TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Lightning's 2025-26 season started with a bang -- and a bump. While the team's power play was firing on all cylinders, key breakdowns proved costly as the Ottawa Senators edged out the Bolts 5-4 in a high-scoring affair at Benchmark International Arena on Thursday night.
Despite the loss, the Lightning offense was anything but sluggish. Brayden Point led the charge with a goal and two assists, extending his season-opening point streak to four games and becoming the first player in franchise history to record three-plus points in at least three season-opening contests. He also became just the second Bolt ever to tally three points in the team's first period of the season.
Point, Kucherov & Power Play Shine
The evening's early drama came from Oliver Bjorkstrand, who scored the Lightning’s first goal of the new campaign on the power play at 5:35 of the first period. The team’s special teams were a bright spot, going 2-for-3 on the man advantage, with Nikita Kucherov adding a power-play marker of his own later in the first. Kucherov finished the night with two goals, and his power-play tally, the 97th of his career, surpassed Martin St. Louis for the fourth-most in Lightning history.
Veterans Jake Guentzel and Victor Hedman also had strong nights, each picking up two assists. Hedman’s effort marked his 187th career multi-point game, cementing his role as a consistent offensive force from the blue line.
Rookie Makes a Statement
Fans got a memorable introduction to rookie Curtis Douglas as the 6-foot-9 forward dropped the gloves with Ottawa’s Kurtis MacDermid in his very first NHL shift. Douglas is just the third player of that height in NHL history.
Senators Seize Momentum
While the Lightning struck first and led 3-1 in the opening frame, the Senators clawed their way back, finding the net four times over the final two periods. Ottawa outshot Tampa Bay 34-25, particularly dominating the shot count in the first and third periods. Claude Giroux was named the first star for the Senators’ efforts, with Brady Tkachuk securing the third star.
The Bolts now sit at 0-1-0 to start the season. They'll have a chance to bounce back quickly when they return to Benchmark International Arena on Saturday to host the New Jersey Devils at 7:00 pm EST.