Feb 02, 2026
3 min read
When Vasilevskiy from the Lightning and Swayman from the Bruins dropped their gloves, Tampa Bay got smart and took sides.
TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, dressed as Tony Montana from "Scarface," walked into his team's locker room following a multi-year away game, took a breath from his Cuban and smiled.
“I needed a cigar after this,” Cooper said."Holy s-."
The NHL has never played a Stadium Series game like this.As Commissioner Gary Bettman said, it required an engineering miracle to do so.And, boy, did the game live up to the hype on the ice, as the Lightning overcame a four-goal deficit and beat the Bruins 6-5 in a shootout in front of 64,317 at Raymond James Stadium.
The game featured 11 goals, a goal shootout, the fastest goal in outdoor playoff history and a controversial/infamous overtime winner for the Bruins.
Did we mention the goaltending?
Because that's more than the results. More than the wear and tear on arrival (the Lightning wore the cream-colored uniforms of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Bruins dressed as American Revolutionary patriots) than the Tim McGraw concert, it's what everyone will remember most when Andrei Vasilevsky sprinted to center ice to challenge Jeremy Swayman to a fight midway through the second period. It changed the face of the game. Encourage them to come back againcome.and turn what would otherwise seem like a dull moment into a historic finish.
Here was Vasilevskiy, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Conn Smith winner who had already given up five goals.Then Swayman hit Brandon Hagel with his blocker near the crease a couple of times during the post-whistle scrum.
"It was just a reflex to run to the red line and tackle him," Vasilevskiy said.It was a reflex from everyone on both benches to wonder, as Jake Guentzel said, "What's going on?"
"I was pumped," said beam star Nikita Kucherov."I know he's going to knock the wheels off Swayman right away. We're going to call (Vasilevskiy) 'Tyson' now."
UJon Cooper: ifama yeAura ✨ #StadiumSeries pic.twitter.com/9VkEqPUkP7
— NHL (@NHL) February 2, 2026
Vasilevsky and Swayman clash near the ice, the Russian surprised everyone - from teammates to the Boston goaltender - by coming out swinging like a southpaw.(Vasilevsky once told me he was left-handed because he couldn't see his right-hand glove growing up).
“It was one of the biggest moments for me personally.Because I never fought in the NHL,” Wasilowski said.
"Fighting the biggest goaltender, the toughest one in the league, wouldn't be my first choice," Suifeiman said."But I'm glad I got rid of the first one. I'll probably retire after that."
The fight had the crowd and both seats buzzing with excitement, with both sides smiling and patting each other on the back.
"I'll remember it forever," said the Bruins' Geekie Morgan, who scored twice.
"A lot of fun, isn't it?"asked Boston coach Marco Sturm.
Personal goals in #STADIONSERIE
🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/OSydD4j1cq — NHL (@NHL) February 2, 2026
"(Vasilevsky) throws left and right," added Kucherov."I was like, 'Oh my God, I don't want to be the other guy.'" I was so happy.I was very fired up.The bench felt it and everyone in the building felt it.The game turned from that battle.
"Vasi had to do it to wake us up."
The Chargers were briefly handled well by the Bruins after Brandon Hagel scored the fastest goal in outdoor game history at 11 seconds. Boston scored five goals in a row eight minutes into the second quarter to take a 5-1 lead. Chargers fans fell silent, stunned after an effort that did not match a team that led to a 16-1-1 lead.
It wasn't worth the effort to make the play happen — Lightning owner Jeff Vinick aggressively pushed for it during his first 16 years at the helm.That was Cooper's message after the first intermission, and it must have seemed strange coming from a guy who was spreading Cuban history in a white suit, unbuttoned red shirt, gold chain and all.
"They were faster, faster, faster in the game," Cooper said. "They were all over us."And then it got worse.Suddenly it was 5-1, and I wanted to get out of that outfit and put on a hazmat suit.It was difficult.But the goal cheating made us more involved in the game."
The Lightning trailed 5–2 at halftime, with Oliver Bjorkstrand scoring on the power play to bring them within three.The Bruins did a lot to help Tampa Bay get back into the game, taking three penalties in the 90-second period after the scrimmage, including a game-call delay by Swayman.
Two power play goals in 24 seconds, both in five and three positions, after Darren Reddish and Nick Paul.With four minutes to go it was a brand new game and it was the power building.
"I think everyone believes in their skills and the opportunities they have," Kucherov said. "Just, 'keep calm, don't panic, we can do this.'"
Kucherov added a Hart Trophy-caliber four-point night to tie the game and force overtime with eight minutes remaining on a McDonagh pass — something the two have practiced all summer.The Russian superstar nearly finished with an interception in overtime, but Swayman made another spectacular stop among his 36 saves.Early in overtime, the Bruins thought it was a Pastrnak shot, but Pastrnak's shot killed the game early.the rest
Cooper said the Lightning bench heard five whistles and knew it was going to be a penalty.The Bruins don't seem to be getting the same message.
"I don't know what happened, honestly. It was a different turn. We met each other," Pasernak said.
Guentzel would score the only goal in the final.After Vasilevskiy made the final save, the sold-out crowd chanted his name: "VASY! VASY!"
The 45th NHL outdoor game was released.The weather ended up being perfect - a chilly 41.8 degrees for the opener.There are many small touches, such as the players entering the ice on a platform dressed as pirates, surrounded by guns and barrels.The only one missing from the Lightning was Vinik, who was unable to attend after suffering a broken leg on a snowmobile trip with his children in Norway.But you know he's watching from afar.
"This was one you'll remember the rest of your life," Guentzel said.
As McDonagh walked to the locker room after the game, he just shook his head.
"Everybody got their money's worth," he said."I could have had another outdoor game in five or 10 years."
