Tampa Bay Lightning Triumph Over Dallas Stars
On Sunday in Dallas, the Tampa Bay Lightning secured a solid 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars, thanks to Brandon Hagel’s critical tiebreaking goal in the second period. Andrei Vasilevskiy showcased his prowess as he made 19 saves on 20 shots, contributing to the team’s success. This match allowed the Lightning to bounce back from a disappointing shootout loss that halted their impressive 11-game winning streak, which had equaled a franchise record.
Key Moments of the Game
Hagel’s goal came when he deftly maneuvered the puck past Stars defenseman Esa Lindell after receiving the pass near the goal line, giving the Lightning a crucial 2-1 advantage. This marked Hagel’s sixth winning goal of the season, placing him just behind NHL leader Steven Stamkos of Nashville, who has seven.
Notably, the Lightning have maintained a 13-game point streak, and with today’s win, they stand tied with the Carolina Hurricanes at the top of the Eastern Conference, both with a total of 64 points. However, Colorado currently leads overall with 74 points. The Lightning continue to excel away from home, now holding an impressive 18-4-4 record on the road, and they are also unbeaten in 20 games when leading after the second period.
Contributors to the Victory
Other contributors to the Lightning’s victory included rookie Dominic James and Jake Guentzel, who both tallied one goal and one assist, while Pontus Holmberg capped the scoring with a late empty-net goal.
Dallas Stars’ Struggles
The Stars, on the other hand, continued to struggle, suffering their third consecutive loss in regulation and displaying difficulties in offense, having only scored one goal in each of their last three outings. Oskar Back did manage to put one on the board for Dallas, but the team has now dropped five games in regulation when they scored first, a concerning trend given their position in the standings. With 63 points, they are tied with Minnesota for the second position in the Western Conference.
James not only tied the game shortly after Back’s opening goal but has also proven to be a bright spot for the Lightning, having scored two of his four goals in the last week alone.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Lightning will return home to face the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, while the Stars will be looking to turn things around against the Boston Bruins on the same day.
