The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the hottest teams in the entire National Hockey League. On Thursday, they defeated the Buffalo Sabres 6-5 thanks to a hat trick by Jake Guentzel of Omaha, Nebraska. For Guentzel, it was his ninth career NHL hat trick.
Inside look at the three goal game
Guentzel scored all three of his goals in the second period. He first tied the game at three at the 58 second mark of the second period from defenseman Erik Cernak of Kosice, Slovakia and Nikita Kucherov of Maykop, Russia. Then after the Sabres went up 5-3, Guentzel pulled the Lightning to within a goal at 5-4 Buffalo. Brayden Point of Calgary, Alberta and Nick Paul of Mississauga, Ontario picked up the assists with two minutes and 17 seconds left in the second period. Guentzel then tied the game at five with one minute and 14 seconds left on the power-play. Left winger Brandon Hagel of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Darren Raddysh of Toronto, Ontario had the assists.
Second hat trick of the season
Of Guentzel’s nine prior hat tricks, seven have come in the the regular season and two in the postseason, and seven have come with the Penguins and two with the Lightning. This was Guentzel’s second hat trick this season. The first was with the Lightning on December 12, 2024 in an 8-3 Lightning win over the Calgary Flames.
Guentzel in 2024-25
In 2024-25, Guentzel has 32 goals and 31 assists for 63 points in 61 games. He is a +14 with 18 penalty minutes, 21 power-play points, three game-winning goals, 163 shots on goal, 144 faceoff wins, 42 blocked shots, 19 hits, 22 takeaways and 60 giveaways.
Third in the Atlantic
The Lightning have a record of 37 wins, 21 regulation losses. and four losses in extra time for 78 points. They are three points back of the Florida Panthers for first place in the division. Tampa Bay is also red hot as they are winners of 10 of their last 11 games.
