Hockey Notebook: Once again, Stamkos and Kucherov shine; Shattenkirk, Rangers top Panthers

Steven Stamkos scored and leads the NHL with 25 points (seven goals, eight assists) this season. The Lightning have won 11 of their first 15 games of a season for the third time in franchise history (11-4-0 in 2013-14, 11-3-1 in 2014-15).

Nikita Kucherov scored his League-leading 14th goal of the season and ranks second in the NHL with 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) overall.

The Lightning donned retro jerseys in pre-game warmup to celebrate their 2003-04 team, who captured the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

SHATTENKIRK LIFTS RANGERS OVER PANTHERS

Kevin Shattenkirk scored his second goal of the contest at 1:08 of overtime to power the New York Rangers Rangers to their third straight win with a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Shattenkirk is tied for 1st among NHL defensemen in games with a point in 2017-18 (10) & leads Rangers defensemen in goals (4), assists (9), and points (13). J.T. Miller tied single-game career-highs with 3 assists and 3 points, and leads the Rangers in assists this season (11).

The Rangers have earned a win in each of their last 3 games, in 4 of their last 5 games (4-1-0), and in 5 of their last 7 games (5-2-0). The Rangers have earned at least 1 point in 7 of their last 9 games, dating back to Oct. 17 vs. PIttsburgh (5-2-2) & have tallied 34 goals in the 9 games.

Rangers defenseman tallied 3 goals in a game for the first time since Feb. 16, 2015 at the Islanders and 2 goals in a period for the first time since Feb. 27, 2016 at Dallas.

Alain Vigneault earned his 620th career win as an NHL head coach, tying Bryan Murray for 12th place on the league’s all-time wins list.

The Panthers are 1-3-1 in their last five home games, and have allowed 20 goals in their last three games.

KNIGHTY-KNIGHT

The Vegas Golden Knights matched the NHL record for fewest games to earn nine wins by a team in its inaugural season.

The Golden Knights are the first team to have three goaltenders earn their first career win in a season since the Islanders in 2010-11.