Victor Hedman’s Overtime Winner Lifts Lightning Past Kraken 4-3

Thursday Night Overtime Thriller

The Tampa Bay Lightning continued their perfect start at home Thursday night, defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-3 in overtime behind a spectacular game winning goal from captain Victor Hedman.

Hedman scored 2:07 into overtime, splitting Seattle’s defense and driving straight toward the net before slipping the puck through the legs of Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who attempted to poke it away. Pontus Holmberg recorded an assist on the winning goal as Tampa Bay improved to 4-0-0 on home ice.

Brandon Hagel scored twice, while Ilya Mikheyev added a goal for the Lightning, who overcame a late third-period equalizer to secure their latest victory. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 24 shots in the win, while Grubauer finished with 31 saves for Seattle.

Lightning Continue Perfect Home Start

Tampa Bay has established itself as a tough opponent on home ice early in the season, winning its first four games in front of its fans. The last time the Lightning opened a season with four consecutive home victories was in 2020-21, when they won their first six games.

The Lightning entered Thursday’s matchup with an impressive record when holding a lead after two periods. Tampa Bay was 3-0 this season when leading after 40 minutes and finished last season with a remarkable 33-1 record in those situations. However, the Kraken pushed the Lightning to the limit, forcing overtime after Tampa Bay carried a 2-1 advantage into the third period.

Kraken Rally to Force Overtime

Seattle received goals from Jared McCann, Matthew Beniers and Ryan Winterton as the Kraken stayed within striking distance throughout the contest. Beniers delivered one of the biggest moments of the night, tipping the puck into the net with 4:19 remaining in regulation to tie the game at 3-3.

The late equalizer erased Tampa Bay’s lead and sent the teams into overtime. Despite surrendering the tying goal, the Lightning remained composed and found the decisive breakthrough in the extra period. Hedman took matters into his own hands, carrying the puck across the blue line before splitting the Seattle defense and attacking the net.

His finish through Grubauer’s legs ended the contest and gave Tampa Bay another important victory to maintain its unbeaten home record. Hagel’s two-goal performance provided a major offensive boost for the Lightning, while Mikheyev also found the back of the net in a game that required contributions throughout the lineup.

NHL Games Up Coming for the Lightning and Kraken

The Lightning will look to extend their winning ways Saturday when they host the Vancouver Canucks. Tampa Bay will aim to protect its perfect home record and build further momentum as the season progresses.

The Kraken, meanwhile, will remain in Florida for a Saturday matchup against the Florida Panthers. Seattle will attempt to bounce back after coming close to earning a road victory against one of the Eastern Conference’s established contenders. For Tampa Bay, Hedman’s overtime heroics capped an entertaining night and reinforced the Lightning’s ability to find ways to win even when their opponents rally late.