The Tampa Bay Lightning have been playing great as of late, winning four of their last five games. That includes an 8-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night. Part of the reason for the great form for the Lightning has been the play of Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov has been on fire since making a trade request.

Kucherov added to his hot streak on Wednesday night and, in the process, did something only one other player in NHL history has done, per OptaStats.

“Last 4 goals in the 3rd period tonight in Buffalo: Kucherov goal, Kucherov goal, Kucherov goal, Kucherov assist. Only one other player in NHL history has had a natural hat trick followed by an assist in the 3rd period of a game: Wayne Gretzky (March 21, 1980),” OptaStats posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The Lightning scored twice in the first period and then the first two goals of the second period to build a 4-0 lead. The Sabres began a comeback. They scored twice in the second period, and then 33 seconds into the third period, the Sabres scored again to make it a one-goal game. That is when Kucherov took over. He scored 1:25 into the third, and then again at 4:11 into the period. Kucherov then added a power play goal midway through the third. All three goals were assisted by John Carlson, who had a goal and an assist earlier in the game.

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Less than a minute after Kucherov secured the natural hat-trick, scoring three straight goals with no one else finding the back of the net, he assisted on a Brandon Hagel goal, making it 8-3.

Kucherov already has eight points this month in just five games. This year, he has eight goals and 18 assists, good for 26 total points. Kucherov and the Lightning return to the ice on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.