Kucherov scores go-ahead goal, two empty-netters to push Lightning past Hurricanes in season opener

— Nikita Kucherov had a third-period hat trick to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in Friday night's season...
Oct 11, 2025, 10:25 pm - AP
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Lightning0134
Hurricanes1001
1st PeriodTBCAR
14:32Jordan Staal (1)
Assists: William Carrier (1)
01
2nd PeriodTBCAR
2:33Brayden Point (1) (Power Play)
Assists: Nikita Kucherov (1), Victor Hedman (1)
11
3rd PeriodTBCAR
11:06Nikita Kucherov (1) (Power Play)
Assists: Victor Hedman (2), Nick Paul (1)
21
17:53Nikita Kucherov (2) (Empty Net)
Assists: Jake Guentzel (1), Erik Cernak (1)
31
19:44Nikita Kucherov (3) (Empty Net)
Assists: Jake Guentzel (2), Victor Hedman (3)
41

Shot Chart

NHL Shot Chart
  • Giveaway by Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Martin Necas Slap Shot High and Wide Right
  • Giveaway by Brent Burns
  • Giveaway by Jaccob Slavin
  • Seth Jarvis hit Ryan McDonagh
  • Giveaway by Dmitry Orlov
  • Giveaway by Sebastian Aho
  • Nicholas Paul shot blocked by Dmitry Orlov
  • Giveaway by Sebastian Aho
  • Andrei Svechnikov Backhand saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Brayden Point
  • Brayden Point shot blocked by Jaccob Slavin
  • Giveaway by Jack Roslovic
  • Shayne Gostisbehere High-sticking against Mitchell Chaffee
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Brayden Point
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Nicholas Paul
  • Jaccob Slavin Slap Shot Wide Left
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Luke Glendening
  • Andrei Svechnikov Slap Shot Wide Right
  • Jordan Staal hit Darren Raddysh
  • Giveaway by Dmitry Orlov
  • Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Anthony Cirelli
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi Tip-In Wide Left
  • Jack Drury faceoff won against Luke Glendening
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Conor Geekie
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Conor Geekie
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Conor Geekie
  • William Carrier Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Brent Burns shot blocked by Jordan Staal
  • Jordan Staal Goal (1) Snap Shot, assists: William Carrier (1)
  • Andrei Svechnikov Wrap-around saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Anthony Cirelli
  • Dmitry Orlov Slap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Jack Drury faceoff won against Luke Glendening
  • Eric Robinson Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Giveaway by Sean Walker
  • Nikita Kucherov shot blocked by Jaccob Slavin
  • Jaccob Slavin Snap Shot High and Wide Left
  • Andrei Svechnikov Snap Shot Short
  • Sebastian Aho Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Giveaway by Jack Roslovic
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Giveaway by Andrei Svechnikov
  • Sean Walker High-sticking against Jake Guentzel
  • Dmitry Orlov hit Darren Raddysh
  • Jordan Martinook hit Jake Guentzel
  • Jack Drury faceoff won against Conor Geekie
  • Jack Drury faceoff won against Anthony Cirelli
  • Victor Hedman shot blocked by Eric Robinson
  • Darren Raddysh shot blocked by Eric Robinson
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Luke Glendening
  • Dmitry Orlov hit Zemgus Girgensons
  • Jack Roslovic Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Dmitry Orlov Wrist Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • William Carrier hit Zemgus Girgensons
  • Shayne Gostisbehere hit Jake Guentzel
  • Andrei Svechnikov Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Andrei Svechnikov Backhand saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Poke saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Sean Walker Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Seth Jarvis Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Brayden Point
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Brayden Point
  • Eric Robinson Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Eric Robinson hit Emil Lilleberg
  • Darren Raddysh shot blocked by Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Giveaway by Jordan Martinook
  • Sean Walker hit Nikita Kucherov
  • Seth Jarvis Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Andrei Svechnikov Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Sebastian Aho Wrist Shot Above Crossbar
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Luke Glendening
  • Seth Jarvis Slashing against Erik Cernak
  • Sebastian Aho faceoff won against Brayden Point
  • Andrei Svechnikov Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Anthony Cirelli
  • Sean Walker Wrist Shot Wide Left
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Slap Shot Wide Left
  • Martin Necas Snap Shot Above Crossbar
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Anthony Cirelli
  • Giveaway by Andrei Svechnikov
  • Jack Drury faceoff won against Luke Glendening
  • Jalen Chatfield hit Mitchell Chaffee
  • Anthony Cirelli shot blocked by Shayne Gostisbehere
  • Jackson Blake Backhand saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Brayden Point
  • Brent Burns Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Brent Burns Slashing against Nikita Kucherov
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Nicholas Paul
  • Jalen Chatfield hit Nikita Kucherov
  • Victor Hedman shot blocked by Seth Jarvis
  • Seth Jarvis faceoff won against Jake Guentzel
  • Sebastian Aho Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Brayden Point shot blocked by Sebastian Aho
  • Jack Drury faceoff won against Conor Geekie
  • Giveaway by Frederik Andersen
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Slap Shot Off Crossbar
  • Shayne Gostisbehere Slap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Sebastian Aho Tripping against Zemgus Girgensons
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Anthony Cirelli
  • Janis Moser shot blocked by Jalen Chatfield
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Anthony Cirelli
  • Dmitry Orlov hit Brandon Hagel
  • Takeaway by Jordan Martinook
  • Eric Robinson hit Emil Lilleberg
  • Giveaway by Sebastian Aho
  • Dmitry Orlov Hooking against Anthony Cirelli
  • Ryan McDonagh shot blocked by Martin Necas
  • Sean Walker Snap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • William Carrier Backhand saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Jordan Martinook Wrist Shot Wide Left
  • Jack Drury faceoff won against Luke Glendening
  • Giveaway by Jaccob Slavin
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi faceoff won against Nicholas Paul
  • Martin Necas hit Janis Moser
  • Jaccob Slavin Slap Shot Above Crossbar
  • Brent Burns Slap Shot High and Wide Right
  • Jordan Staal hit Janis Moser
  • Seth Jarvis hit Zemgus Girgensons
  • Giveaway by Andrei Svechnikov
  • Andrei Svechnikov hit Erik Cernak
  • Sebastian Aho Slap Shot saved by Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Jordan Staal faceoff won against Brayden Point
  • Ryan McDonagh Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Puck in Netting
  • Jake Guentzel hit Jordan Staal
  • Janis Moser hit Jordan Staal
  • Shayne Gostisbehere shot blocked by Mitchell Chaffee
  • Luke Glendening hit Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Puck in Benches
  • Conor Geekie hit Jack Drury
  • Puck in Crowd
  • Cameron Atkinson faceoff won against Eric Robinson
  • Nikita Kucherov Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Anthony Cirelli faceoff won against Seth Jarvis
  • Anthony Cirelli hit Sebastian Aho
  • Giveaway by Nicholas Paul
  • Brandon Hagel Wrist Shot Wide Right
  • Brandon Hagel shot blocked by Anthony Cirelli
  • Brandon Hagel Snap Shot Hit Left Post
  • Ryan McDonagh Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Puck Frozen - Goalie
  • Brent Burns shot blocked by Jake Guentzel
  • Luke Glendening hit Sean Walker
  • Nick Perbix Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Off-side
  • Brandon Hagel Holding the stick against Seth Jarvis
  • On-Ice Official
  • Erik Cernak hit Seth Jarvis
  • Andrei Svechnikov shot blocked by Victor Hedman
  • Victor Hedman Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Andrei Svechnikov shot blocked by Brayden Point
  • Brandon Hagel Backhand saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Jake Guentzel faceoff won against Jordan Martinook
  • Giveaway by Janis Moser
  • Off-side
  • Jake Guentzel faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Icing
  • Brayden Point faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Goalie Puck Frozen - played from beyond center
  • Giveaway by Brandon Hagel
  • Goalie Stopped
  • On-Ice Official
  • Mitchell Chaffee Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Luke Glendening Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Mitchell Chaffee hit Jackson Blake
  • Jack Drury shot blocked by Erik Cernak
  • Icing
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Icing
  • Nikita Kucherov Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Victor Hedman hit Seth Jarvis
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Erik Cernak hit Jack Roslovic
  • Giveaway by Ryan McDonagh
  • Nicholas Paul hit Martin Necas
  • Mitchell Chaffee hit Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Mitchell Chaffee hit Sean Walker
  • Puck in Benches
  • Icing
  • Brayden Point faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Takeaway by Janis Moser
  • Jordan Staal shot blocked by Janis Moser
  • Nick Perbix hit Andrei Svechnikov
  • Erik Cernak Slap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Anthony Cirelli Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Anthony Cirelli faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Off-side
  • Nicholas Paul faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Giveaway by Ryan McDonagh
  • Nicholas Paul shot blocked by Brandon Hagel
  • Icing
  • Luke Glendening faceoff won against Jack Roslovic
  • Jack Roslovic shot blocked by Luke Glendening
  • Nicholas Paul faceoff won against Seth Jarvis
  • Brayden Point Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Nikita Kucherov (1), Victor Hedman (1)
  • Puck in Benches
  • Icing
  • Icing
  • Anthony Cirelli faceoff won against Jack Drury
  • Brandon Hagel Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Puck in Netting
  • Puck in Benches
  • Jordan Martinook shot blocked by Nick Perbix
  • William Carrier shot blocked by Nick Perbix
  • Giveaway by Ryan McDonagh
  • Andrei Svechnikov shot blocked by Erik Cernak
  • Nikita Kucherov hit Andrei Svechnikov
  • Icing
  • Icing
  • Takeaway by Victor Hedman
  • Brandon Hagel Deflected saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Anthony Cirelli faceoff won against Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Ryan McDonagh Tripping against Martin Necas
  • Brent Burns shot blocked by Janis Moser
  • Off-side
  • Jack Roslovic shot blocked by Nick Perbix
  • Puck in Netting
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi shot blocked by Darren Raddysh
  • Puck in Netting
  • Brayden Point faceoff won against Jordan Martinook
  • Giveaway by Victor Hedman
  • Victor Hedman hit William Carrier
  • Puck in Benches
  • Conor Geekie faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Giveaway by Janis Moser
  • Cameron Atkinson Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Puck in Netting
  • Mitchell Chaffee Tripping against Jackson Blake
  • Nicholas Paul faceoff won against Seth Jarvis
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Victor Hedman Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Darren Raddysh Slap Shot Wide Left
  • Jake Guentzel Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Jake Guentzel Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Brayden Point faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Victor Hedman Slap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Puck in Crowd
  • Puck Frozen - Goalie
  • Nicholas Paul faceoff won against Jack Roslovic
  • Icing
  • Eric Robinson shot blocked by Emil Lilleberg
  • Emil Lilleberg Holding against Eric Robinson
  • Luke Glendening faceoff won against Sebastian Aho
  • Giveaway by Zemgus Girgensons
  • Puck in Netting
  • Nikita Kucherov Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Giveaway by Nikita Kucherov
  • Giveaway by Victor Hedman
  • Takeaway by Ryan McDonagh
  • Puck in Crowd
  • Off-side
  • Nicholas Paul hit Jalen Chatfield
  • Off-side
  • Luke Glendening faceoff won against Jack Drury
  • Zemgus Girgensons hit Jack Drury
  • Mitchell Chaffee Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Puck in Benches
  • Anthony Cirelli Snap Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Nicholas Paul faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Nikita Kucherov Goal (1) Slap Shot, assists: Victor Hedman (2), Nicholas Paul (1)
  • Erik Cernak Wrist Shot saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Giveaway by Brayden Point
  • Giveaway by Janis Moser
  • William Carrier shot blocked by Janis Moser
  • Sean Walker shot blocked by Brayden Point
  • Giveaway by Cameron Atkinson
  • Puck in Benches
  • Luke Glendening hit Jack Drury
  • Anthony Cirelli Backhand saved by Frederik Andersen
  • Darren Raddysh Slap Shot Wide Left
  • Giveaway by Victor Hedman
  • Off-side
  • Giveaway by Victor Hedman
  • William Carrier shot blocked by Janis Moser
  • Giveaway by Ryan McDonagh
  • Andrei Svechnikov shot blocked by Ryan McDonagh
  • Goalie Stopped
  • On-Ice Official
  • Brayden Point faceoff won against Jordan Staal
  • Giveaway by Erik Cernak
  • Nikita Kucherov Goal (2) Wrist Shot, assists: Jake Guentzel (1), Erik Cernak (1)
  • Hand Pass
  • Brayden Point faceoff won against Jesperi Kotkaniemi
  • Icing
  • Brent Burns shot blocked by Nikita Kucherov
  • Nikita Kucherov Goal (3) Snap Shot, assists: Jake Guentzel (2), Victor Hedman (3)
  • Objects on Ice
LIGHTNING
HURRICANES
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