Recap
2 min read

Tampa Bay Lightning's Dynamic Duo Outshines Colorado Avalanche in Electrifying Showdown

First Period


The Tampa Bay Lightning, with a record of 26-13-3, hosted the Colorado Avalanche, who stood at 31-4-7. The game kicked off with the Bolts taking an early lead. Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel showcased their synergy as they combined efforts to put Tampa Bay on the scoreboard first. The Lightning's defense held strong against the Avs' attempts, maintaining a 1-0 advantage by the end of the period.


Jan 6, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) is congratulated after he scored an empty net goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Second Period


In the second period, both teams intensified their play. The Avalanche found their rhythm and managed to score twice, leveling up with Tampa Bay. However, it was Anthony Cirelli who broke through for the Bolts with a crucial goal that kept them ahead at 2-1 by period's end. Andrei Vasilevskiy was pivotal in goal for Tampa Bay, making key saves to keep his team in front.


Third Period


The final period saw an exhilarating display from both sides as they battled fiercely on ice. Brandon Hagel continued his impressive performance by netting another goal for Tampa Bay while Zemgus Girgensons added one more to secure their lead further. Despite Colorado’s relentless pressure and attempts to close the gap, Vasilevskiy's goaltending prowess ensured that only two goals slipped past him throughout regulation time.


Jan 6, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Lightning vs Colorado Avalanche final score ended at 4-2 in favor of the home team Bolts after a hard-fought contest.


Looking ahead, fans can catch Tampa Bay Lightning facing off against Philadelphia Flyers on January 10th at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia at 7:00 PM EST. Tune into ESPN+, The Spot TV or NBCS-PH for live coverage of this exciting matchup! Share this article with fellow fans and relive every moment of this electrifying showdown!


Jan 6, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) and Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) skate after the puck during the third period at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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