Brandon Hagel’s Late Hat Trick Lifts Lightning Past Islanders for Fourth Straight Win

Lightning Rally Late to Beat New York Islanders 5-3

Brandon Hagel scored twice in the final two minutes to complete his hat trick, lifting the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night and extending their winning streak to four games.

Hagel scored the go-ahead goal with 1:44 remaining before adding an empty-net goal just 21 seconds later. He also recorded an assist to finish with four points, delivering a decisive performance as Tampa Bay won the opening game of its brief two-game road trip to New York.

Jake Guentzel scored twice for the Lightning, while goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 20 shots to help secure the victory. Tony DeAngelo, Matthew Schaefer and Brayden Schenn scored for the Islanders, who rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie the game in the second period before Hagel delivered the late knockout. Ilya Sorokin made 21 saves for New York.

Lightning Build an Early Two Goal Lead

Tampa Bay established control early, with Guentzel opening the scoring 5:45 into the first period. The Lightning continued to pressure the Islanders, and Hagel doubled their advantage with less than five minutes remaining in the opening period. Hagel broke free for a breakaway, skating past Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock before converting the opportunity to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead.

The Lightning carried that momentum into the second period, and Guentzel struck again on the power play to put Tampa Bay ahead 3-1. His second goal of the night appeared to give the visitors some breathing room, but the Islanders responded with a determined push to get back into the contest.

Islanders Rally to Tie the Game

New York began its comeback at 6:27 of the second period when DeAngelo scored his first goal of the season. The Islanders defenseman fired a wrist shot from the point that sailed over Vasilevskiy’s glove, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-2.

Schaefer then showcased his skating ability to create another scoring opportunity. The Islanders defenseman evaded Anthony Cirelli along the blue line, opened a shooting lane and fired a shot past Vasilevskiy to pull New York within one.

The Islanders completed the comeback in the final seconds of the period. Schenn attempted a cross ice pass to Kyle Palmieri at the back post, but the puck deflected off Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak and into the net for a power-play goal. The fortunate bounce tied the game at 3-3 heading into the third period.

The second period also featured a fight between Islanders defenseman Logan Stanley and Lightning forward Pontus Holmberg, adding more intensity to an increasingly competitive matchup.

Hagel Delivers the Decisive Blow Late

With the game tied in the closing minutes, Hagel came through when Tampa Bay needed him most. The Lightning forward scored with 1:44 remaining to put the visitors back in front, completing a three goal performance and restoring Tampa Bay’s lead at a critical moment. New York had little time to respond before Hagel struck again. Just 21 seconds after his go-ahead goal, he scored into the empty net to seal the 5-3 victory and cap his four-point night.

Guentzel’s two goals provided the early offensive spark, but Hagel’s late heroics ultimately made the difference. Vasilevskiy also played a key role, making timely saves as the Islanders pushed to complete their comeback. The victory extended Tampa Bay’s winning streak to four games and gave the Lightning a strong start to their short trip through New York.

Next Game for the Lightning and Islanders

The Lightning will continue their road trip Tuesday night against the New York Rangers as they look to maintain their winning momentum. The Islanders will return home Tuesday night to host the Vancouver Canucks, aiming to bounce back after letting a third-period opportunity slip away against Tampa Bay.