We could write a thousand words about today’s game. Or we could just link back to the previous three or four recaps. The Tampa Bay Lightning struggled to start the game, fell behind, tied the game, and were the better team in the third period. Corey Perry tapped home a shot that snuck through Justus Annunen’s pads seven minutes into the third period to give the Bolts the 3-2 lead.
To the Lightning’s credit, they’re getting better. They only went down one goal this time, and it took almost half of the game. Joakim Kemell’s first career goal opened the scoring as he deflected a shot on Jonas Johansson. Kemell crashed into the net and the goaltender just after the puck crossed the line (courtesy of an Erik Cernak cross-check). Not the most elegant goal, but it will always be special for Kemell.
Jake Guentzel, who finished the night with three points tied things up five minutes later when he flipped a rebound into the net. That would be all the offense until the third period. Then a three-goal flurry decided the game. Brandon Hagel, who was dinging pucks off the post all night long, finally put one inside the post after Guentzel cut off a clearing attempt. Hagel made a nice move to freeze the defender and open up a shooting lane before snapping it past Annunan.
The goal wasn’t announced before Filip Forsberg tipped home a shot from Fedor Svechkov to tie the game back up. Two minutes later Corey Perry scored his 15th of the season by simply standing next to the net and cleaning up the garbage.
It was another night where the Lightning cut off the offense in the third period, limiting Nashville to just two high-danger chances in the final frame. Johansson finished with 26 saves in his best start since the Olympic Break.
With the win, the Lightning moved to the top of the Eastern Conference with 98 points (they have an identical record to Carolina, but get top billing because they have more regulation wins). Of course Montreal had to win as well, so they remain just four points back, but another day ticks off the calendar. They move 12 points clear of Ottawa, the first team out of the playoff race, drawing closer to clinching that elusive playoff spot.
Goals
Joakim Kemell [1] (Filip Forsberg, Justin Barron) 1-0 Predators
Jake Guentzel [35] (Darren Raddysh, Charle-Edouard D’Astous) 1-1
Brandon Hagel [35] (Jake Guentzel) 2-1 Lightning
Filip Forsberg [34] (Fedor Svechkov, Alan Wilsby) 2-2
Corey Perry [15] (Jake Guentzel, Emil Lilleberg) 3-2 Lightning
Pretty Colors
#NHL Game Score Impact Card for Tampa Bay Lightning on 2026-03-29:
#GoBolts
— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards.com) March 29, 2026 at 7:46 PM