Hagel scores in OT as Lightning beat Eastern Conference-leading Bruins 5-4
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) celebrates after scoring past Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) and defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) during overtime in an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Stamkos scored the tying goal with 4.8 seconds left in regulation and Brandon Hagel got the winner on a breakaway 1:19 into overtime as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins 5-4 on Monday night.
Tanner Jeannot, Nicholas Paul and Austin Watson scored for the Lightning (9-6-4). Jonas Johansson turned aside 22 shots.
“We’re a good team, too,” Stamkos said. “We don’t have the same record because we’ve played a little reckless at times."
Stamkos' goal came after Victor Hedman kept a clearing attempt in the Boston zone. Hedman also set up Hagel's goal.
Stamkos tied Pat Verbeek for 38th place with 522 goals.
Pavel Zacha, David Pastrnak, John Beecher and Charlie Coyle scored for Boston. Jeremy Swayman stopped 41 shots as the Bruins dropped to 13-1-3 on the season.
“We hold ourselves at a pretty high level,” Coyle said. “Giving up points like that, it’s unacceptable in our dressing room. We’ve got to close these games out.”
Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with teammates, including, right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) and left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
Tampa Bay star Nikita Kucherov skated gingerly off the ice midway through the second but returned for the third.
“Kuch, I was surprised he came back,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “As soon as we came in after the second period, he says ”Oh no, I’m coming back.' I think that gave the guys a huge boost."
Pastrnak and Beecher scored 1:21 apart midway through the third before Watson pulled Tampa Bay even at 3-3 just 57 seconds after Beecher's goal. Coyle then put Boston up 4-3 with 3:51 remaining,
It's just the fourth time Boston has allowed more than two goals in a game.
Tampa Bay Lightning players mob left wing Brandon Hagel after he scored the game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins in overtime an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
“You’ve got to play to the end,” Coyle said.
After failing to score during a minute-long 5-on-3 power-play earlier in the second. Paul put the Lightning up 2-1 on a deflection of Mikhail Sergachev's man-advantage shot with 30 seconds left in the period.
Tampa Bay's top-ranked home power play went 1 for 6 against the Bruins' league-best penalty kill. Boston failed to score on its two power plays.
Pastrnak extended his point streak to seven games with a nifty pass from the low slot to set up Zacha’s goal that tied it at 1 midway through an up-tempo first period that Tampa Bay held a 19-12 shot advantage.
Brad Marchand also assisted on Zacha’s goal amd moved past Lightning broadcaster Phil Esposito into fourth place in franchise history with 431 road points. The left wing has a point in six consecutive games.
Stamkos also had an assist and has at least 40 points against 14 different franchises. Stamkos is the fourth active player to record the total against as many franchise, joining Alex Ovechkin (14), Evgeni Malkin (16) and Sidney Crosby (15).
UP NEXT
Bruins: At Florida on Wednesday night.
Lightning: Host Winnipeg on Wednesday night.
