Despite their overall disappointing start to the season, there is one big reason to be somewhat optimistic looking ahead - and it starts with the big guys. On Thursday night in Calgary, Tampa Bay Lightning forward and reigning Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov collected his second six-point game. The two-time Stanley Cup winner joins an exclusive list with at least two future Hall of Famers: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. The other skaters on the list include Tage Thompson and Mika Zibanejad. Surprisingly, Kucherov scored two six-point games within almost a year of each other. His first came on Nov. 24, 2023, and his most recent one was on Dec. 12, 2024. That's quicker than McDavid, who had one on Nov. 14, 2019, and Feb. 13, 2024. However, neither could catch what Zibanejad and Thompson achieved in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Thompson had his six-point nights two months apart on Oct. 31 and Dec. 7, 2022. But that doesn't compare to Zibanejad, who had his two special nights within eight days of each other on Mar. 17 and Mar. 25, 2021. Meanwhile, Crosby became the 14th player in Penguins history to record a six-point game when he achieved the feat for the first time on Dec. 13, 2006, thanks to a goal and five assists. He followed that performance with another six-point night on Jan. 19, 2010, with two goals and four assists. Crosby is one of only four players with multiple six-point games in Pittsburgh history, along with Mario Lemieux (14), Kevin Stevens (two), and Jaromir Jagr (two). Unsurprisingly, Lemieux owns the Penguins record for most points in a single game with eight, achieved on Oct. 15, 1988, and duplicated two months later on Dec. 31, 1988. Overall, Pittsburgh fans have seen players score six points in a single game on 31 occasions, with Syl Apps achieving the first one on Dec. 13, 1972, and Kris Letang with the last one on Dec. 27, 2023. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEwNjYwNDIwMDI3OTUwOTI5/thnpitbanner.png]
