Third-Period Heroics Lift Lightning to Victory

The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their win streak to eight games, thanks to a third-period goal from Brandon Hagel, who snapped a tie to give the Lightning a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night in Tampa.

How It Happened

• Jake Guentzel opened the scoring for Tampa Bay with a power-play goal late in the first period.
• The Avalanche responded with two goals in the second period, from Parker Kelly and Brock Nelson, to take the lead.
• Zemgus Girgensons tied the game late in the second by redirecting a Yanni Gourde pass.
• Hagel scored the winning goal at 8:31 of the third, assisted by Nikita Kucherov and Max Crozier.
• An empty-netter by Anthony Cirelli sealed the victory for the Lightning.

Stars of the Game

• Lightning: Brandon Hagel’s game-winner was his 20th of the season. Nikita Kucherov recorded his seventh straight multipoint game with two assists, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves for his sixth consecutive win.
• Avalanche: Parker Kelly and Brock Nelson scored for Colorado, which lost back-to-back regulation games for the first time this season.

Looking Ahead

The Avalanche host the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, while the Lightning visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Notable Absences

The Avalanche were without captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Devon Toews, who both returned to Denver due to injuries. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar expects both to miss multiple weeks.

Did You Know?

Ed Belfour sits at number 11 on the all-time NHL points list for goaltenders, with 144 points in his career.

Pro Tip

Looking to improve your hockey knowledge? Familiarize yourself with the league’s leaders in various statistical categories, like points among goalies, and you’ll impress your friends and fellow fans!

Join the Conversation

What was the turning point in tonight’s game? Share your thoughts in the comments below!