Nikita Kucherov fastest to 100 points since Mario Lemieux in 1997

Nikita Kucherov is keeping exceptional company in the NHL record book -- the kind of crowd that could fill out a wing at the Hall of Fame. Kucherov became the fastest player to 100 points in a season since Mario Lemieux, and he and Steven Stamkos scored in the shootout to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 on Thursday night. Kucherov finished a 2-on-1 with Tyler Johnson for his 30th goal in the second period, getting to the 100-point mark in 62 games -- one more than it took Lemieux in 1996-97. It's just the sixth time since 1993-94 a player has scored 100-or-more points in 62-or-fewer games, joining Lemieux in 1995-96 and 96-97, Jaromir Jagr in 1995-96, Ron Francis in 1995-96 and Wayne Gretzky in 1993-94.