Jake Guentzel scored an overtime breakaway goal with only 15 seconds remaining, lifting the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. The Lightning, playing at home, secured their ninth consecutive win in this venue after rallying from a deficit with less than 30 seconds left in regulation.
The decisive play originated from Nikita Kucherov, who executed a spinning pass across half the ice to Guentzel, who caught it and slipped the puck past Sabres goalie Colten Ellis, who made 31 saves. This marked Guentzel’s second straight game-winning goal, while Kucherov extended his impressive point streak to nine games, tallying six goals and 17 assists during that span.
Key Contributions Fuel Tampa Bay’s Comeback
Defenseman Darren Raddysh played a critical role, scoring in his fifth consecutive game to tie the score with just 26 seconds remaining in regulation, also adding an assist. Oliver Bjorkstrand contributed with a power-play goal, complementing Guentzel’s two-point performance. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 23 shots, helping the Lightning improve their record to 18-1-1 over the last 20 outings. Meanwhile, Buffalo’s recent surge cooled off slightly as they fell to 6-1-1 in their last eight games following a split series in Florida.
Notable Results from Around the NHL
In other action, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2, with Matias Maccelli scoring twice. Matthew Knies added both a goal and an assist, while John Tavares and Bobby McMann also found the net. Anthony Stolarz recorded 34 saves in goal for Toronto. The Oilers, who received goals from Jake Walman and Kasperi Kapanen, suffered back-to-back losses with Connor Ingram making 22 saves.
The Columbus Blue Jackets notched a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils, powered by two goals from Mathieu Olivier during a dominant third period. Elvis Merzlikins preserved a shutout with 24 saves, delivering his first clean sheet of the season and boosting the Blue Jackets’ winning streak to six games. Columbus extended their strong run to 10-1-0 in the last 11, also winning five straight road games following a perfect three-game trip. The Devils’ Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves but endured his team’s third straight loss.
Islanders Edge Penguins in Overtime Thriller
The New York Islanders overcame multiple deficits to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in overtime, with Bo Horvat scoring a breakaway goal just 52 seconds into the extra period. Barzal, Matthew Schaefer, and Ryan Pulock also scored for the Islanders, snapping their two-game losing streak. Ilya Sorokin halted 31 shots, while Barzal assisted twice. On the Penguins’ side, goals from Anthony Mantha, Egor Chinakhov, Bryan Rust, and Justin Brazeau were not enough, as their two-game winning streak ended despite Brazeau’s two-point effort. Stuart Skinner made 18 saves.
Philadelphia Tops Washington Behind Late Power-Play Goal
Jamie Drysdale’s power-play goal with just over five minutes remaining helped the Philadelphia Flyers break a four-game losing skid, defeating the Washington Capitals 4-2. Dan Vladar delivered a strong 26-save performance, supported by goals from Owen Tippett, Carl Grundstrom, and Rasmus Ristolainen. Travis Konecny assisted twice. Washington’s Anthony Beauvillier contributed both a goal and an assist, while Aliaksei Protas also scored. Clay Stevenson made 18 saves in a losing effort.
Carolina Holds Off Ottawa in Final Game Before Olympic Break
In Raleigh, Seth Jarvis scored twice for the Carolina Hurricanes, including pivotal goals that helped the team fend off the Ottawa Senators 4-3. Jordan Staal added the game-winning goal with just over five minutes to go. Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi turned away 22 shots, improving his impressive record to 22-3-1. The Hurricanes extended their points streak to a season-best nine games despite surrendering a two-goal lead. Ottawa’s Stephen Halliday, Tim Stutzle, and Jake Sanderson, who also had an assist, scored but narrowly missed ending a bid for their first five-game winning streak of the season. Dylan Cozens earned two assists, while former Hurricanes goalie James Reimer stopped 14 shots in defeat.
Anaheim Ducks Climb Pacific Division with Win Over Seattle
Cutter Gauthier scored his team-leading 25th goal as the Anaheim Ducks defeated visiting Seattle 4-2. Additional goals by Jacob Trouba, Alex Killorn, and Ross Johnston helped Anaheim win their second consecutive game and ninth in 11, moving ahead of Seattle into third place in the Pacific Division ahead of the Olympic break. Jackson LaCombe and Jansen Harkins contributed two assists each. Lukas Dostal stopped 26 shots. Seattle’s Jordan Eberle and Shane Wright scored in the third period, with Philipp Grubauer making 27 saves but unable to prevent the loss.
Implications and Outlook
Jake Guentzel’s overtime heroics continue to solidify his reputation as a clutch performer for Tampa Bay, whose current home dominance and winning streak highlight their resilience and offensive depth. The Lightning’s ability to rally late and close out games decisively could prove critical as the season progresses toward the Olympic break and beyond. Meanwhile, the performances of players like Kucherov, Raddysh, and Vasilevskiy demonstrate a balanced effort contributing to Tampa Bay’s sustained success.
Across the NHL, several teams are jockeying for momentum heading into the midseason pause, with notable winning streaks persisting for teams like Columbus and Toronto, while others such as Pittsburgh and Washington are trying to halt recent slumps. The upcoming Olympic break offers an opportunity for players to reset, but also poses challenges related to maintaining competitive form and team chemistry once play resumes.
