TAMPA \u2014 When it comes to these outdoor games that the National Hockey League stages every year, the accompanying extravaganza can overshadow the game itself.<\/p>\n
But at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, both the show and the hockey game were equally satisfying. Unless you\u2019re a Bruins fan.<\/p>\n
A goalie fight, a furious comeback, playoff-caliber physicality and a slew of penalties (mostly on the Bruins) were all part of a wild game. In the end, Jake Guentzel was the only goal-scorer in the shootout to lift the Lightning over the B\u2019s, 6-5. Andrei Vasilevskiy, who fought Jeremy Swayman earlier in the game, stopped David Pastrnak to end it as his shot hit the post.<\/p>\n
The Bruins built a 5-1 lead early in the second period before the Tampa Bay Lightning scored three straight power-play goals \u2014 two of which were on 5-on-3s \u2014 to make it a one-goal lead late in the second period.<\/p>\n
At that point, the equalizer felt inevitable, and it came at 11:50 on a Nikita Kucherov one-timer from the left circle.<\/p>\n
In OT, Pastrnak thought he\u2019d scored the game-winner when his slapper beat Andrei Vasilevskiy but he had been called for slashing, only no one had heard the whistle. The B\u2019s were able to kill it and then Swayman stopped Kucherov on a clean breakaway with 28.9 seconds left in OT.<\/p>\n
The B\u2019s then gave Tampa their seventh straight power play when Hampus Lindholm was called for holding with 24.7 seconds left. But the B\u2019s were able to kill that one off, too, to get it to the shootout.<\/p>\n
There, the Bolts prevailed.<\/p>\n
![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2259483143.jpg\")
David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins attempts a shot against Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning as Erik Cernak defends during the second period of the 2026 NHL Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium on February 01, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The fake fog from the nautical-themed pre-game spectacle had barely lifted by the time the B\u2019s found themselves by a goal.<\/p>\n
Just 11 seconds into the game, Brandon Hagel beat Swayman over the blocker for the quick 1-0 Lightning lead and the 64,617 in attendance erupted. It was their last opportunity to cheer for the rest of the period.<\/p>\n
The B\u2019s, who would have a 20-8 shot advantage in the first period, ripped off the next three goals to a 3-1 lead into the first break.<\/p>\n
First, Alex Steeves, who had been a healthy scratch in the two previous games, got the B\u2019s on the board at 11:24, breaking a 15-game goal-less streak that dated back to Dec. 23. Mikey Eyssimont carried the puck down low on the left wing and then found Steeves in the slot for a one-timer and ninth of the season.<\/p>\n
The B\u2019s then took a two-goal lead on a couple of tips.<\/p>\n
At 15:36, Charlie McAvoy fired a shot from the boards that Morgan Geekie was able to deflect past Vasilevskiy for his 31st.<\/p>\n
Then on the Lightning\u2019s third minor of the period, a Jake Guentzel trip of Matt Poitras, the B\u2019s cashed in on the power play. After Vasilevskiy had robbed him on a previous chance, Viktor Arvidsson deflected home another McAvoy shot for his 14th of the year.<\/p>\n
Lightning coach Jon Cooper, dressed in a kind of Tony Montana-style white suit and fedora, took a long look at it, but Arvidsson\u2019s tip was legal and he declined to challenge.<\/p>\n
To make matters worse for Tampa was the loss of Anthony Cirelli, who took a hard hit from Mark Kastelic late in the first and did not return for the second period. But the Lightning would stage a penalty-fueled comeback and get back to within striking distance.<\/p>\n
But first, the B\u2019s stretched the lead to 4-1 at the 2:22. Poitras, who just a few days ago thought he\u2019d be paying the Charlotte Checkers, scored his first of the year on a pretty goal. In his second NHL game of the season, Poitras took a feed from Kastelic and roofed a backhander past Vasilevskiy.<\/p>\n
With Tampa pressing to get back in the game, the Bolts coughed up an odd-man rush to the wrong line. Marat Khusnutdinov dished up to Pastrnak at the left side of the blue line and Pastrnak had a 2-on-1 with Geekie. He carried the puck toward the circle before dishing to Geekie for the one-timer goal at 8:18.<\/p>\n
But the B\u2019s \u2013 and the refs \u2013 gave the Bolts some life. McAvoy was called for roughing and on the ensuing power play, Oliver Bjorkstand lifted the puck over a prone Swayman at 10:28. After the goal, Kastelic gave Bjorkstrand a shove and Guentzel came down to go at Kastelic for a shoving match. Stunningly, Kastelic was the only player to go to the box.<\/p>\n
Then all hell broke loose. On the Tampa PP, Hagel jammed at a puck in Swayman\u2019s pads. The goalie took major umbrage and decked Hagel, with McAvoy also jumping on the Bolt. As that was going on, Vasilevskiy skated toward the Boston end and, to the delight of the crowd, we had a goalie fight. Once the two netminders had gotten their respective gear off \u2014 and Swayman extricated Hagel\u2019s stick from his left pad \u2014 they locked up. Vasilevskiy, a lefty, landed more shots than the righty Swayman before Swayman lost his balance and it ended quickly. It was obvious neither goalie was an experienced pugilist, but the crowd didn\u2019t mind, nor did the players.<\/p>\n
The B\u2019s survived that PP but they weren\u2019t done making it hard on themselves when they took three straight minors. The first two, a Swayman delay and Tanner Jeannot interference, gave the Bolts a 5-on-3 for 1:48. They were 19 seconds away from killing off the Swayman minor when Sean Kuraly was called for closing his hand on the puck, seconds after he felt he was tripped.<\/p>\n
On the first 5-on-3, Darren Raddysh scored on a slapper to get the Bolts to within two goals at 15:50. And then their next 5-on-3 kicked in. And 23 seconds later, Nick Paul pulled the Bolts to within a goal. Tampa was in business going into the third.<\/p>\n
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