TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, dressed like Tony Montana from \u201cScarface,\u201d walked toward his team\u2019s dressing room following an outdoor game for the ages, took a puff from his Cuban and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed a cigar after this one,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cHoly s\u2014.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NHL had never staged a Stadium Series game<\/a> like this. It needed an engineering marvel, as commissioner Gary Bettman put it, to pull off. And, boy, did the game live up to the hype on the ice, with the Lightning overcoming a four-goal deficit to beat the Bruins 6-5 in a shootout in front of 64,317 at Raymond James Stadium.<\/p>\n The game featured 11 goals, a goalie fight, the fastest goal in outdoor game history and a debated\/negated overtime winner for the Bruins.<\/p>\n Did we mention a goalie fight?<\/p>\n Because that, more than the result, more than the slick arrival wear<\/a> (the Lightning wore Tampa Bay Buccaneers creamsicle uniforms while the Bruins dressed like patriots from the American Revolution), more than the Tim McGraw concert, is what everyone will remember the most. When Andrei Vasilevsky raced to mid-ice to challenge Jeremy Swayman to a fight midway through the second period, it changed the complexion of the game, fueled a comeback and turned what could have been a ho-hum blowout into a historic finish.<\/p>\n Here was Vasilevskiy, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Conn Smythe winner, already ticked off that he had given up five goals. Then Swayman hit Brandon Hagel with his blocker a few times during a post-whistle scrum near the crease.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just a reflex to run to the red line and challenge him,\u201d Vasilevskiy said. It was a reflex from everyone on both benches to wonder, as Jake Guentzel put it, \u201cWhat is going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was pumped,\u201d Lightning star winger Nikita Kucherov said. \u201cI knew he was going to beat the wheels off Swayman right away. We call (Vasilevskiy) \u2018Tyson\u2019 now.\u201d<\/p>\n Jon Cooper: Aura farm \u2728 #StadiumSeries<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9VkEqPUkP7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHL (@NHL) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Vasilevskiy and Swayman tussled near mid-ice, with the Russian surprising everyone \u2014 from teammates to the Boston goaltender \u2014 by coming out swinging as a southpaw. (Vasilevskiy once told me he was left-handed because he couldn\u2019t find a right-handed glove growing up).<\/p>\n \u201cIt was one of the biggest moments for me personally, because I never fought in the NHL,\u201d Vasilevskiy said. \u201cSo big thanks to him for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFighting the biggest, toughest goalie in the league wouldn\u2019t be my first choice,\u201d Swayman said. \u201cBut I\u2019m glad I got the first one out of the way. Probably retired after that.\u201d<\/p>\n The fight electrified the crowd and both benches, with the two combatants sharing a smile and pats on the back afterward.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll remember that forever,\u201d said the Bruins\u2019 Morgan Geekie, who scored two goals.<\/p>\n \u201cPretty good entertainment, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d Boston coach Marco Sturm asked.<\/p>\n GOALIE FIGHT AT THE #STADIUMSERIES<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8: @espn<\/a> \u27a1\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/m0LyTCHYnH<\/a>
\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6: @Sportsnet<\/a> & @TVASports<\/a> \u27a1\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/4KjbdjVctF<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/OSydD4j1cq<\/a><\/p>\n