The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on Saturday, securing their first home win of the season and ending a four-game losing streak. Nikita Kucherov reached his 1,000th NHL point with two assists, while Anthony Cirelli scored the game-winning goal on the power play. The victory highlighted multiple career milestones for Lightning players.
At Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, the Lightning improved to 2-4-2 with the win, while the Ducks fell to 4-3-1 despite a strong 2-0-1 run in their previous three games.
The game began with Jake Guentzel scoring the lone goal of the first period at 9:10, rebounding his initial shot from the right circle to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Anaheim's Jacob Trouba tied it 1-1 at 4:42 with a slap shot from the right circle. Guentzel restored the lead at 12:19, redirecting a pass from Brayden Point with his skate for a 2-1 advantage; Kucherov's secondary assist marked his 1,000th career point, making him the 101st NHL player to reach the milestone and the second in Lightning history behind Steven Stamkos.
Anthony Cirelli extended the lead to 3-1 at 14:20, tapping in a rebound at the crease. This goal also contributed to career milestones for Victor Hedman (his 800th point) and Brandon Hagel (reports vary between his 300th and 800th point), with each recording two assists. Reports differ on Hagel's exact milestone total.
The Ducks mounted a comeback in the third period, with Ryan Poehling tipping a pass from Ross Johnston on a 2-on-1 to make it 3-2 at 7:11. Troy Terry tied the game 3-3 at 8:10, scoring from the left circle off a pass from Cutter Gauthier. Cirelli sealed the 4-3 victory with a power-play wrist shot at 16:45, assisted by Kucherov.
Jonas Johansson made 37 saves for Tampa Bay, while Lukas Dostal stopped 29 for Anaheim. Ducks forward Mikael Granlund left after the first period with a lower-body injury. The three stars were Kucherov (two assists), Cirelli (two goals, one assist), and Guentzel (two goals).
Kucherov, in his 809th game, is the third-fastest active player to 1,000 points behind Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. He has five 100-point seasons and seven points in eight games this season.