Summary Context

Home context · Tampa Bay Lightning

Best Scorer

Jake Guentzel with 4

Most Assists

Nikita Kucherov with 7

Last Five W L OT/SO

Away context · Ottawa Senators

Best Scorer

Warren Foegele with 3

Most Assists

Jordan Spence with 5

Last Five W L OT/SO

AI Preview AI

In an intriguing matchup on March 28, 2026, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Ottawa Senators, with both teams showcasing strong recent performances. The Lightning are riding high with a 4-0-1 record over their last five games, bringing their season total to 44 wins and 93 points, highlighted by the playmaking of Nikita Kucherov, who leads the team in assists. Conversely, the Senators have also been in fine form, going 4-1-0 recently, and currently hold a record of 38-23-10 for 86 points, with Warren Foegele stepping up as a key offensive contributor. Historically, however, the Lightning have had difficulty against the Senators this season, securing only two victories in five encounters, underscoring the importance of this game as they seek to improve their head-to-head record and strengthen their playoff positioning. The stage is set for a thrilling clash as each team is eager to continue their successful runs.

Recent Matchups Last 5

Oct 9, 2025

Senators @ Lightning

5–4

Apr 3, 2025

Lightning @ Senators

1–2

Feb 6, 2025

Senators @ Lightning

1–5

Feb 4, 2025

Senators @ Lightning

3–4

Oct 19, 2024

Lightning @ Senators

4–5

Lightning Goals

Brandon Hagel (2nd • 03:37)

Assisted by Charle-Edouard D'Astous , Emil Martinsen Lilleberg

Charle-Edouard D'Astous (2nd • 05:14)

Assisted by Yanni Gourde , Zemgus Girgensons

Emil Martinsen Lilleberg (3rd • 08:51)

Assisted by Brandon Hagel , Gage Goncalves

Jake Guentzel (3rd • 17:48)

Assisted by Corey Perry , Emil Martinsen Lilleberg

Senators Goals

Dylan Cozens (1st • 00:18)

Assisted by Tyler Kleven , Brady Tkachuk

Jordan Spence (1st • 04:25)

Assisted by Nick Cousins , Artem Zub

	Home	Away
Teams	Lightning	Senators
Goals	4	2
Shots	27	28
Power Play Goals	0	0
Penalty Minutes	6	10
Hits	21	23

AI Game Recap AI

Lightning Surge Past Senators, 4-2

The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame an early deficit to defeat the Ottawa Senators 4-2 in an exciting matchup on March 28, 2026. The Lightning's resilience and offensive depth shone through, securing a critical win that solidifies their playoff positioning.

Big Picture

This game represented a crucial moment for both teams as they jostle for playoff positions. The Lightning entered the game riding a strong wave of confidence with a recent record of 4-0-1, while the Senators also showcased impressive form with four wins in their last five outings. Despite a history of struggling against the Senators this season, the Lightning's performance showcased their ability to bounce back from adversity.

Turning Point

The turning point of the game came in the second period. After falling 2-0 early, the Lightning responded fiercely with two goals within just over a minute, leveling the game at 2-2. First, Brandon Hagel got the Lightning on the board at 3:37 with a skillful play, followed quickly by Charle-Edouard D'Astous' goal just 1:37 later. This rapid-fire response shifted the momentum in favor of Tampa Bay, giving them the confidence to control the game moving forward.

In the third period, the Lightning continued to build on that momentum, scoring again at 8:51 to take a 3-2 lead thanks to Emil Martinsen Lilleberg. They capped off the strong performance late in the period with Jake Guentzel's goal, sealing the victory and ensuring their strong push for the playoffs remained intact.

Standout Performances

Several players made impactful contributions for the Lightning in this game. Emil Martinsen Lilleberg stood out by scoring a goal and adding an assist, demonstrating his growing presence on the ice. Brandon Hagel also made his mark with a goal and an assist, showcasing his offensive capabilities. Charle-Edouard D'Astous made significant contributions with a goal and an assist as well, underlining the Lightning's depth.

The Senators' Dylan Cozens and Jordan Spence, who scored the two opening goals, started the game strong but ultimately, their efforts weren’t enough to fend off the Lightning’s comeback.

What It Means

With this victory, the Tampa Bay Lightning not only improved their record to 45 wins and 95 points but also reinforced their standing as one of the contenders for the upcoming playoffs. The win adds vital momentum heading into the final stretch of the season and serves as a reminder that they can overcome challenges against teams they have historically struggled with.

On the other side, the Senators will have to regroup after a tough loss. Despite their recent success, this game highlighted the need to maintain focus throughout the entire match, especially after taking an early lead. As the season moves closer to its end, every point will matter for Ottawa as they strive to enhance their playoff positioning.