Magic Moments Propel Bolts to First Win at Benchmark International

Michelle Gordon
Oct 25, 2025
3 min read

Graphic Credit: Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports

Benchmark International Arena had not been kind to the Bolts thus far this year. They had yet to muster a single point through 3 games in their newly renamed arena. Tonight, the Lightning started their third back-to-back of this young season. Jonas Johansson got the start in net against the Anaheim Ducks.

On The Board!

The line coming into this game would have looked like an error to many a hockey fan. The visiting Ducks came in sporting a record of 4-2-1, while the Tampa Bay home team sat in dead last in the Eastern Conference with an abysmal 1-2-4 record.

Nonetheless, the Bolts opened the scoring in this one! Right around the halfway mark of the opening frame, the line of Guentzel, Hagel, and Cirelli made some magic. After some pretty passing, Guentzel found a juicy rebound and an open net to open the scoring. Johansson was stellar in net that period stopping all 15 shots he faced.

Magic Moments in the Second

The Bolts played with fire giving up 15 shots in the first period. Their luck ran out in the second as Jacob Trouba blasted one off the post and in at 4:42 to tie the score.

However, seven and a half minutes later, fans at Benchmark International witnessed a magic moment in Lightning history. Tampa Bay scored and the whole building went wild. A swarm of black jerseys paraded onto the ice in celebration. Not simply because the Bolts had taken a lead against the Anaheim Ducks. This was a celebration of the man they call Kuch. With an assist on that goal, Nikita Kucherov tallied point number 1,000 for his illustrious career. He became the second player in franchise history to reach this milestone. The only other was Steven Stamkos.

Two minutes later, Anthony Cirelli scored to double the Lightning lead at 3-1. Captain Victor Hedman assisted on that goal for point number 800 on his own amazing career.

Can They Close It Out?

Closing out games has been a struggle for the Lightning so far this season. They have given up a couple of late goals to lose games in the final minutes. Going into this final frame with a 2-goal lead, could they hold on?

The Bolts got some chances on some power plays, including 30 seconds of a five on three, but they could not capitalize. And in a one-minute time span, that futility came back to bite them. The Ducks scored at 7:11 and again at 8:10 and this one was all knotted up at 3-3.

End of Game Magic

After squandering a two-goal lead in the third, fans started to wonder if the Bolts were falling back into the all-too-familiar pattern we've witnessed this season. With just over four minutes remaining in regulation, Ross Johnston took a penalty. The Lightning finally capitalized on a power play as Anthony Cirelli scored his second of the game to put his team back in the lead with 3:15 remaining.

The rest of the game was true Lightning magic. They held the puck in the Anaheim zone for pretty much the entire time. The Ducks were unable to pull netminder Lukas Dostal for the extra attacker. The Bolts hung on for a 4-3 regulation win-- their first points at the newly renamed Benchmark International Arena.

Three Stars

Nikita Kucherov with point number 1,000
Anthony Cirelli with two goals including the game winner
Jake Guentzel with two goals
Honorable mention to Victor Hedman for point number 800.