It took nearly two weeks, but Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point hit 200 goals in a 6-1 rout of the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday night.
Goal 200 continued a Lightning onslaught that began in the second period. It was part of six straight goals before the Ducks got their first and only tally.
Assisted by Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel, it was a goal to remember for Point. He joked after the game that with teammates hitting milestones this season, specifically Steven Stamkos hitting 500 goals and Victor Hedman notching 500 assists, he has a little ways to go to catch them.
With the goal, Point becomes the fifth player in Lightning history to score 200, joining Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, Stamkos, and Kucherov. He is also the second fastest to reach this milestone, behind only Stamkos.
A third round pick (79th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft, Point has been a gem for the Lightning since he first entered the league in the 2016-17’ season. His point totals have never been below 40, and he’s routinely between 60 and 70 points.
His goal-scoring has been just as good, if not better. He scored between 25 and 40 each year, with the lowest being 18 in his rookie season.
Playoffs are where he shines most, though. After several tough postseasons, Point had the pivotal five overtime goal to send the Columbus Blue Jackets packing in Round One of the 2020 playoffs. He then had another important goal to beat the Florida Panthers in 2021. Both of those seasons ended with the Lightning hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Last season, Point kept the Lightning’s season alive with an overtime goal in Game 6 versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unfortunately, he sustained a torn groin early in Game 7 and couldn’t play or was ineffective in the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final.
This season, Point started slow but has been on a tear since after the Thanksgiving break. With 33 goals in 56 games, he could easily surpass his career-high of 41 goals if he remains healthy.
As a player who has worked hard to get better every year, I am pleased to congratulate Point on reaching 200 career NHL goals.
