Auston Matthews failed to reach the milestone that Nikita Kucherov achieved.
In the final regular-season game for both clubs on Wednesday night at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, Kucherov’s Tampa Bay Lightning defeated Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4, making him the sixth player in NHL history to record 100 assists in a season.
With 2:55 remaining in the second period, Kucherov, who also scored his 44th goal on Wednesday, passed the century mark in assists when he set up Brayden Point in the slot for a power-play goal from the right-wing half wall. Kucherov leads the race for the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top point producer with 144.
Along with Kucherov are Bobby Orr (1970–1971), Wayne Gretzky (who accomplished it 11 times between 1980–81 and 1990–91), Mario Lemieux (1988–89), and Connor McDavid, the standout player for the Edmonton Oilers who also hit the milestone this season.
Matthews wanted to become a member of the 70-goal club. He missed a chance to reach that mark, however, and had to settle with 69 despite having 12 shots on goal and striking the crossbar. With at least 65 goals in a season, Matthews is the 13th player in NHL history to achieve this feat.
In the NHL’s history, two players have recorded 100 assists in this season alone. In 1988–89, Gretzky and Lemieux each had 114. Gretzky had 54 goals and 168 points, while Lemieux had 85 goals and 199 points to win the scoring title.
Along with his 37 goals in 1970–71, Orr also recorded 102 assists. With Wednesday night’s game against the Arizona Coyotes and Thursday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche remaining in the regular season, McDavid had 32 goals and 100 assists for 132 points.
