Kucherov tallies 2 as Lightning rally to double Vancouver Canucks 4-2

Kucherov tallies 2 as Lightning rally to double Vancouver Canucks 4-2

Published 3:44 pm Saturday, October 17, 2026

Jake Guentzel’s goal early in the third period stood up as the winner, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-2 win over the visiting Vancouver Canucks in NHL action Saturday afternoon at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Fla.

Nikita Kucherov (2) and Pontus Holmberg had the other goals for the Lightning (6-2-0), with Dennis Hildeby making 12 saves to earn the win in goal.

Linus Karlsson and centre Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (2-7-1), who finished winless on a six-game road swing. Kevin Lankinen took the loss for Vancouver, stopping 31 of 35 shots.

The Canucks opened the scoring at 4:28 of the first period. Just seconds after Kucherov came out of the penalty box, Karlsson ripped a blast from the top of the right offensive faceoff circle past Hildeby for his second goal of the season.

Shots on goal after one period favoured the Lightning, 11-7.

Pettersson gave Vancouver a 2-0 lead 4:35 into the second period, firing home a sharp-angle shot to the left of Hildeby. Pettersson now has three goals on the year.

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EP40, dangerous from every angle. 📐 https://t.co/8ofjyeqIq4

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 17, 2026

Kucherov then scored a pair of goals to pull the Bolts even after two periods. On the power play at 6:35, he slotted home a rebound of his own shot from the right circle. Then at 11:23, this time from the left circle, Brayden Point won a draw right back to Kucherov, who zipped a laser past Lankinen for his third of the year.

Tampa Bay held a 26-12 shots on goal advantage after 40 minutes.

The Lightning moved ahead just 2:04 into the third period, when Guentzel’s long-range shot deflected off a Vancouver stick in front and past Lankinen. Guentzel has four goals on the season and 16 in 17 games against the Canucks.

Holmberg made it 4-2 with 4:03 to play, grabbing a loose puck off a faceoff and beating Lankinen for his second of the season.

The Canucks pulled Lankinen in favour of an extra attacker with more than three minutes to play but were unable to draw any closer.

Vancouver returns to action Tuesday when they host the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m.) at Rogers Arena.

NOTES: Vancouver’s Jake DeBrusk celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday… Vancouver is 22-22-2-2 all-time against Tampa Bay… The Canucks played without Thatcher Demko (hip) and Rossi (sick)… Vancouver was 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Bolts scored on their only chance.