Aho's Goal Lifts Hurricanes Over Lightning

Carolina edges Tampa Bay in battle of Eastern Conference powers

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Sebastian Aho's third-period power-play goal broke a tie and helped the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in a matchup of the Eastern Conference's top two teams. The Hurricanes had built a 3-0 lead early, but the Lightning rallied to tie the game before Aho's decisive tally.

Why it matters

This was a key inter-conference matchup between two of the NHL's top teams. The Hurricanes maintained their position atop the Eastern Conference standings, while the Lightning saw their six-game winning streak snapped.

The details

Carolina jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first seven minutes on goals by Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall. But the Lightning responded with two quick goals from Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov to cut the deficit to one. Dominic James then tied the game early in the second period. Seth Jarvis put the Hurricanes back on top, but Brayden Point's power-play goal evened the score again before Aho's game-winner.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 27, 2026.
  • Carolina scored three goals in the first seven minutes of the game.
  • The Lightning scored two goals in a 35-second span late in the first period.
  • Dominic James tied the game 1:58 into the second period.
  • Aho's game-winning goal came on the power play in the third period.

The players

Sebastian Aho

A forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who scored the game-winning goal.

Brayden Point

A forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored a power-play goal to tie the game in the second period.

Jon Cooper

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning who missed the game due to the death of his father.

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What they’re saying

“We knew they would push back, but we were able to weather the storm and get the two points.”

— Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes Forward (therinklive.com)

“It's tough to spot them a three-goal lead, but I'm proud of the way our guys battled back. We just came up a little short in the end.”

— Rob Zettler, Lightning Assistant Coach (therinklive.com)

What’s next

The Hurricanes will look to extend their four-game winning streak on Saturday when they host the New York Rangers. The Lightning will try to bounce back on Sunday when they visit the Florida Panthers.

The takeaway

This game showcased the high-powered offenses and competitive nature of two of the Eastern Conference's top teams. The Hurricanes' ability to withstand the Lightning's comeback and secure the victory demonstrated their resilience and status as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.