FIRST STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Kucherov posted 4-3—7, including three game-winning goals, in four contests to propel the Lightning (13-11-5, 31 points) to a 3-1-0 week. He registered 1-1—2, highlighted by the decisive tally, in both a 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars Dec. 4 and a 3-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 6. Kucherov then was held off the scoresheet in a 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators Dec. 7, but rebounded with 2-1—3 – including his sixth career overtime goal – in a 4-3 triumph versus the Seattle Kraken Dec. 9. The 30-year-old Kucherov, who was named the NHL’s “First Star” of November, currently holds a seven-point lead in the Art Ross Trophy race, with 19-28—47 in 28 total appearances this season. He also ranks among the 2023-24 leaders in goals (1st; 19), assists (1st; 28), power-play assists (1st; 15), power-play points (1st; 22), shots on goal (1st; 137), points per game (1st; 1.68), multi-point games (t-1st; 13), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 4) and power-play goals (t-3rd; 7).