’s goal and at 30e of Point.
Hedman, whose usage has increased recently due to a struggling defensive squad, scored at 1:27 of the middle period, capitalizing on a rebound from a Kucherov shot.
Hagel earned an assist which allowed him to extend his streak of games with at least one point to 13 – a personal mark. It is the third longest such streak in team history.
Point added to that lead less than three minutes later with a shot from behind the net that hit Schmid’s leg. For Point, it was a fifth goal in six games.
Toffoli responded at 6:01 of the second period, during a power play. Coming from behind the net, Jack Hughes attempted a pass that hit the skate of Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh. The puck went directly to Toffoli, who only had to lodge it in a wide open net.
Tom Canavan, Associated Press