Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay take big lead early, hold off Capitals

Field Level Media|published: Sat 22nd November, 22:17 2025

Nov 22, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Brandon Hagel produced two goals and an assist in Tampa Bay's four-goal, first-period outburst, and the visiting Lightning claimed the season series against the Washington Capitals with a 5-3 victory on Saturday night.

Nikita Kucherov scored and posted two assists but was hurt in the second period and did not return. Anthony Cirelli had a goal and an assist, and Oliver Bjorkstrand tallied as the Lightning improved to 11-3-0 in the past 14 matches and ended up 2-0-1 against the Capitals.

Backup goaltender Jonas Johansson made his first career start against Washington and stopped 31 shots for the win.

The Capitals' Jakob Chychrun had a goal and an assist, and Justin Sourdif and Ethen Frank hit the net, but the Capitals saw their four-game point streak come to an end at 3-1-1.

Goaltender Logan Thompson was under attack from the outset and surrendered four goals on six shots before being replaced by Charlie Lindgren, who made nine saves on 10 shots.

Washington defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk skated in his 700th NHL game.

It took the home side just 66 seconds into the match to take a 1-0 lead as Sourdif put in some hard work in front of Johansson and batted in his third goal.

However, Tampa Bay's special teams took over to tally twice and help grab the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

On the game's first power play, Hagel tallied on a short-handed goal, the third against the Capitals this season, by whistling home a shot from the right circle at 2:53.

Following Bjorkstrand's power-play marker at 5:21, Hagel cut in front of Thompson and popped in his second at 11:36. Kucherov's breakaway goal at 18:19 made it 4-1 and ended Thompson's night.

With Kucherov on the bench with an injury in the second, Chychrun fired one home at 5:26 to extend his point streak to seven games.

In the third, Frank potted one to cut it to 4-3 at 5:24, but the Capitals failed to capitalize on a 5-on-3 advantage which included Alex Ovechkin hitting the post.

Hagel added a fourth point with an assist on Cirelli's goal at 15:51 to end the scoring.

--Field Level Media

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