Nikita Kucherov leads Lightning past Penguins

NHL points leader Nikita Kucherov recorded a goal and an assist, established a Tampa Bay franchise record, and the Lightning topped the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on Wednesday night.

The right winger assisted on Anthony Cirelli's power-play goal to open the game. That gave Kucherov an 11-game assist streak to set a club record. It is also the league's longest streak this season.

Kucherov has 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 26 games.

Cirelli recorded his 200th career point on the goal, and Tanner Jeannot tallied as the Lightning won their second straight game and moved to 8-3-3 on home ice.

Defenseman Victor Hedman, who became the third Lightning player to skate in 1,000 games Monday, notched two assists.

Coming off a 25-save shutout over Dallas on Monday, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (24 saves) held the Penguins scoreless into the final minute, but Jake Guentzel spoiled the bid for consecutive shutouts with 53 seconds remaining.

Tampa Bay broke a four-game home losing streak against the Penguins and five consecutive overall against them.

Sidney Crosby had the lone assist for the Penguins, who lost their third straight match (0-1-2).

Goalie Tristan Jarry, who scored a week ago against Tampa Bay, stopped 24 of 27 shots.

After scoring twice against Dallas, Cirelli netted the first in the rematch with the Penguins, who won in Tampa 4-2 on Thursday.

On the power play, the Lightning's second-ranked unit scored its first attempt when Cirelli redirected a shot by Hedman past Jarry at 5:56.

Kucherov produced the secondary helper on the play, breaking the club record he shared with Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards.

Having two power plays and committing no penalties in the first period, Tampa Bay controlled most of the offensive play with an 11-4 shot advantage.

Just 39 seconds into the second, Cirelli brought the puck across the blue line and left it for Brandon Hagel, who hit the net from the slot.

However, the Pittsburgh coaching staff successfully challenged for offside, keeping the score 1-0.

On an ensuing man advantage after Pittsburgh's Reilly Smith was called for interference, Kucherov whipped in his team-high 17th marker at 8:31 to make it 2-0.

Jeannot closed out the frame by collecting a rebound of Michael Eyssimont's shot and backhanding home his sixth goal at 17:04 for a three-goal edge.

Guentzel netted the only goal in the third period, his 10th of the season.

—Field Level Media