Jake Guentzel scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period and added an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Utah Mammoth 4-2 on Sunday at Delta Center. The victory marked Tampa Bay's fifth consecutive win, improving their record to 6-4-2. Utah, who entered with a seven-game winning streak snapped, fell to 8-4-0 and suffered their first home loss of the season.
The game began with Utah taking a 1-0 lead at 5:55 of the first period when Lawson Crouse scored on a breakaway, assisted by Ian Cole. Tampa Bay responded late in the period, tying it 1-1 at 15:17 on Yanni Gourde's goal, set up by Emil Lilleberg and Zemgus Girgensons in a tic-tac-toe passing play.
In the second period, Anthony Cirelli gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead at 2:47 with a one-timer from the left faceoff circle, assisted by Guentzel and Victor Hedman. Shots were even in the period, with Tampa Bay firing 10 and Utah nine.
The third period saw Utah even the score at 2-2 just 2:21 in, as Kailer Yamamoto converted a backhand pass from Cole. Guentzel put Tampa Bay back ahead 3-2 at 12:06, circling the net and beating Karel Vejmelka unassisted. Brandon Hagel sealed the 4-2 win with an empty-net goal at 19:44, assisted by Ryan McDonagh, extending his goal streak to four games.
Jonas Johansson made 25 saves for the Lightning, while Vejmelka stopped 22 of 25 shots for Utah. Tampa Bay outshot Utah 26-27 overall.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper praised his team's response: "This team, they’re good... I really liked the way we responded." Guentzel noted on his goal: "Just a good won draw... and (I) just tried to throw it on net." Johansson added: "Guys did a great job in front of me... good game overall."
Utah's Nick Schmaltz played his 600th NHL game, reaching 440 career points, while Kevin Stenlund hit his 300th with 74 points. Tampa Bay begins a road trip with a game at Colorado on Tuesday.
