Carlson’s Two Goals Lift Lightning Past Wild, 3-2
A power-play one-timer that ended Tampa Bay’s 0-for-14 start to the season underscored a game-winning shift and a steady goalie debut that helped the club close out the win.
Overview
- John Carlson scored twice to key Tampa Bay’s 3-2 victory, with the goals coming in the first period and on a second-period power play that restored a two-goal lead.
- The second goal was a one-timer from a Nikita Kucherov feed that snapped the Lightning’s 0-for-14 power-play drought and turned special teams into the game’s decisive factor.
- Dennis Hildeby made a strong Tampa Bay debut in goal, credited with a high-save performance (reports list 33 to 34 saves) that kept the Lightning ahead down the stretch.
- Quinn Hughes and Blake Coleman scored for Minnesota, Jesper Wallstedt finished with 32 saves, and the loss — with Olli Maatta and Nick Foligno unavailable — marked the Wild’s first regulation defeat.
- The result extended Tampa Bay’s win streak to three games and shifted early-season storylines to the Lightning’s rebounding power play and Hildeby’s roster role while raising questions about Minnesota’s depth and special teams.