New No. 1: Kucherov Pushes Past McDavid in Point Race
Written By Josie Dinonsie
Nikita Kucherov has taken over the NHL points lead this week with 120, surpassing Connor McDavid. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward is frequently mentioned in discussions about contenders for the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the player with the most points at the end of the regular season, as well as the Hart Trophy, given to the league’s MVP.
In addition to moving into first place in points, Kucherov earned the league’s First Star of the Week honors for March 16–22, recording 13 points in four games for the Lightning. He has been instrumental to Tampa Bay’s success this season, demonstrating consistency and resilience as he aims for his third straight Art Ross Trophy and a deep playoff run.
The intensity across the league continues to rise as the season winds down and teams battle for playoff spots. Every goal carries increasing importance. With the league’s top three point scorers, Kucherov (Lightning, 120), McDavid (Oilers, 118), and Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche, 115) all surpassing 115 points and their teams sitting in the top two of their respective conferences, the MVP is likely to come from this group.
Many NHL analysts believe this season could feature one of the closest MVP races in decades, with the competition tightening each week. At the three-quarter mark of the 2025–26 season, Kucherov and McDavid were tied with 59 votes apiece for league MVP. The last time the MVP race required a tiebreaker was during the 2001–02 season.
“Tough call,” NHL analyst Brian Boucher said. “I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. Might be the tightest in a long time.”
If Kucherov maintains his remarkable pace, he could have an edge in the MVP race, having earned the most first-place votes thus far.
Elsewhere in the league this week, Filip Forsberg (Predators) recorded nine points in four games, while Cole Caufield (Canadiens) tallied eight points in three games. Forsberg has been a reliable force for Nashville, playing a decisive role in several crucial wins and helping push the team into a Western Conference wild card spot.
Caufield has also made a significant impact on Montreal’s success this season. With 44 goals, he trails only MacKinnon, who leads with 46. The forward recently recorded his third career hat trick and his first career five-point game. His offensive production will be vital heading into the final playoff push, as the Canadiens fight to hold onto third place in the highly competitive Atlantic Division.
On the defensive side, Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has won four of his last five starts and now leads the league with 34 wins in the 2025–26 season. With both Vasilevskiy and Kucherov on hot streaks, Tampa Bay is certainly a team to watch heading into the playoffs.
Kucherov may be the current favorite for both the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy, especially following his standout performance this past week, which saw him surge ahead of McDavid in points. However, the race remains tight and is still up for grabs, with about 10 games remaining for each team.
