FIRST STAR - NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Kucherov recorded multiple points in all three of his appearances, totaling 3-7-10 to propel the League-leading Lightning (44-11-4, 92 points) to a perfect week and their fifth straight win overall. Kucherov opened the week with consecutive four-point performances, collecting 1‑3-4 in both a 6-3 triumph against the Calgary Flames Feb. 12 and a 6-0 victory over the Dallas Stars Feb. 14. That marked the second time this season that Kucherov has posted four-plus points in consecutive team games (also Dec. 22-27: 2-7-9 in 2 GP) - the only two such instances in franchise history. He added 1-1-2 (including the winning goal) in a 3-0 victory against the Montreal Canadiens Feb. 16, Kucherov's fourth straight multi-point outing overall (5‑8-13). The 25-year-old Maykop, Russia, native owns a seven-point lead atop this season's Art Ross Trophy Race, pacing the NHL with 27-67-94 in 59 games. Kucherov, who led the League with five power-play points last week (1‑4-5), also has an NHL-best 37 power-play points in 2018-19 (11-26-37).
