Lightning rally from 4-goal deficit to stun Bruins in NHL Stadium Series

Nikita Kucherov's late goal caps Tampa Bay's historic comeback in front of over 64,000 fans

Feb. 1, 2026 at 9:55pm

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The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a four-goal deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 in a shootout at the NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium. Nikita Kucherov scored the tying goal in the third period, and Jake Guentzel scored the only goal in the shootout to complete the comeback. The game also featured the first goalie fight in outdoor game history between Tampa's Andrei Vasilevskiy and Boston's Jeremy Swayman.

Why it matters

The Lightning's historic four-goal comeback is the largest in NHL outdoor game history and the largest comeback victory in franchise history. It showcases the team's resilience and ability to rally from a significant deficit, even in a high-profile outdoor event. The game also drew over 64,000 fans, highlighting the continued popularity of the NHL Stadium Series.

The details

The Bruins jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second period, with goals from Viktor Arvidsson, Alex Steeves, Matthew Poitras, and two from Morgan Geekie. However, the Lightning stormed back with power-play goals from Oliver Bjorkstrand, Darren Raddysh, and Nick Paul to make it 5-4. Kucherov then tied the game with a one-timer from the left circle in the third period, and Guentzel scored the only goal in the shootout to complete the comeback.

  • The game was played on February 2, 2026.
  • The Lightning scored just 11 seconds into the game, the fastest goal in NHL outdoor game history.
  • The Bruins scored five unanswered goals to take a 5-1 lead in the second period.
  • The Lightning scored three power-play goals in the second period to make it 5-4.
  • Kucherov scored the tying goal with 8:10 left in the third period.

The players

Nikita Kucherov

A star forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored the tying goal in the third period and finished with a goal and three assists.

Jake Guentzel

The Pittsburgh Penguins forward who scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Lightning the victory.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

The Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender who made 29 saves and was involved in the first goalie fight in NHL outdoor game history.

Jeremy Swayman

The Boston Bruins goaltender who made 41 saves and was involved in the first goalie fight in NHL outdoor game history.

Morgan Geekie

The Boston Bruins forward who scored two goals and had three points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been down 5-1 at one point, and to come back and win that game is just unbelievable. The guys never quit, they kept battling, and that's what makes this team so special.”

— Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Times)

“It's tough to lose a game like that, especially after we had such a big lead. But you have to give credit to Tampa, they never gave up and found a way to come back. We'll learn from this and move on to the next one.”

— Morgan Geekie, Boston Bruins forward (Boston Globe)

What’s next

The Bruins will look to bounce back when they travel to Florida to take on the Panthers on Wednesday night, while the Lightning will host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.

The takeaway

The Lightning's historic comeback showcases the team's resilience and ability to rally from large deficits, even in high-profile outdoor games. It also highlights the continued popularity of the NHL Stadium Series, which drew over 64,000 fans to witness the thrilling contest.