Jake Guentzel scored in overtime to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, capping a comeback that saw Nick Paul tie the game late in the third period in his season debut. The game began with early action as the Edmonton Oilers capitalized on a Tampa Bay turnover just 1:32 into the first period. Trent Frederic found the back of the net with a snap shot from the right hashmarks, assisted by Leon Draisaitl, giving the Oilers an early 1-0 lead. The Lightning struggled to generate offense initially, but goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy kept them in the game with several key saves.
Throughout the second period, the tempo remained high, but neither team could score. Tampa Bay outshot Edmonton 11-7 in the frame, testing Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard, who stood firm. The physical play intensified, with both teams registering hits, but the scoreboard stayed unchanged heading into the third period.
As the game progressed, the Lightning increased their pressure, dominating possession and shots in the third period. They outshot the Oilers 14-4, but Pickard continued his stellar performance, making numerous saves to preserve Edmonton’s narrow lead. The breakthrough came with just 2:32 remaining in regulation when Nick Paul, playing his first game of the season after returning from injury, drove to the net and fired a slap shot past Pickard to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was assisted by defensemen J.J. Moser and Emil Lilleberg, sparking energy in the Amalie Arena crowd.
Overtime began with both teams seeking the winner, and Vasilevskiy made a critical save on an Oilers rush chance, denying what appeared to be a sure goal. Moments later, the Lightning transitioned quickly, and Jake Guentzel received a pass, scoring a wrist shot at 1:43 into overtime to secure the victory. Assists came from Darren Raddysh and Nikita Kucherov.
Statistically, Tampa Bay outshot Edmonton 35-23, with Vasilevskiy making 22 saves for a .957 save percentage, while Pickard stopped 33 of 35 shots for a .943 save percentage. The win improves the Lightning’s record to 11-7-2, positioning them well in the Atlantic Division standings, while the Oilers fall to 9-9-5.
Looking ahead, the Lightning will travel to face the Washington Capitals on Saturday, building on the momentum from this hard-fought win. The victory underscores Tampa Bay’s resilience and ability to perform in clutch situations, key traits for a playoff-bound team.
