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Benjamin Pierce @boltsben.bsky.social · 6h

Cooper: “I think the disappointing thing for me, is a coach understands you’re going to lose games, you’re going to win games, but it’s how you go about that. And I just thought we had limited pushback, and that’s just not a staple of what’s gone on in this room.” #GoBolts

#GoBolts Hagel: "Obviously not the way we wanted to start. I think basically everything was missing, but it’s one game. Gotta move on. We know we’ve got better in here.”

Final: The #GoBolts fall to the Rangers 5-1 in the season opener. Kucherov with the goal, Mikheyev and Point with the assists, Vasilevskiy 20 saves. Home opener is up next Saturday vs. WSH.

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ENG by Igor Shesterkin, it's 5-1 New York

Another Rangers penalty just as the power play was ending, puck over glass will extend the odd-man advantage for the #GoBolts

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Vasilevskiy to the bench with 10 minutes left in the third, it's 6-on-4

Cirelli took the draw on this power play and stayed on the ice for the setup. He stands in front of the net and Hagel draws out.

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Lightning power play with 10:56 left, another chance to dial it in here

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Another penalty call, this one on Moser. #GoBolts PK upcoming.

The #GoBolts get an early power play in the third, another holding call in this game

Third period begins now as the #GoBolts trail the Rangers 4-1

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End period two, the #GoBolts trail the Rangers 4-1. Kucherov with the lone Lightning goal so far. Unofficial shots on goal favor Tampa Bay 19-18.

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4-1 Rangers on a redirection from Perreault

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Tampa Bay gets a power play with a chance to draw within one of New York, 7:09 left in the middle frame

Ilya Mikheyev gets his first point as a Bolt with the primary assist on the #GoBolts goal. Brayden Point gets the second helper for his first point of the season.

Tonight marks the third time that reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov has scored the first Tampa Bay Lightning goal to open a season (also: 2023, 2019), tying Martin St. Louis (2011, 2009, 2008) for the most in #GoBolts franchise history.

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GOAL: Kucherov's centering pass caroms in off a Ranger, the #GoBolts are on the board to cut the lead to 3-1.

Vasilevskiy denies a Lafreniere break

Viel and Girgensons both get involved physically after a chance at the Rangers net will be 4-on-4 hockey

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They're going to let it stand, so it's 3-0 Rangers early in the second period

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Timeout Lightning, looks like they're considering a challenge.

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3-0 Rangers at the Lightning net

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Period two is underway in New York as the #GoBolts aim to claw back in this one down 2-0.

Tonight is Jeff Viel's 100th career game and his #GoBolts debut. "I think getting traded to Anaheim was kind of the turning point in my career. Before that it was kind of an up and down grind...Over 9 years it's been a lot of grinding and a lot of ups and downs, but I'm really happy to be here."

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Here's an interesting note: Tampa Bay had 9 shot attempts blocked in that first period, and 9 more missed the net. Clearly had a shoot-first mentality, but those pucks weren't reaching Shesterkin. #GoBolts

End of the first period, the #GoBolts trail the Rangers 2-0. Shots on goal favor New York 7-6.

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Holding called on the Rangers, the #GoBolts power play gets another look with 6:29 left in the first period

Dorofeyev from Bjorkstrand on the rush, 2-0 New York

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Tampa Bay to the power play for the first time with 11:40 left in the first period as Hagel gets held up

Great chance and move for Jansen Harkins right away at the net but the puck stays out #GoBolts

First combo on the PK: Cirelli-Hagel Hedman-McDonagh

Benjamin Pierce @boltsben.bsky.social · 10h

The #GoBolts head to the PK five minutes into this one, Moser for holding

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Game on. #GoBolts game 1 of 84 is a go. Here's to a great season, everybody 🫡

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Benjamin Pierce @boltsben.bsky.social · 10h

Tonight’s expected #GoBolts lines for the 2026-27 season debut: Mikheyev-Point-Kucherov Hagel-Cirelli-Guentzel Viel-Girgensons-Holmberg Geekie-Harkins-Goncalves Moser-Carlson McDonagh-Cernak Hedman-D’Astous Vasilevskiy starts

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Benjamin Pierce @boltsben.bsky.social · 17h

While the #GoBolts prep for their season opener in New York, the Lightning and Benchmark International staff are volunteering today. The organizations are also donating $300k to area nonprofits to help education, food insecurity & health and wellness through the annual Strikes of Kindness program.

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Benjamin Pierce @boltsben.bsky.social · 18h

#GoBolts looks at morning skate today via our friend Gabby Shirley: Mikheyev - Point - Kucherov Hagel - Cirelli - Guentzel Viel - Girgensons - Holmberg Goncalves - Harkins - Geekie Sabourin Moser - Carlson McDonagh - Cernak Hedman - D’Astous Lilleberg - Crozier

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How Syracuse helped Conor Geekie earn his opening-night NHL spot | Tampa Bay Lightning

Just over a year ago, Conor Geekie was assigned to the @syracusecrunch.com. It turned out to be the best move for him and the #GoBolts, as 94 now wears Tampa Bay Lightning blue a more complete—and confident—player. Story: www.nhl.com/lightning/ne...

nhl.com

Geekie finished with 17 goals and 59 points in 57 AHL games

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Anthony Cirelli on this year's #GoBolts team: "We believe in here we have a really good team. For us, go out there and prove that. Obviously goal number one is to get into the playoffs. We've got 84 games to do that, so we're excited and we're ready to go."

Zemgus Girgensons ahead of game one: We put in good work during camp. We've got all the right pieces, it just depends how we're gonna bring it and how we're gonna execute. We believe in this group. We know we can do it, and we want to go further than we did last year." #GoBolts

Jon Cooper: "I feel like we always start at home, but if we're gonna start somewhere, there's nothing like Madison Square Garden. It's a special place. I have a lot of fond memories there in all sorts of sports. But there's nothing like starting in New York, so I know our guys are pretty pumped."

Jon Cooper told us not to read into these line combinations too much. “That was designed to set up the next drill of the power play. So, it could happen, but it's not happening tomorrow.” #GoBolts

In another drill, we see some changed combos from the full line rushes. Mikheyev-Point-Kucherov Hagel-Cirelli-Guentzel Viel-Girgensons-Holmberg Harkins-Geekie-Goncalves-Sabourin Trying different looks early today

D’Astous is now taking reps at the top of the second power play, so he and Hedman are rotating in that spot.

Power play units for the #GoBolts: Carlson up top, Hagel left wall and Kucherov right wall. Point in the bumper, Guentzel down low. Hedman up top, Goncalves left wall, Goncalves right wall. Cirelli in the bumper, Holmberg down low.

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Some new #GoBolts combinations this morning: Mikheyev-Point-Kucherov Hagel-Harkins-Guentzel Goncalves-Cirelli-Geekie Viel-Girgensons-Holmberg Sabourin rotating in Moser-Carlson Hedman-D'Astous McDonagh-Cernak Lilleberg-Crozier Vasilevskiy Hildeby

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The guys are back here at Benchmark International Arena for practice before they depart for New York ahead of tomorrow’s 2026-27 season opener. #GoBolts

Benjamin Pierce @boltsben.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Into the Blue podcast is BACK! Gabby and I talk everything #GoBolts ranting from opening night to Kucherov’s contract situation, our summers and some updates on additions to Into the Blue this season. Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4akM... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

open.spotify.com

Opening Night Roster, Kucherov Contract & Summer Stories from the Lightning | Into The Blue - September 29, 2026

Into The Blue - Tampa Bay Lightning · Episode

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Benjamin Pierce @boltsben.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Resharing this story on Jansen Harkins, who had a great preseason and earned a job with the #GoBolts to open the season. How’d he make an impression? ⬇️ “It’s just playing with good pace and being relentless.” www.nhl.com/lightning/ne...

nhl.com

Harkins showing “relentless” play amid battle for Lightning roster spot | Tampa Bay Lightning

Harkins spent last season with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring three goals and eight points in 44 games