Lightning 6-1 Panthers: A Dominant Display (Feb 5, 2026) Game Recap
TAMPA, Fla. -- Andrei Vasilevskiy's stellar performance in the net, with 33 saves, solidified the Tampa Bay Lightning's 6-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. This triumph marked Vasilevskiy's 16th win in his last 17 games, showcasing his exceptional form. The Lightning's offensive prowess was evident, with Brandon Hagel, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jake Guentzel, Erik Cernak, Pontus Holmberg, and Zemgus Girgensons all finding the back of the net. Notably, Hagel and Guentzel, both participating in the Olympic Games, contributed significantly to the team's success.
Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning's star forward, extended his scoring streak to an impressive 10 games, achieving his 13th career scoring streak of at least 10 games. This feat places him fifth in NHL history. The Panthers' lone goal was scored by Mackie Samoskevich, while Danil Tarasov made 20 saves before exiting due to injury in the third period. Sergei Bobrovsky took over for the Panthers, who were missing key players Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, and Evan Rodrigues.
The game's intensity escalated after Tampa Bay's 4-0 lead, fueled by a behind-the-backcheck hit by Matthew Tkachuk on Kucherov during a delayed penalty. Tkachuk and Hagel, known for their competitive spirit, engaged in a physical altercation at 4:06 in the third period. This incident resulted in penalties for all 11 skaters on the ice and the ejection of Florida coach Paul Maurice.
The rivalry between the teams intensified further, as they accumulated 137 penalty minutes, surpassing the 300-minute mark from their previous encounter in October. The game's scoring began with Hagel's tip-in of a Victor Hedman shot at 2:08. Girgensons extended the lead to 2-0 at 14:08 with a backhand goal. Guentzel capitalized on Tkachuk's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, scoring a rebound off Darren Raddysh's shot at 1:14. Cernak added his first goal of the season with a wraparound at 2:10.
Holmberg and Samoskevich found the net in the third period, with Bjorkstrand capping the scoring at 4:19. The Panthers' next challenge awaits as they host Toronto on Thursday, Feb 26, while the Lightning will face Toronto at home on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
