The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a much-needed victory against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, October 26, 2025, with a 2-1 overtime win at Benchmark International Arena. This marks the Lightning's first overtime win of the season, a critical turning point after a rocky start.
The game began with Tampa Bay displaying a renewed sense of urgency, eager to claim a significant home victory. Brandon Hagel opened the scoring for the Lightning, finding the back of the net with assists from Victor Hedman and Jake Guentzel five minutes into the first period. The Golden Knights responded before the end of the first, with William Karlsson beating Andrei Vasilevskiy to tie the game at one apiece, assisted by Reilly Smith and Shea Theodore.
The second and third periods saw neither team able to break the tie, as both goalies stood tall, turning away every shot they faced. The Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy put on a stellar performance, saving 18 of 19 shots. On the other end, Carl Lindbom, making his NHL debut for the Golden Knights, stopped 26 shots.
With the score still deadlocked at 1-1 after regulation, the game headed into overtime. The Lightning's Nikita Kucherov ended the stalemate, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime and securing the 2-1 victory for Tampa Bay.
This win comes as a welcome relief for the Lightning, who entered the game with a 2-4-2 record. The team has been working to find consistency, especially at home. The victory against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights could provide the momentum they need to climb in the Atlantic Division.
For the Golden Knights, this loss snaps their point streak and moves their record to 5-1-3. Despite the defeat, Lindbom's solid performance in his debut is a positive sign for the team as they continue their road trip.
The Lightning will look to build on this win as they continue their season, while the Golden Knights will aim to rebound as they travel to Carolina to face the Hurricanes.
