Kucherov enters top 20 in career playoff points

Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov moved into the top 20 on the all-time playoff points list with his second-period assist in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

It was the 172nd point of his 153-game postseason career to pass Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg. Kucherov added another helper in the third period to pass Mario Lemieux for sole possession of 19th on the all-time playoff points list.

Kucherov ranks 53rd all time in playoff goals (53) and 13th in assists (120).

He's third among Russians on the postseason points list, trailing Evgeni Malkin (182) and Sergei Fedorov (176).

The 32-year-old Kucherov helped the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020-21. He also led Tampa Bay to the finals in 2015 and 2022.