It was an evening of milestones as Tampa Bay defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The first came at the 2-1 goal with a few minutes left of the first period.

Victor Hedman found Nikita Kutjerov who played Steven Stamkos.

The score was Hedman's 82nd for the season, a figure that among Swedes is only touched by Erik Karlsson's 2015-2016 season in Ottawa.

In the last ten seasons, only three defenders have made better seasons: Roman Josi (21/22), Cale Makar (21/22) and Brent Burns (18/19).

The score also means that Hedman has reached 600 NHL points in his career.

Then he is hailed by teammate Stamkos.

- We have been good friends since the age of 18-19.

It's an honor to play with him and to be able to call him my friend.

I think he is the best all-round defender in the league, he says.

And it was precisely Stamkos who was next to reach a milestone.

Seven and a half minutes into the second period, he scored the 3-1 goal himself and thus reached 100 points in one season for the first time in his long NHL career.

- It's something I've never done before, even though I've been close.

I am more proud of the fact that I have certainly convinced many.

It is those who have always believed in me who make these moments so special, says the 32-year-old captain Stamkos who scored two goals and two assists in the match.