NHL On Tap: Kucherov can become leading point-scorer in Lightning history

There are two games on the NHL schedule for Friday. Here are five things to watch, along with the complete game schedule.

Slick Nik

Nikita Kucherov is one point from standing alone as the leading point-scorer in Tampa Bay Lightning history, and it could happen against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena (9 p.m. ET; The Spot, ALT, SN360, TVAS). Kucherov has 1,137 points (405 goals, 732 assists) in 888 NHL games, tied with former Lightning forward Steven Stamkos, who had that many points (555 goals, 582 assists) in 1,082 games. The reigning winner of the Hart Trophy, voted annually as the most valuable player of the regular season, Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in nine games this season, including five points (three goals, two assists) in his past two games.

Ain't that grand

Ian Cole will play in his 1,000th NHL game when he and the Chicago Blackhawks (3-6-0) take on the Montreal Canadiens at United Center (8 p.m. ET; CHSN, NHLN, TSN2, RDS). The 37-year-old defenseman has 233 points (38 games, 195 assists) in 999 games with the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, Utah Mammoth and Blackhawks. He won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017 and will become the second defenseman from the 2007 NHL Draft, along with Ryan McDonagh, to skate in 1,000 games.

The Nate show

Nathan MacKinnon may be hitting a milestone himself for the Avalanche (5-4-1) against the Lightning. The 31-year-old center is two points away from becoming the fourth-fastest active player to reach 1,300 points in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs combined. MacKinnon has 1,298 points (488 goals, 810 assists) in 1,068 games. The only active players to reach 1,300 points in fewer games are Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (in 847 games), Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (1,023) and MacKinnon’s opponent on Friday, Kucherov (1,035 games).

You again?

It will be No. 1 pick vs. No. 1 pick when Montreal forward Juraj Slafkovsky faces Chicago captain Connor Bedard for the sixth time in the NHL. Slafkovsky, selected first by the Canadiens (4-3-2) in the 2022 NHL Draft, has three points (two goals, one assist) in their first five matchups. Bedard, the Blackhawks’ top pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, has five points (one goal, four assists). In addition, Slafkovsky, 22, is one multi-point game away from passing Guy Lafleur (44) for the third most by a Montreal skater before the age of 23; Stephane Richer (53) and Henri Richard (49) lead that list.

Lightning strike

Tampa Bay (7-2-0) can tie its record for wins through the first 10 games of the season with a victory against the Avalanche. The Lightning have opened a season 8-1-1 twice in their history, in 2017-18 and 2020-21 -- the latter when they won the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season. What’s working? Well, Kucherov is his usual productive self, but he has a strong supporting cast: Forward Brandon Hagel is second on Tampa Bay with 12 points (seven goals, five assists) and forward Jake Guentzel is third with nine (four goals, five assists). And goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is also off to a solid start (5-2-0, 2.46 goals-against average, .898 save percentage).

The schedule

Montreal Canadiens at Chicago Blackhawks, 8 p.m. ET; CHSN, NHLN, TSN2, RDS

Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m. ET; The Spot, ALT, SN360, TVAS