Kucherov's Dominant Stretch: Art Ross Race Heats Up

0:00For the NHL, it's March 19th, here's what's happening, make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an update. The 2025-26 NHL season has been full of speed and skill, with the playoffs nearing and the scoring race heating up fast. Conor McDavid leads the Art Ross Trophy chase with 115 points, while Nikita Kusurov and Nathan McKinnon are tied for second at 1. 111 points each. Kusurov has exploded since the start of 2026, racking up 23 points in his first 10 games, the best start to a calendar year, and nearly 30 years. He's notched back to back 4 point games, a 5 point night with a hat trick in Seattle, and sits in 93 points over his last 45. Games, matching elite company from the past, fans and analysts are buzzing about Kukurov's surge, calling it one of the most dominant stretches in modern hockey. His teammates say he's laser focused on winning, not just personal stats, but this run has everyone talking about his place among all-time greats like.

1:03Mario Lemieux, the race stays tight because McDavid has played seven more games in Kukurov, and Tampa Bay has games left to close the gap. McKinnon has four extra games too, making points per game a big factor. Kusurov leaves the cap era at 1.79. Kusurov already won, back to back Art Ross Trophies, and could grab a historic third in a row. Something even Lemieux never did. That will put him alongside legends like Wayne Gretzky, and make him just the eighth player with four total, all while chasing another Stanley Cup for Tampa Bay. The Daily News Now is grateful to our sponsor for today's episode. It is a pillow that plays your podcasts and music without earbuds, built for listening and bed. So L.I.SOLYPILLOW.COM