The Penguins' thrilling victory over the Lightning was a night to remember! In a high-stakes NHL showdown, Pittsburgh emerged victorious with a 4-3 win on December 4, 2025, thanks to Evgeni Malkin's late-game heroics. But was it a fair result?
With just over two minutes left on the clock, Malkin struck, scoring his second goal of the game and sealing the deal for the Penguins. This came after a back-and-forth battle that saw the Lightning's Brandon Hagel score twice in the third period, bringing the game to the brink. But here's where it gets controversial: Nikita Kucherov thought he had tied the game with less than a minute left, but the goal was overturned after a league review.
The Penguins' power play, ranked number one in the league, proved to be the difference-maker, scoring twice to build a 3-0 lead. Ville Koivunen, a rising star, scored his first career goal, and Ben Kindel added a power-play goal of his own. Malkin's assist on the latter showcased his all-around brilliance.
However, the Lightning fought back. Hagel's goals in the third period brought Tampa Bay back into the game, erasing a three-goal deficit. But it wasn't enough, as the Penguins held on for the win.
This result marks a rare consecutive regulation loss for the Lightning since October. Meanwhile, the Penguins fly high with their fourth win in five games.
Up next, the Penguins face the Dallas Stars on Sunday, while the Lightning look to bounce back against the New York Islanders on Saturday. Will the Lightning recover, or will the Penguins continue their hot streak? The NHL season is full of surprises, and this game was no exception!
