Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists and Anthony Cerilli scored twice to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-1.
Cirelli, playing in his 500th career NHL game, opened the scoring for the Lightning with just under eight minutes left in the first period when he flipped a rebound through the legs of Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. This score gave Cirelli his first 25-goal season in his career. This also gives the Lightning five players with 25 or more goals, the most in the league.
The Lightning increased their lead just over a minute later when a Ryan McDonagh shot deflected off a Penguin defender and into the net.
Cirelli scored again in the first period to put the Lightning up by three until Brayden Point scored less than a minute later to give the Lightning a 4-0 lead.
Kucherov picked up his 100th point of the season by getting assists on the McDonagh and Point goals. He also became the 10th player in NHL history to record three consecutive 70-assist seasons. The only other active player to achieve the feat is Connor McDavid (four from 2020-21 to 2023-24).
The Lightning picked up two goals in the second period, courtesy of a Kucherov power-play goal and a Brandon Hagel even-strength tally.
Bryan Rust scored late in the third period as the Penguins avoided being shut out.
The Penguins came into the game 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Since March 9, Pittsburgh’s power play has operated at a 31.3% success rate (5-for-16), but was shut out on the power play tonight.
Tampa Bay has won all three games between the two teams this season.
