Lightning Strike Back: Tampa Bay Rallies from Four-Goal Deficit to Stun Bruins in Stadium Series Classic
TAMPA - On a night built for spectacle, the Tampa Bay Lightning delivered a comeback for the ages. Down 5-1 midway through the second period, the Bolts stormed all the way back to stun the Boston Bruins 6-5 in overtime, capping off a wild Stadium Series showdown in front of 64,617 fans at Raymond James Stadium.
This wasn’t just a win - it was the first time in franchise history the Lightning erased a four-goal deficit to come out on top. And they did it in style, complete with a goalie fight, a barrage of power-play goals, and a shootout clincher. It was the kind of game that will live in Tampa hockey lore for years to come.
Act I: Bruins Blitz Early
The night started with a bang - quite literally - as Brandon Hagel opened the scoring just 11 seconds into the game. But that early spark didn’t last long. Boston responded with a flurry of their own, led by Morgan Geekie, who was everywhere in the first period.
Geekie picked up his 32nd goal of the season to give Boston a 2-1 lead, then assisted on Viktor Arvidsson’s power-play tally late in the first. By the time the horn sounded, the Bruins were up 3-1 and in full control.
Boston kept the pressure on in the second. Matthew Poitras netted his first of the season, followed quickly by Geekie’s second of the night. Suddenly, it was 5-1 Bruins, and the Lightning looked like they were skating uphill in a snowstorm.
But something shifted - not on the scoreboard just yet, but in the energy of the game.
Act II: Vasilevskiy Drops the Gloves
That shift came in the most unexpected way: a goalie fight.
After Jeremy Swayman took a swipe at Hagel with his blocker following a whistle, Andrei Vasilevskiy had seen enough. The Lightning netminder skated out to center ice, dropped the gloves, and squared off with Swayman in the first goalie fight in Stadium Series history.
And Vasy didn’t just show up - he threw down. The crowd erupted as he landed a few solid punches and took Swayman down.
“The only surprising thing about it was that I didn’t know Vasy was a lefty,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said afterward with a grin.
That moment lit a fire under the Bolts. The energy shifted, and Boston never fully regained control.
“It was just a reflex to run the red line and challenge him,” Vasilevskiy said. “He accepted.
Big thanks to him - he was great tonight, even in the fight. That was my first one in the NHL.”
Act III: Power-Play Surge Sparks Comeback
With momentum finally tilting their way, the Lightning went to work on the power play - and they made it count.
Oliver Bjorkstrand kicked off the rally with a goal from the top of the crease. Then came a two-man advantage, and Taylor Raddysh cashed in. Just 23 seconds later, Nick Paul buried a rebound off a Jake Guentzel shot, and suddenly it was a one-goal game.
Three power-play goals in under six minutes - and just like that, the Bruins’ once-commanding lead was hanging by a thread.
“Once we were on the power play, you get the puck to ‘Kuch,’” said Raddysh. “He knows what to do with it, and he showed that again tonight.”
Indeed, Nikita Kucherov was his usual clutch self, notching two assists during the surge and later tying the game with a laser from the right circle midway through the third. It was vintage Kucherov - calm, lethal, and perfectly timed.
Act IV: Lightning Seal It in the Shootout
With the game tied at five heading into overtime, the stage was set for a dramatic finish. Neither team could break through in the extra frame, but in the shootout, it was Jake Guentzel who played hero.
Guentzel was the only player to score in the shootout, slipping one past Swayman to complete the comeback and give Tampa Bay a win in their first-ever Stadium Series home game.
“It was the game that had everything,” said Cooper. “Goalie fights, 11 goals, a shootout, and perfect hockey weather in a state that doesn’t usually get it. That one’s going in the memory bank.”
Act V: A Nod to Tampa’s Roots
Off the ice, Cooper and his staff added a personal touch to the night, embracing Tampa’s Cuban heritage with their game-day attire. Cooper sported a white suit with gray stripes, a red shirt, a white hat, gold chain, and his 2021 Stanley Cup ring - a tribute to the city’s deep cultural roots in Ybor City.
“We didn’t know,” said Raddysh, laughing. “He didn’t tell any of us. He loves cigars and the Cuban flavor, and he’s paying his respects to that.”
Cooper explained the choice as a way to honor the city and its traditions.
“It was a tip of the cap to the heritage of Tampa,” he said. “We’ve been known to hit Ybor City, smoke some cigars, and have a little staff outing.
This event doesn’t come around often, and dressing like this doesn’t either. It was fun.”
A Night to Remember
As temperatures dipped into the low 40s - rare for Tampa - the Lightning gave their fans a night they won’t forget. A four-goal comeback, a goalie fight, a shootout winner, and a celebration of the city’s culture all wrapped into one unforgettable night under the lights.
“Games like that don’t come around very often,” Cooper said. “How many times do you see a team score five straight goals, and then the other team scores five straight? It had everything.”
And for a team that’s seen its share of big moments, this one was special - not just for the win, but for what it said about the Lightning’s heart, their fight, and their connection to the city they call home.