Zemgus Girgensons, Lightning hit century mark in win vs. Penguins

Tampa Bay's Anthony Cirelli records hat trick as Lightning reach 100 points on the season

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:49am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the action of a hockey game, with the players and puck represented as fragmented, angular shapes in a vibrant color palette, conceptually illustrating the competitive spirit and fast-paced nature of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the high-scoring hockey match between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins, capturing the dynamic energy and intensity of the game.Today in Pittsburgh

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons scored his 100th career goal, and the Lightning tallied five unanswered goals to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Thursday. Anthony Cirelli recorded a hat trick for the Lightning, who reached the 100-point mark on the season.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Lightning in the hunt for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, as they remain just behind the Buffalo Sabres with a game in hand. The loss is a setback for the Penguins, who are trying to solidify their playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.

The details

Trailing 2-1 to open the second period, the Lightning scored five unanswered goals, including Cirelli's short-handed goal, Brayden Point's game-winner, and Girgensons' 100th career goal. Cirelli added an empty-net goal in the third period for his first hat trick since 2020. Nikita Kucherov also scored and had two assists for the Lightning. Pittsburgh's Egor Chinakhov scored twice, including one in the final seconds, and Rickard Rakell also tallied for the Penguins.

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

The players

Zemgus Girgensons

A forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored his 100th career goal in the game.

Anthony Cirelli

A forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who recorded a hat trick in the game.

Brayden Point

A forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored the game-winning goal.

Egor Chinakhov

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

Rickard Rakell

A forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored a goal in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with that same intensity and focus as we push towards the playoffs.”

— Jon Cooper, Head Coach, Tampa Bay Lightning

“We had our chances, but couldn't capitalize when it mattered most. We'll need to regroup and come back stronger in our next game.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Penguins

What’s next

The Lightning will look to build on this win as they continue their push for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. The Penguins will aim to bounce back in their next game as they fight to solidify their playoff positioning.

The takeaway

This game showcased the offensive firepower of the Lightning, led by the hat trick performance of Anthony Cirelli and the milestone goal from Zemgus Girgensons. The Penguins were unable to match the Lightning's scoring output, despite strong efforts from Egor Chinakhov and Rickard Rakell. The result keeps the Lightning in the hunt for the division title and puts the Penguins in a tougher spot in the playoff race.