Facts and Figures: Kucherov, Lightning keep rolling
Forward has point in past 11 games, helps Tampa Bay win seventh straight
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning continued their respective streaks Tuesday.
Kucherov extended his point streak to 11 games when he scored in the first period, then gave the Lightning their seventh consecutive victory by scoring 31 seconds into overtime for a 2-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
Each streak is the longest active run of its kind in the NHL.
Kucherov leads the NHL in scoring since Jan. 1 with 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists) in 18 games and has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) during his streak. The NHL scoring leader from last season has nine multipoint performances in his past 10 games. He's the seventh different player since 1994-95 to have multiple points nine times in a span of 10 games played, joining Eric Lindros of the Philadelphia Flyers (1994-95), Jaromir Jagr of the Pittsburgh Penguins (1995-96), Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux (1996-97 and 2002-03), Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche (2003-04), Vincent Lecavalier of the Lightning (2007-08) and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (2018-19).
The Lightning (36-15-5) also stretched their point streak to nine games (8-0-1) and moved within three points of the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins (34-11-12).
Islanders, Flyers gain ground in Metropolitan Division
The New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers, who play Tuesday at Barclays Center (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBCSP, NHL.TV) each won to gain ground in the Metropolitan Division, where six points separate second place from sixth place.
The Islanders reclaimed third place by defeating the Washington Capitals 5-3 at Capital One Arena. Anthony Beauvillier scored two goals for New York (36-15-5); each was set up by Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson, who finished with three assists apiece.
All three of Bailey's assists came in the first period, making him the first Islanders player with three first-period assists since Mariusz Czerkawski did it against the New York Rangers on Jan. 30, 2002. The team record is four set by Wendel Clark on March 3, 1996.
Philadelphia (31-18-7) scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Florida Panthers 4-1 and take hold of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
The Flyers are 19-5-4 at Wells Fargo Center, the second-best home record in the NHL this season behind the Bruins (19-2-9). Carter Hart made 30 saves and is 14-2-2 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .941 save percentage in home games, including a 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2019 NHL Global Series at O2 Arena on Oct. 4.
Canucks extend Pacific Division lead
The Vancouver Canucks (31-21-5) opened a three-point lead for first place in the Pacific Division by defeating the Nashville Predators 6-2 at Rogers Arena. Defenseman Quinn Hughes had his fourth three-assist game to take sole possession of first place in the rookie scoring race with 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists) in 56 games.
Hughes is the second rookie defenseman in NHL history to have four three-assist games. The other: Ray Bourque of the Boston Bruins in 1979-80.
The Canucks are 10-1-0 in their past 11 home games.
Coyotes boost playoff hopes with come-from-behind win
Jakob Chychrun's power-play goal with 1:00 remaining in the third period gave the Arizona Coyotes a 3-2 comeback win against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
The Coyotes trailed by two goals less than two minutes into the game, but Derek Stepan scored in the first period and Taylor Hall tied the game in the second. Chychrun's goal moved the Coyotes (28-23-7) within two points of the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.
Chychrun became the fourth Coyotes player to score a go-ahead goal within the final minute of regulation on the road (since 1996-97), joining Keith Tkachuk on March 17, 1999 (59:59 at the Detroit Red Wings), Yanic Perreault on Dec. 28, 2006 (59:19 at the San Jose Sharks) and Stepan on March 7, 2018 (59:02 at Vancouver).