Stamkos scored a power-play goal and assisted star player Nikita Kucherov's single goal -both in the same period.

Stamkos made a reporter chuckle during a postgame interview when a reporter said, "Steven, it feels like just last year you scored your 1,000th point,"

"It was last year," he replied, having hit that milestone in Dec. 2022.

Captain Stamkos' first point of yesterday's game marked the 1,100th point of his NHL career.

He assisted Nikita Kucherov's early second-period goal, fired at 86.6 miles an hour, which brought the Bolts to a 3-1 lead. 

The tables then turned, with Stamkos scoring a power-play goal later on in the second period, assisted by Nikita Kucherov. This brought the game to 4-1.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUrItatFR1Y[/embed]

"I don't take for granted any point that I get, I've been very fortunate to play with some amazing players in my career. So, it's, like I always say, it's pretty cool to have done it all with one team," Stamkos said in the postgame interview.

Stamkos, 33, was drafted by the Lightning in 2008, and has never played for any other NHL team. 

He has, however, scored two gold medals in international hockey, one during the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championships and another in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, as well as a silver medal in the 2009 IIHF World Championship.

Stamkos said it helps to reach such a milestone during a win when everyone's spirits are higher. 

Ultimately, the Lightning won the game 6-3. They have won seven of their last eight games, with two of those wins by four goals, and another two by three. 

Stamkos said the Bolts have been better in the defensive zone lately and they have not given up as many goals as they have in the past, as well as having improved power play, penalty kill, and goaltending.

He said he likes the youthful energy that's been in the locker room lately.

"And not for just the way they've played on the ice. They've done an amazing job on the ice but just that anxiousness, that nervousness, that energy you have in the room for these young guys, they're all great young guys, I think that's been a help as well," Stamkos said.

"Maybe a little jolt," he added ironically.

He said they're not afraid to be physically aggressive with big hits, and stand up for themselves and their teammates.

"That's just [the] identify of our team and it's continuing to form, [and] guys who have only been here for a short period of time understand that,"

He also credited Kucherov as a significant factor in winning seven of the last eight games.

They have officially outstripped the Leafs in the Atlantic Division standings by a point. Now, the Lightning are in the playoffs, and the Leafs sit in the top wild card spot.

Other game highlights include Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh shooting the opening goal from the blue line, making a long-range, airborne shot. The other first period goal was a one-on-two goal by Brayden Point, breaking through Coyote defensemen Travis Dermott and Michael Kesselring. 

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