Nikita Kucherov ignited a strong start for the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring within the first minute as they secured a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The Lightning quickly built a lead with three goals in just over five minutes, showcasing their offensive prowess.

Despite a power-play goal from Ivan Ivan and a later score by Cale Makar, the Avalanche struggled offensively, matching a season low in scoring while dealing with multiple injuries. Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy achieved his 299th career win, contributing to the team's third consecutive victory.