Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning Match Player Stats On Apr 26, 2022

Steven Stamkos collected two goals and two assists to surpass the 100-point plateau on the season Tuesday, fueling the host Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Stamkos, the NHL's reigning First Star of the Week, recorded at least three points in his fifth consecutive game -- just the 10th such streak in league history. The most recent on that list had been Jari Kurri in 1992-93. The record is six consecutive games with three-plus points, shared by Kurri, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr.

The Tampa Bay captain also notched his seventh consecutive multi-point performance to move within one of tying Vincent Lecavalier (2007-08) for the longest such run in franchise history.

Nikita Kucherov scored early in the first period to extend his goal-scoring streak to seven games. The former Hart Trophy recipient added three assists, Ondrej Palat scored a goal and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 20 saves to send the Lightning (50-22-8, 108 points) to their fourth straight win.

Oliver Bjorkstrand scored a power-play goal and Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 28 shots for the Blue Jackets (36-37-7, 79 points), who have dropped five of their past six games (1-4-1).

Stamkos unleashed a one-timer off a feed from Kucherov on a power play to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead with 3:13 remaining in the first period.

Stamkos recorded his second goal and third point of the night at 7:29 of the second period to join Lecavalier (2006-07), Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis (2006-07) and Kucherov (2017-18, 2018-19) as the lone players to produce 100-point seasons with the franchise.

Kucherov stripped the puck from defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov before feeding Stamkos, who snapped a shot past Merzlikins for his team-leading 39th goal of the season.

Palat capped the scoring by converting Kucherov's centering feed with 5:07 remaining in the third period.

Kucherov continued his hot streak by unleashing a shot from between the circles that sailed under Merzlikins' arm to open the scoring at 1:37 of the first period. The goal was Kucherov's 24th of the season and ninth during his seven-game goal streak.

Columbus answered 82 seconds later after Jack Roslovic's feed found Bjorkstrand, who unleashed a one-timer from the left circle that sailed inside the near post. The goal was Bjorkstrand's 26th of the season, tying him with Patrik Laine for the team lead.

--Field Level Media