Victor Hedman scored 2:07 into overtime Thursday to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken at Benchmark International Arena. Hedman carried the puck through the neutral zone, split three Seattle players and beat goalie Phillip Grubauer with a backhand shot through the legpads. It was Hedman’s first goal of the season.
The victory improved the Tampa Bay Lightning to 5-2-0 and kept the team unbeaten at home at 4-0-0. Tampa Bay overcame three Seattle leads during the game before Hedman settled the result in overtime. The Lightning will next face the Vancouver Canucks at 4 p.m. Saturday at Benchmark International Arena.
Hedman Delivers in Overtime
Hedman created the winning opportunity with a direct rush through the neutral zone. After surveying the ice, he gained a step and finished the 3-on-3 chance with a backhand shot that went through Grubauer’s legpads.
“It’s been a while since I played 3-on-3 in a game like this. I just kind of surveyed what was open, and I felt like their other two guys were kind of wide,” Hedman said of the goal. “I felt like if I could get a step on the top guy that I had a chance, so it was just trusting my instincts and trusting my legs.”
Hedman was named the game’s first star. His goal completed a comeback after Seattle forced overtime late in regulation.
Hagel Scores Twice for Tampa Bay
Ryan Winterton opened the scoring for the Seattle Kraken 5:43 into the game. Brandon Hagel tied the game with 3:07 remaining in the first period after Brayden Point gained the offensive zone and found him in the right circle.
Hagel scored again in the second period, roofing a shot from the left circle to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 2-1 lead. The two-goal performance gave Hagel six goals this season, and he has scored five times in his last three games.
“There’s a Great One that has a good quote out there,” Hagel said with a smile. “If I get an opportunity to shoot, I shoot. Sometimes I don’t still (laughs), but the more shots you take the better chance you’ve got to score. Scoring is the best thing in this game. It’s my favorite thing to do, and when you have a chance to shoot it, it has a chance to go in.”
Hedman also credited Hagel’s work in the offensive zone and at the start of overtime. “He’s one of the guys that keep dragging us into the fight every single night and making some great plays,” Hedman said of Hagel. “Obviously he scored another two goals and has five in his last three games. He’s just a dog on a bone. You see it at the start of overtime. They have the puck, but he’s forechecking and getting the puck, and we get possession and are able to get a couple changes, and then we score. So he sets it all up for the next line to have success.”
Seattle Forces Overtime
Jared McCann tied the game 2:54 into the third period on a centering pass from Jordan Eberle. Ilya Mikheyev restored Tampa Bay’s lead with 10:02 remaining in regulation after forcing a turnover.
Matty Beniers then redirected a puck late in regulation to make it 3-3 and send the game to overtime. Beniers was named the third star, while Hagel received the second-star honor.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Vancouver Canucks in Saturday’s 4 p.m. game at Benchmark International Arena. The matchup will be Tampa Bay’s next opportunity to build on its 4-0-0 home record.
FSB Take
Hedman’s overtime goal provided the finish, but Tampa Bay’s victory also featured two goals from Hagel and a third-period goal created by Mikheyev’s pressure. The Lightning answered Seattle’s scoring chances throughout regulation and remained unbeaten at home. Saturday’s meeting with the Vancouver Canucks is next for a Tampa Bay team that improved to 5-2-0.
Source: Original report