Nikita Kucherov scored 32 seconds into overtime to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 2-1 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at Benchmark International Arena. The win marks Tampa Bay's second straight victory and Andrei Vasilevskiy's first of the season. Vegas suffered its first regulation loss after starting 5-0-2.
The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Vegas Golden Knights on October 26, 2025, at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, closing out their homestand with an overtime triumph.
Brandon Hagel opened the scoring for Tampa Bay at 4:53 of the first period, roofing a rebound from Victor Hedman's shot over Vegas goaltender Carl Lindbom. Assisted by Hedman and Jake Guentzel, it was Hagel's first goal of the season. Vegas responded late in the period, with William Karlsson tying the game at 1-1 at 18:25 on a wrist shot from the left circle, assisted by Reilly Smith and Shea Theodore. Karlsson's goal was his fourth of the year.
The second period passed without goals, as Tampa Bay outshot Vegas 11-2. In the third, shots favored Vegas 11-3, but no scoring occurred. At 13:38 of the third, an apparent go-ahead goal by Kucherov was overturned on a successful offside challenge by Vegas. Video review confirmed Kucherov lost possession and control of the puck entering the zone in an offside position, per NHL Rule 38.9.
Overtime began with action at both ends, but Brayden Point stole the puck from Shea Theodore to start a 2-on-1 rush. Hagel passed to Kucherov, who chipped it past Lindbom at 0:32 for the winner, his third goal of the season. Kucherov had reached 1,000 NHL points the previous night in a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
Vasilevskiy made 18 saves on 19 shots for his first win of 2025-26, while Lindbom stopped 26 of 28 shots in his NHL debut. Tampa Bay improved to 3-4-2, while Vegas fell to 5-1-3. Total shots were 28-19 in favor of the Lightning.
The Lightning next face the Nashville Predators on the road Tuesday.
