Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday.

Voted on by fellow members of the NHL Players' Association, it is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov are the finalists for the 2023-24 Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the player "adjudged to be the most valuable to his team" in the regular season.

The winner is selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said that he's "very hopeful" the team can re-sign captain Steven Stamkos, as the Lightning star approaches unrestricted free agency this offseason.

"Obviously Steven Stamkos needs a contract, and we want him part of that group," BriseBois said, two days after the Lightning were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in five games.

Mikhail Sergachev's return sparked the host Tampa Bay Lightning, who avoided elimination with a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of their first-round series on Saturday.

One of the Lightning's top defenseman had been out since fracturing the tibia and fibula in his left leg on Feb. 7. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper had predicted the Lightning would need to "go far" in the playoffs to see Sergachev dress for another game. 

Auston Matthews came up empty in his bid to become the ninth player in NHL history to score 70 goals in a season Wednesday night in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular-season finale.

Matthews was denied on all seven first-period shots by 29-year-old rookie goalie Matt Tomkins, then rocketed a shot off the post midway through the second period. Tomkins finished with 34 saves, including 12 on Matthews, in his sixth NHL start.

Matthews' 12 shots on goal were tied for his second-most in a game this season.

Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov became the fifth player to have a 100-assist season as the Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 on Wednesday night.

Kucherov, the NHL's scoring leader with 144 points, scored a first-period goal, then set up Brayden Point's power-play tally with 2:55 left in the second for the historic assist.

"It's a special moment," Kucherov said. "Thanks to my teammates and coaching staff for putting me in position to have success. I'm fortunate to play with great players."

The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2025 seventh round pick from the Arizona Coyotes for a 2027 fifth round pick.

Dumba, 29, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. His contract carries a $3.9 million cap hit, and the Coyotes did not retain any salary.

Anthony Duclair and a 2025 seventh-round pick will head to the Tampa Bay Lightning from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick and prospect defenseman Jack Thompson. 

Duclair gives the Lightning a top-nine winger who could slide to their second line alongside Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel. Duclair has scored 16 goals and has 27 points this season, and is on pace to reach 22 goals, which would be his fourth career campaign of more than 20 goals.

Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett each had two goals and two assists as the Florida Panthers won their franchise-record 11th consecutive road game by routing the rival Tampa Bay Lightning 9-2 on Saturday night.

Florida is now one win from matching league history, and coupled with the Boston Bruins' loss earlier in the day, the Panthers now hold a one-point lead in the Atlantic Division. Boston is the division's defending champion and has been the first-place tenant for most of this season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced Thursday that defenseman Mikhail Sergachev underwent surgery to stabilize fractures to his left tibia and fibula.

There is no timetable for his return to the ice.

Sergachev, 25, left Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the host New York Rangers on a stretcher in the second period.