Nikita Kucherov's quick OT goal lifts Lightning past Golden Knights

Field Level Media|published: Sun 26th October, 20:22 2025

NHL: Anaheim Ducks at Tampa Bay Lightning

Oct 25, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) passes the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Nikita Kucherov scored 32 seconds into overtime as the Tampa Bay Lightning won for the second straight day on home ice, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 on Sunday.

After a turnover by Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore in three-on-three play, Kucherov sent a pass during a two-on-one rush to Brandon Hagel, who fed it back to Kucherov for his eighth career overtime winner.

Hagel, who potted a career-high 35 goals last season, notched his first of the new campaign, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 18 shots for his first win.

Tampa Bay (1-2-0) won for the first time in three overtime sessions this season.

William Karlsson scored his fourth goal in the past five matches for the Golden Knights, and Reilly Smith and Theodore had assists. Center Tomas Hertl played in his 800th career game.

Like Tampa Bay in playing on the back end of a back-to-back set, the Golden Knights turned to 22-year-old backup goalie Carl Lindbom (26 saves) in his NHL debut.

The Golden Knights went 0-1-1 in the pair of matches in Florida against the Panthers and Lightning.

In the first period on Sunday, Hagel found a rebound off Victor Hedman's shot and pocketed his first goal this season just short of five minutes in.

Tampa Bay had a great opportunity when Alexander Holtz went off for a double-minor high-sticking infraction on Emil Lilleberg, but the visitors were strong on the penalty kill.

They managed to even the score at 18:25 when Karlsson took a slick cross-ice dish from Smith and whizzed one past Vasilevskiy on the far post as Vegas got out of the period squared up after being outshot 13-6.

The two clubs skated through a scoreless second period, and the Golden Knights' issue with shot production continued to be a problem after putting just 17 on goal at Florida in a 3-0 loss to the Panthers.

Aided by four more minutes of penalties bringing their total to 15, they mustered just two shots on Vasilevskiy in the middle frame and trailed 24-8 in the category.

Kucherov's apparent go-ahead goal at 6:22 left in the third was overturned after Vegas was successful on an offside challenge, leading to overtime.

--Field Level Media

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