Stamkos reached the milestone with an assist Nicholas Paul‘s second goal of the game at 7:55 of the second period that gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead.
“It’s a feeling that you’re going to remember forever,” Stamkos told Bally Sports Sun. “I don’t think I’ve ever celebrated a [secondary] assist more in my career, to be honest. It was just really special.”
The 32-year-old forward is the 95th player in NHL history to reach the milestone, and the 48th to do so with one team. He is also the ninth active player to get 1,000 points, joining Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins, Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, Eric Staal of the Florida Panthers, Nicklas Backstrom of the Capitals, and Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins.
Stamkos, who has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) during a nine-game point streak, leads the Lightning in goals (13) and is second in points (28) in 22 games this season.
Selected with the no. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, Stamkos ranks first in Lightning history in points, goals (494), power-play goals (188) and game-winning goals (75), second in assists (506), and third in games. played (945).
He also has 91 points (43 goals, 48 assists) in 117 Stanley Cup Playoff games and helped Tampa Bay win the Cup in 2020 and 2021.
“I’ve been very fortunate to play in this league for this organization for a long time and experience a lot of highs,” Stamkos said. “This was definitely right up there. It’s just a feeling of gratitude, really. This is an individual statistic, but it’s really a collective one for me for all the people since Day One who have helped me get here. It’s pretty amazing.”
Among his accolades, Stamkos has won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leader in goals twice (2010, 2012), has made the NHL Second All-Star team twice (2011, 2012), and has played in the NHL All-Star Game. seven times (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022).
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