In a sun-soaked spectacle at Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Lightning staged the largest comeback in franchise history, defeating the Boston Bruins 6-5 in a shootout during the 2026 NHL Stadium Series. Nearly 65,000 fans witnessed not just a thrilling rally from a 5-2 deficit, but the first-ever goalie fight in an NHL outdoor game.[1][2] The clash between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jeremy Swayman became the emotional turning point that ignited Tampa Bay’s charge.
The game, played on February 1, 2026, had all the drama of an outdoor classic, blending high stakes with unexpected intensity. Lightning coach Jon Cooper later credited the fight for shifting momentum when his team needed it most.
How the brawl erupted
The chaos began with 8:59 left in the second period, Bruins leading 5-2. Tampa Bay forward Brandon Hagel poked at the puck under Swayman’s pad after a save, prompting the Bruins goalie to leap on him beside the crease.[3] A full scrum ensued during the Lightning’s power play.
Vasilevskiy, spotting Swayman swinging his blocker at Hagel, skated the length of the ice to the opposite blue line. “I just saw Sway was swinging the blocker on [Hagel] a bit, so it was just a reflex to go to the red line and challenge him. He accepted,” Vasilevskiy recounted.
Players from both sides piled in, benches emptying in excitement. The Raymond James crowd sensed history unfolding.
Swayman, alert to the challenge, dropped his stick and met Vasilevskiy near center ice. He even reminded the Lightning netminder to remove his mask first. “I don’t want to hit his helmet, so I’m glad we didn’t do that,” Swayman said.
Linesmen separated others, but the goalies squared off alone, gloves off, masks discarded.
Vasilevskiy takes control in the scrap
Nicknamed “The Big Cat,” Vasilevskiy grabbed Swayman’s collar and unleashed left hands. The Boston goalie landed little offense before being wrestled to the ice.[4]
Swayman laughed post-game about not knowing Vasilevskiy was a lefty. “Glad we both had our first gig against each other. Really worthy opponent.”
After the fall, the goalies exchanged compliments. Vasilevskiy tapped Swayman’s back and head in respect, grinning amid roaring fans. “When we both fell, we just kind of said to each other nice words… Big thanks to him.”
Both received five-minute majors, benches banging sticks in applause. The crowd stood throughout.
Teammate Nikita Kucherov quipped, “He was throwing lefts. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ … We call him ‘White Tyson’ now.”
The fight fuels Tampa Bay’s rally
Post-fight, the Lightning capitalized on 5-on-3 power plays, scoring twice in 5:12 to close the gap to 5-4. Kucherov tied it in the third, setting up the shootout win.[5]
Hagel called it “a big turning point.” Cooper felt momentum building but said the throwdown provided the emotional spark. “Vasy was pissed.”
Kucherov agreed the bench and building ignited. “Ever since that fight, the game was turned.”
The rally marked Tampa’s biggest ever and the largest in any NHL outdoor game.
- Key comeback timeline:
- 5-2 Bruins lead pre-fight.
- Two power-play goals post-fight: 5-4.
- Kucherov ties at 5-5.
- Lightning win shootout 6-5.
Fans and analysts hailed the sequence as pivotal. Full game recap on NHL.com.
Players and coaches reflect on the moment
Vasilevskiy cherished his NHL fight debut. “It’s one of the biggest moments for me… He was great in the net all game and great in the fight.”
Swayman showed sportsmanship. “Game respecting game. I’m fighting the biggest, toughest goalie in the league… Probably retire after that.”
Cooper praised Boston’s early dominance. “They took it to us and we weren’t prepared.”
The mutual respect underscored hockey’s code, even outdoors.
Both goalies performed admirably before and after, with Swayman strong early.
A milestone in outdoor hockey history
This marked the first goalie fight in NHL outdoor history, spanning dozens of games. Prior scraps, like recent Bobrovsky-Nedeljkovic, stayed indoors.[3]
Raymond James Stadium’s pirate ship backdrop added flair to the center-ice battle. Videos of the fight went viral instantly.
It evoked classic NHL moments, blending skill and grit.
For more details, check Greg Wyshynski’s ESPN breakdown.
The 2026 Stadium Series delivered a unforgettable chapter, proving outdoor games can match any intensity.
This clash not only etched Vasilevskiy and Swayman into lore but symbolized resilience. As the Lightning eye playoffs, such fire could carry them far. Fans will replay this brawl for years, a testament to hockey’s raw passion.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.