Breakaway on SI

Lightning’s Nick Paul Hits Two Massive Milestones

As the Tampa Bay Lightning push through another demanding stretch, Nick Paul’s recent milestones highlight the steady presence he’s become for his team.
Samuel Len|
Dec 11, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Dec 11, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

In this story:

Tampa Bay Lightning

If there are two players laughing at practice in Tampa Bay, chances are Nick Paul is one of them. He brings energy everywhere he goes — on the ice, on the bench and inside the room. That kind of presence matters on a team built around stars, because someone still has to keep things loose when the schedule gets heavy.

Paul didn’t arrive in Tampa as a headline name. Drafted and developed by Ottawa, he built his career on versatility, size and a willingness to do whatever the moment demanded. When the Lightning acquired him at the 2022 trade deadline, he quickly became more than a depth piece. He became a fit.

Since then, Paul has been a steady part of Tampa’s identity. He plays up and down the lineup, kills penalties, chips in offense, and never shies away from the grind. Coaches trust him. Teammates lean on him. Fans appreciate him.

Recently, Paul reached two career milestones. They technically happened in different weeks, but with less than seven days between them, they felt like one long celebration.

A Milestone Goal Against the Devils

Paul missed a large chunk of the season with injury, making his return on November 20th one of quiet anticipation rather than hype. It didn’t take long for things to click.

In his first games back against the Edmonton Oilers, he scored a clutch late equalizer to send the game to overtime, where Lightning teammate Jake Guentzel scored the game-winner in his 100th game with Tampa Bay, in what some are calling the wildest sequence of the 2025–26 season so far. I’ll let you decide for yourself (video below).

A few games later, Paul and Nikita Kucherov connected on a beautiful goal against the New York Rangers that looked effortless.

That rhythm carried over into another statement win for Tampa Bay: an 8–4 dismantling of the New Jersey Devils. Paul opened the scoring (video below), setting the tone early in the first period. It wasn’t just another goal. It was the 100th of his NHL career, reached in his 498th game.

500 Games on a Night That Had Everything

Just days later, Paul hit his next milestone: game number 500. It came in the Battle of Florida against the Panthers — a fitting stage, even if the result wasn’t kind. Tampa fell 5–2, and Paul finished minus-two, but the night had plenty of meaning beyond the scoreboard.

Young Lightning defenseman Max Crozier scored his first NHL goal in his 33rd career game, a slapshot from the point that beat Sergei Bobrovsky (video below).

Then came another first. In the third period, Jake Guentzel took exception to an elbow from Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola and dropped the gloves for the first fighting major of his NHL career (video below). The reaction said it all — sometimes rivalry hockey pulls things out of players you’ve never seen before.

That’s what the Battle of Florida does. It strips away polish and exposes emotion. No matter who you are, the intensity rises quickly, and every moment feels amplified.

For Nick Paul, this week wasn’t about highlight reels or stat padding. It was about longevity, resilience, and the quiet value of being exactly who your team needs you to be. In Tampa Bay, that role still matters — and Paul continues to fill it, milestone by milestone.

Make sure you bookmark Breakaway On SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Published
Sam Len
SAMUEL LEN

Sam Len is a content editor, writer, and digital strategist with a lifelong passion for hockey. Growing up just north of Toronto, the game was never just background noise—it was part of everyday life. The Pittsburgh Penguins were the first team that captured his imagination, and he still remembers watching Sidney Crosby’s Golden Goal at the 2010 Olympics like it was yesterday. Over time, his love for the sport expanded to include the Tampa Bay Lightning, blending his appreciation for classic grit with modern speed and skill. Between 2024 and 2025, Sam worked as a content editor at Covers, where he helped shape sports and gaming content for top-tier brands including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Bet99. He’s also written for Bolts by the Bay and Pro Football Network, covering everything from Tampa Bay Lightning analysis to trending stories across the NHL, NFL, and NBA.

Share on XFollow samlen2000
Home/News Feed Page