In a game that felt more like a Hollywood script than a regular-season matchup, the Tampa Bay Lightning pulled off the largest comeback in outdoor NHL history, storming back from a four-goal deficit to edge the Boston Bruins 6-5 in a shootout thriller in front of 64,617 fans at Raymond James Stadium.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the scale of this one. Down 5-1, in a stadium packed to the brim, under the Florida night sky, the Lightning didn’t just claw their way back - they surged, with a mix of star power, grit, and a little bit of hockey chaos.
Jake Guentzel sealed the deal, burying the shootout winner and capping off a comeback that will be remembered as one of the most dramatic in league history. But before Guentzel played hero, it was Nikita Kucherov who dragged Tampa back into the fight. Kucherov, as he so often does, put on a clinic - four points on the night, including the game-tying goal midway through the third period that sent the crowd into a frenzy and forced overtime.
That goal wasn’t just a momentum swing - it was a statement. Kucherov found space, unleashed his shot, and reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the game.
Boston had their own shot at glory. David Pastrnak thought he’d ended it in OT, lighting the lamp with what looked like the game-winner - but the celebration was cut short.
A slashing penalty had been whistled just moments before, and the goal was waved off. Credit to the Bruins’ penalty kill, which held strong to push the game to a shootout, but the missed opportunity loomed large.
And then, in a twist that felt ripped from a hockey movie script, history was made in a way no one saw coming: the first outdoor goalie fight in NHL history. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jeremy Swayman dropped the gloves - or at least, the masks - in a rare and electric moment that had the stadium rocking.
The fight itself wasn’t just for show - it lit a fire under the Lightning bench. Tampa responded with three unanswered goals, flipping the script entirely.
Vasilevskiy, after holding his own in the bout, stood tall in the shootout, turning away Boston’s chances and giving his team the edge they needed. His duel with Swayman was symbolic of the night: gritty, emotional, and unforgettable.
This was more than just a Stadium Series game. It was a spectacle - a showcase of resilience, star power, and the kind of unpredictability that makes hockey such a magnetic sport.
The Lightning didn’t just win a game. They etched their names into the outdoor game history books with a comeback that fans won’t stop talking about anytime soon.