THIRD STAR - NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Kucherov posted an NHL-best seven assists and ranked second overall with 2-7-9 in three outings to help the League-leading Lightning (28-7-2, 58 points) extend their point streak to 12 games (11-0-1). He began the week with consecutive multi-point performances, picking up 1‑1-2 in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 18 and two helpers in a 5-4 shootout victory against the Calgary Flames Dec. 20. Kucherov then established career highs with four assists and five points (1-4-5) in a 6-3 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 22, becoming
the ninth different player in franchise history
to register a five-point game. The 25-year-old Maykop, Russia, native - who reached the 100-point milestone for the first time in 2017-18 (39-61-100 in 80 GP) - sits second in the NHL with 57 points and third with 41 helpers through 37 contests this season (16-41-57).
