Holmberg, Lightning Ground Jets to Tie Home Win Record

3 minutes ago

3 min read

By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports

Pontus Holmberg had a goal and three assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning held off a third period rally to beat the Winnipeg Jets, 6-4. It was his first four-point night, as he and linemates Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli combined for ten points.

The Lightning improved to 6-0-0 at Benchmark International Arena to start the season, tying a franchise record. Tampa Bay has now won each of its first six home games of a season three times in franchise history: 2026-27, 2020-21, and 2017-18.

After a four-day layoff from a three-game Western Conference road trip, the Lightning quickly tried to shake off the rust after two straight losses to Colorado and Utah.

Brayden Point scored his third goal of the season at the 2:20 mark to open the game when Nikita Kucherov found him in the high slot and he wristed the puck past Winnipeg goalie Stuart Skinner.

Rust from the layoff crept up on the Bolts late in the period as the Jets seized momentum. Neal Pionk tied the game at the 17:45 mark on a slap shot from the blue line.

Holmberg Takes Control of the Second Frame

Conor Geekie put the Lightning back out in front halfway through the second period. Dominic James deked Mario Ferraro coming into the Winnipeg zone, and held the puck long enough to find the streaking Geekie on the opposite side of Skinner for a backhand to make it 2-1.

Then Holmberg took over the rest of the period, picking up his three assists in less than four minutes.

He earned his first assist at the 1:56 mark of the second period on a power play goal as his pass through the crease deflected off Cirelli's stick and past Skinner. It was Tampa Bay's fifth straight game with a power-play goal.

Holmberg then collected his second primary assist at 18:07. Hagel pulled a puck that nearly left the Winnipeg zone back to Holmberg, who then found John Carlson open across the ice near the faceoff dot.

Carlson snapped the puck to give the Bolts a 4-1 lead. He leads Lightning defensemen with four goals this season and is tied for the lead in points with six.

Hagel scored his eighth goal of the season 54 seconds later when Holmberg fought off Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury for the puck, allowing Cirelli to pass it to Hagel, who streaked to the back door and snapped the puck in.

Hagel now leads the Lightning with eight goals and 16 assists.

For Holmberg, it was only the second time in his career he had three assists in a game; the first came against Anaheim in December 2022, when he played for Toronto.

"It was a good night," Holmberg simply said afterwards.

"He's an incredible player. I think this guy does it all," Hagel said of Holmberg. "He's a Swiss Army knife. You can put him anywhere. If you need him to produce, he'll produce. If you need him to shut down, he'll shut down."

"He's so strong on the puck. He's probably one of the best adds we've had in a long time and happy he is on our team"

Nico Daws replaced Skinner to start the third period.

Winnipeg Rally Falls Short

The Jets managed a third-period comeback attempt, starting with a goal by Dylan Samburg at the 7:00 mark. Pionk added his second goal moments later when Dawson Mercer crossed a pass over the stick of Tampa Bay's Jake Guentzel to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The assist was the first point for Mercer since being acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the blockbuster trade for Connor Hellebuyck last week.

The Jets weren't finished, as they kept pressing Tampa Bay with speed and agility. Daws stopped all nine third period shots he faced.

Kyle Connor got Winnipeg within one with 2:48 left on a 6-on-5 opportunity, and the Bolts had reason to worry until Holmberg stepped up with an empty-net goal at the 18:29 mark to seal the game.

"Was it perfect? No," Hagel said of the win. "Will you apologize for winning? No, you won't."

Thunderstruck Three Stars of the Game

Pontus Holmberg, Tampa Bay. He scored one goal and got three assists in the first four-point game of his career.
Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay. One goal and two assists.
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay. One goal and two assists.