Kucherov passes Stamkos, but Utah takes the night

Nikita Kucherov needed one assist to move ahead of Steven Stamkos. He got it in the first period Saturday. What Tampa Bay could not keep was the lead: Utah won 5-4 in overtime, leaving a franchise record and a lost opportunity on the same score sheet.

Kucherov assisted on Brayden Point's power-play goal at 12:42 of the opening period. It was his 1,138th regular-season point, moving him past Stamkos' 1,137 for the Lightning's career lead. Tampa Bay led 3-1 after the goal.

The NHL's player record lists Kucherov at 405 goals and 733 assists in 890 regular-season games. His playoff production is separate. This is a Tampa Bay regular-season milestone, not a combined regular-season and postseason total.

Two routes to nearly the same total

Stamkos' Lightning seasons add up to 555 goals and 582 assists in 1,082 games. His later Nashville production does not belong in this franchise comparison. Kucherov has reached the higher total in 192 fewer Tampa Bay games.

Their totals also describe different scoring profiles. Stamkos supplied 150 more goals for the club; Kucherov now has 151 more assists. That is not a complete ranking of two careers. It is the arithmetic behind this particular change at the top.

Utah keeps the final word

Utah supplied a second story. Conor Geekie's second-period goal had put Tampa Bay ahead 4-2. Anders Lee cut the deficit, and Dmitri Simashev tied it at 17:02 of the second. Neither team scored in the third.

Simashev then scored again at 1:44 of overtime, with Barrett Hayton and Karel Vejmelka credited with assists. The Mammoth had scored the game's final three goals. The final belonged to Utah; the franchise record belonged to Kucherov.

Both facts deserve to survive the headline. Kucherov's new position on Tampa Bay's list will outlast one October result. The result still mattered to the two teams playing it.