Lightning's Historic 4-Goal Comeback vs Bruins

Tampa Bay rallies from 4-goal deficit to stun Boston in NHL Stadium Series thriller

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:34pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting the hockey game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, with the players and ice represented as fragmented, angular forms in a vibrant color palette of blues, reds, and whites.The Lightning's historic comeback victory over the Bruins in the NHL Stadium Series game was a thrilling display of athletic skill and team resilience, captured in a cubist-inspired illustration.Boston Today

On February 1, 2026, the Tampa Bay Lightning pulled off a stunning comeback, beating the Boston Bruins 6-5 in an NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium. The Lightning rallied from a four-goal deficit, the largest comeback in NHL outdoor game history and the largest comeback victory in franchise history. The game featured the first goalie fight in outdoor game history, with Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jeremy Swayman trading blows at center ice. The Lightning's comeback was led by Nikita Kucherov, who scored the tying goal in the third period and the winning goal in the shootout.

Why it matters

This thrilling comeback highlights the unpredictable nature of outdoor NHL games and the resilience of the Lightning franchise. The controversial incident involving a potential penalty shot for the Bruins also sparked debate around officiating in high-stakes matchups. The game showcased the passion and intensity of the Lightning-Bruins rivalry, which has produced several memorable moments in recent years.

The details

The Bruins scored the first five goals of the game, but the Lightning responded with a pair of five-on-three power-play goals, setting a franchise record for a defenseman. Brandon Hagel fired up the crowd with a goal just 11 seconds in, the fastest goal in NHL outdoor game history. The game ended with the Lightning hosting Buffalo on Tuesday night and the Bruins traveling to Florida on Wednesday night.

  • On February 1, 2026, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins faced off in an NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium.
  • In the second period, there was a controversial incident involving Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jeremy Swayman that some fans argued should have resulted in a penalty shot for the Bruins.
  • The Lightning scored the tying goal in the third period and the winning goal in the shootout to complete their historic 4-goal comeback.

The players

Andrei Vasilevskiy

The Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender who was involved in the controversial incident with Jeremy Swayman in the second period.

Jeremy Swayman

The Boston Bruins goaltender who was involved in the controversial incident with Andrei Vasilevskiy in the second period.

Nikita Kucherov

The Tampa Bay Lightning forward who scored the tying goal in the third period and the winning goal in the shootout to lead his team's historic comeback.

Brandon Hagel

The Tampa Bay Lightning forward who scored the fastest goal in NHL outdoor game history, firing up the crowd just 11 seconds into the game.

Raymond James Stadium

The home stadium of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which hosted the NHL Stadium Series game between the Lightning and Bruins.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been awarded a penalty shot in that second period incident. The officials missed a clear call that could have changed the outcome of the game.”

— Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins Captain

“I've never seen anything like that in my career. For the goalies to drop the gloves in the middle of an outdoor game, it was just pure chaos. But our guys never gave up, and that's what I'm most proud of.”

— Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach

What’s next

The NHL is expected to review the controversial second period incident and determine if any disciplinary action is warranted for the players or officials involved.

The takeaway

This thrilling comeback win for the Lightning showcases the unpredictable nature of outdoor NHL games and the resilience of Tampa Bay's championship-caliber roster. The heated rivalry between these two teams continues to produce must-see hockey, leaving fans eager to see how their next matchup unfolds.