Hedman Delivers OT Win as Lightning Top Kraken

3 minutes ago

4 min read

By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports

Victor Hedman scored the game-winner in overtime, while Brandon Hagel added two goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Seattle Kraken, 4-3. The goal was the Bolts' captain's first of the season and his first since February 28th, weeks before he left the team for mental health reasons.

Ryan Winterton opened the scoring early in the first period for the Kraken, capitalizing on a Lightning miscue.

Seattle's Freddy Gaudreau rushed Bolts defenseman Emil Lilleberg behind the Lightning net. Lilleberg's errant backhanded pass flailed to the side of the net, where Winterton sliced through the slot to score at the 5:43 mark.

Lightning forward Brandon Hagel evened the score at 16:53 when he collected his own rebound and powered a shot past Kraken goalie Phillip Grubauer.

Hagel Continues Torrid Scoring Pace

Hagel added another goal at the 3:38 mark of the second period to put the Lightning up 2-1. Hagel has scored five goals in three games on 13 shots on goal.

“There’s a Great One that has a good quote out there (smiles)," Hagel said. "If I get an opportunity to shoot, I shoot. Sometimes I don't still (laughs), but listen: The more shots you take, the better chance you’ve got to score."

Hagel has six goals on 27 shots this season.

"Scoring is the best thing in this game," he said. "It's my favorite thing to do, and when you have a chance to shoot it, it has a chance to go in.”

Hagel is not only scoring for the Lightning, but he's also driving the team as they improved to 4-2-0.

"It feels like he is one of the guys who keeps dragging us into the fight every single night and making some great plays," Hedman said of Hagel. "He is just a dog on a bone."

"You see it at the start of overtime," Hedman continued. "They have the puck, but he's (Hagel) forechecking and getting the puck, and we get possession and (are) able to get a couple changes, and then we score. So he sets it all up for the next line to have success."

Hedman Delivers in Overtime

Seattle tied the game at 2-2 when John McCann scored on a power play goal at the 2:54 mark of the third period.

However, the Lightning took charge when Ilya Miheyev scored his 100th career goal with just over ten minutes left in regulation. That momentum didn't last, as Seattle's Matty Beniers tied it 3-3 with less than five minutes to play.

The Lightning had several overtime chances, but Hedman made an improbable play to clinch the win nearly halfway through.

Seeing an opening between Seattle forwards Shane Wright and Mackie Samoskevich, Hedman made a move and backhanded the puck ahead of himself.

Hedman then split Samoskevich and Ryker Evans and backhanded the puck a second time between Grubauer's pads for the win.

"He was moving quick, and that's a big boy," Hagel said of Hedman's goal. "I saw the puck kind of loose on a breakaway, and his stick's taller than me, so he definitely had a chance there and snuck it five-hole."

“It was great," Hedman said of the goal and how it felt to celebrate. "I feel great. I feel like my legs are great, and I’m just trying to take advantage of all my strengths, and (the goal was) just a good example of that.”

"You want to see things like that happen," Lighting coach Jon Cooper said. "Victor's gonna have his name in the rafters here, and you want times like that to be remembered. It's been a long fight back for him, and those can do nothing but build his confidence, and I hope he keeps marching forward here. But I think everybody got pretty excited when he did that."

Hedman has been a focal point for the Lightning for several years, earning the captain's 'C' on his sweater after Steven Stamkos left three years ago. After leaving the team last season for mental health reasons, he has drawn the ire of some fans and critics upon his return this season, who note his declining skills as he ages.

His teammates, however, stand steadfast behind the 35-year-old defenseman.

"We have so much care for our captain in this dressing room. He's a big leader. He is a big part of this team," Hagel added. "He's had his ups and downs, and I know what it is all about. To have a guy do that and win for your team, it is only going to gain him confidence, and it gains his team confidence, so I'm happy to see him do that. It was awesome"

Three Stars of the Game

Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay. Scores the game-winner in overtime with his first goal since February.
Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay. Two goals on six shots to keep the Lightning in the game.
Dominic James, Tampa Bay. Picks up a key assist in his first game of the season.