Lightning Edge Red Wings in Overtime Thriller

Nikita Kucherov's game-winner 27 seconds into OT lifts Tampa Bay to 50th win of the season.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:04am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the fast-paced action on the ice.The Lightning's overtime victory showcases the team's resilience and the tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference.Buffalo Today

The Tampa Bay Lightning held off a late comeback attempt from the Detroit Red Wings to win 4-3 in overtime on Monday night. Nikita Kucherov scored the game-winning goal just 27 seconds into the extra period, giving the Lightning their 50th victory of the season.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Lightning in the hunt for a top playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, as they continue their final homestand of the regular season. The Red Wings' comeback effort fell just short, but the team remains in the mix for a wild card berth.

The details

Kucherov's overtime heroics came after the Red Wings had erased a 3-1 Lightning lead in the third period. Conor Geekie, Erik Cernak, and Jake Guentzel scored for Tampa Bay in regulation, while Alex DeBrincat, David Perron, and Marco Kasper found the net for Detroit. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves to earn the win for the Lightning.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • Kucherov scored the game-winner 27 seconds into overtime.

The players

Nikita Kucherov

Forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning who made 27 saves in the win.

Alex DeBrincat

Forward for the Detroit Red Wings who scored a goal in the third period to tie the game.

Patrick Kane

Forward for the Detroit Red Wings who registered his 1,400th career point with an assist on DeBrincat's goal.

Cam Talbot

Goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings who made 18 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We knew they would push hard in the third period, but our guys did a great job of weathering the storm and finding a way to get the extra point.”

— Jon Cooper, Head Coach, Tampa Bay Lightning

What’s next

The Lightning will wrap up their regular season with two more home games, while the Red Wings will look to solidify their playoff positioning in the final weeks.

The takeaway

This thrilling overtime victory showcases the Lightning's resilience and ability to grind out tough wins, even when facing a late comeback attempt. The Red Wings' effort demonstrates their competitiveness and the tight race for playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.