Goals 1st2nd3rdF
🏔️ COL 0202
⚡ TBL 1124

Avalanche at Lightning

Lightning beat Avalanche 4–2 at AMALIE Arena on January 6, 2026.

🗓 📍 AMALIE Arena, Tampa 🏒 2025-26 🔁 Season series tied 1–1
⚔️ Head-to-head

⭐ Three stars

Best games by the box score
1st star ⚡ TBL
Brandon Hagel
1 G, 1 A
2 shots · 17:39 TOI
2nd star ⚡ TBL
Darren Raddysh
2 A
4 shots · 24:39 TOI
3rd star ⚡ TBL
Andrei Vasilevskiy
31 saves
0.939 SV% · 2 GA

🚨 Scoring

6 goals · in order
1st period
⚡ Jake Guentzel PP Go-ahead 1st · 19:48
0–1
2nd period
🏔️ Parker Kelly Tying 2nd · 03:22
1–1
🏔️ Brock Nelson Go-ahead 2nd · 09:31
Assists: Cale Makar · beat Andrei Vasilevskiy
2–1
⚡ Zemgus Girgensons Tying 2nd · 17:22
2–2
3rd period
⚡ Brandon Hagel Go-ahead 3rd · 08:31
2–3
⚡ Anthony Cirelli Empty net 3rd · 18:35
2–4

📝 Game recap

AI

Lightning Strike Down Avalanche, 4-2

The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a solid 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at home, overcoming an early deficit to dominate in the third period. This win showcased the Lightning's resilience and ability to capitalize on crucial moments in the game.

Big Picture

From the outset, the game was tightly contested, with the Lightning scoring first thanks to Jake Guentzel just before the end of the first period. However, Colorado responded well in the second period, taking a brief lead. The Lightning’s determination paid off after tying the game, leading to a powerful third period that ultimately sealed the win.

Turning Point

The real turning point came during the second period when the Avalanche took a 2-1 lead with Brock Nelson's goal. This could have shifted the momentum in Colorado's favor, but within minutes, the Lightning equalized with a goal from Zemgus Girgensons. This pivotal moment shifted the tide, allowing Tampa Bay to regain energy and push forward into the third period with newfound momentum.

Standout Performances

Brandon Hagel emerged as a key player for the Lightning, scoring the go-ahead goal early in the third period and providing an assist on Anthony Cirelli's late insurance goal. Jake Guentzel also opened the scoring and showcased his playmaking skills, contributing to the team's offensive efforts throughout the game. For the Avalanche, while their offensive push was commendable, they struggled to find a consistent response after tying the game.

What It Means

This victory for the Lightning reinforces their competitive edge and solidifies their position as a formidable force in the league. It also highlights their capacity to come back from adversity, an essential trait for any playoff contender. For the Avalanche, the game shows areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining momentum after taking the lead. Overall, this matchup showcased the intense rivalry and high-stakes atmosphere of NHL hockey, setting the stage for further exciting contests between these two teams.

🧩 Lines & pairings

Estimated from ice time
🏔️Avalanche
L1 MacKinnon · Nelson · Necas 22:14
L2 Lehkonen · Drury · Nichushkin 18:55
L3 Olofsson · Brindley · Colton 12:34
L4 Makar · Kelly · Bardakov 7:23
D1 Makar · Manson 22:33
D2 Malinski · Girard 18:46
D3 Burns · Solovyov 15:36
⚡Lightning
L1 Hagel · Guentzel · Point 17:39
L2 Gourde · Girgensons · Kucherov 16:15
L3 Cirelli · Holmberg · Bjorkstrand 14:05
L4 Paul · James · Goncalves 12:08
D1 Raddysh · Moser 24:22
D2 D'Astous · Cernak 20:44
D3 Crozier · Carlile 13:32

📊 Team stats

Away left · home right
🏔️COL TBL⚡
33 Shots on goal 28
0/2 Power play (goals / chances) 1/2
20 Hits 21
19 Blocked shots 16
4 Takeaways 5
19 Giveaways 12
6 Penalty minutes 18
COL shooting 6.1% (2/33) TBL shooting 14.3% (4/28)

🥅 Goaltending

Saves, shots faced and save percentage
🏔️Avalanche
24/27
.889 SV% · 3 GA · 58:02 TOI
⚡Lightning
31/33
.939 SV% · 2 GA · 60:00 TOI

🗺 Where the goals came from

6 of 6 goals located
Jake Guentzel · 1st 19:48 · 0–1 Parker Kelly · 2nd 03:22 · 1–1 Brock Nelson · 2nd 09:31 · 2–1 Zemgus Girgensons · 2nd 17:22 · 2–2 Brandon Hagel · 3rd 08:31 · 2–3 Anthony Cirelli · 3rd 18:35 · 2–4
COL TBL
The net is on the right for both teams. Hover a dot for the goal.

🔮 Period by period

AI
After 1st — 0–1
Avalanche
Avalanche — trailing by 1 goal after 1st: 3-1-1 (60% win rate, 5 games)
Lightning
Lightning — leading by 1 goal after 1st: 8-3-1 (67% win rate, 12 games)
After 2nd — 2–2
Avalanche
Avalanche — tied after 2nd: 3-0-2 (60% win rate, 5 games)
Lightning
Lightning — tied after 2nd: 6-4-1 (55% win rate, 11 games)
🔮 Ask Puckey

Got a question about Avalanche vs Lightning?

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❓ COL vs TBL, answered

Who won Avalanche vs Lightning on January 6, 2026?

Lightning won 4–2. The final score was Avalanche 2, Lightning 4.

Who scored for Avalanche?

Brock Nelson, Parker Kelly.

Who scored for Lightning?

Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel, Zemgus Girgensons.

How did the Avalanche goalie play?

Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves on 27 shots (.889 save percentage).

How did the Lightning goalie play?

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves on 33 shots (.939 save percentage).

Where is Avalanche vs Lightning played?

At AMALIE Arena in Tampa, the Lightning home rink.

What is the Avalanche vs Lightning season series?

Season series tied 1–1 after 2 games.

Have a different question? Ask the Oracle — it answers from real box scores.