Brayden Point’s 21st birthday wasn’t about shots, but rather shot efficiency.
He scored two goals on just three shots for his first multi-goal NHL game.
"That’s the first time it’s ever happened to me," said Point to reporters in the locker room at MSG. "To get a win on the birthday is awesome.”
The biggest birthday gift though, beating New York for two huge points in their marathon run to the NHL playoffs.
Ryan Callahan helped him celebrate.
"You know I didn’t expect that," said Point after getting a shaving cream pie in the face. "That’s pretty funny."
Every game that passes Point is looking less and less like a rookie.
"You know guys want to play with him," said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. "It’s a tribute to him for somebody who’s a rookie in this league to come in here and make the mark that he has"
Just a short five months ago Cooper had questions about the rookie.
"Just because you cracked opening night, what do you do now?," said Cooper before the Lightning's season debut. "How do you stay for the next 81 after that?"
Point’s answered that and then some. He's calmly and collectively slid into the number one center role, albeit through injury. However, his effort could keep him there.
"You try not to put pressure on yourself," said Point about an expanded role. "Obviously playing on the top line you want to produce offensively. That’s something I try to do, but I’m just trying to really focus on the D-zone."
His tone is a far cry from that nervous rookie just trying to fit in after cracking his first NHL roster.
"Every player dreams about playing in the NHL," Point said just after finding out he made the roster in October.
Point probably never dreamed his rookie resume would look like this.