Lightning Defeat Penguins, Reach 100-Point Milestone

Tampa Bay's Anthony Cirelli records hat trick in victory over Pittsburgh.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:16am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion and action of a hockey game, with sharp planes of ice, sticks, pucks, and players' movements.A cubist interpretation of the Tampa Bay Lightning's offensive onslaught against the Pittsburgh Penguins, capturing the dynamic energy of the game.Today in Pittsburgh

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Monday night, with forward Anthony Cirelli scoring a hat trick to lead his team to 100 points on the season. Tampa Bay's star winger Nikita Kucherov also contributed 3 points in the win, which moved the Lightning into first place in the Atlantic Division.

Why it matters

The Lightning's 100-point achievement is an impressive milestone, showcasing the team's offensive firepower and consistency throughout the season. This victory over a divisional rival like the Penguins also gives Tampa Bay a valuable boost in the standings as they jockey for playoff positioning.

The details

Cirelli opened the scoring in the first period and added two more goals in the second to complete the hat trick. Kucherov recorded a goal and two assists, while Pittsburgh's Kirill Chinakhov scored twice in a losing effort for the Penguins.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Anthony Cirelli

A 24-year-old forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who recorded a hat trick in the game.

Nikita Kucherov

A star winger for the Tampa Bay Lightning who contributed 3 points in the victory.

Kirill Chinakhov

A forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored two goals in the losing effort.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The NHL team that defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to reach 100 points on the season.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The NHL team that lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning, despite two goals from Kirill Chinakhov.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was a big game for us to try and take over first place. The guys really stepped up and played a complete game.”

— Jon Cooper, Head Coach, Tampa Bay Lightning

What’s next

The Lightning will look to build on this victory as they continue their push for the playoffs, while the Penguins will try to rebound in their next game.

The takeaway

The Tampa Bay Lightning's offensive firepower and balanced scoring attack have propelled them to the top of the Atlantic Division standings, showcasing their status as a formidable Stanley Cup contender.