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TAMPA — Captain Steven Stamkos has caught up to one former Lightning great when it comes to the franchise’s all-time points leaders. He only needs to surpass one more to own the record.
With a goal and an assist in the Lightning’s 4-3 shootout loss Saturday night, Stamkos has 875 career points, edging Vincent Lecavalier by one for second place in team history. Lecavalier’s mark was set in 1,037 games; Stamkos needed 191 fewer. Now Stamkos sits behind only Martin St. Louis (953 points in 972 games played).
“It just brings back a lot of memories playing with those two guys,” said Stamkos, 31, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Lightning in 2008. “Obviously, any time you’re up in some categories with those two, it’s pretty remarkable. You know, two pillars of this organization, so I’m proud to be in this journey for a long time and hopefully a long time more to help this team win. (It’s) certainly something to be proud of.”
On Saturday night, Stamkos logged points on two of the team’s three tying goals. Trailing 2-1 in the third period, he stood in the crease and tapped in a shot from Ondrej Palat, sending it past Colorado’s Darcy Kuemper.
Nearly 15 minutes later, he followed up with an assist on Brayden Point’s tying goal, which sent the game to overtime.
Stamkos has logged four goals and five assists in his first five games, leading the team with nine points. His seven-point performance in the NHL’s opening week earned him the third star honor in the league’s weekly “Three Stars.” It was the best three-game start of his 14-year career.
He has won two Stanley Cups (2020, 2021), two Maurice Richard trophies as the league’s leading goal scorer (2010, 2012) and has been named to the league’s All-Star team twice (2011, 2012). In February 2019, Stamkos set a franchise career goals record and has 443 to date.
Contact Mari Faiello at mfaiello@tampabay.com. Follow @faiello_mari.
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