Brayden Point scores with 52 seconds to play to lift Lightning to 3-2 win over Hurricanes

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brayden Point scored with 52 seconds to play and the Tampa Bay Lightning snapped a four-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul also scored for Tampa Bay while Darren Raddysh finished with two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30 shots in the victory.

Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal scored for Carolina. Pytor Kochetkov finished with 31 saves.

Nikita Kucherov found Point cutting to the slot where he received the pass and spun around to his forehand to snap a shot past Kochetkov on the winning goal.

Hurricanes: Defenseman Brent Burns appeared in his 884th consecutive game to tie Steve Larmer for the sixth-longest iron man streak in league history. Carolina has not won consecutive games since Dec. 14 and Dec. 17.

Lightning: Paul became the sixth Tampa Bay player to score at least 10 goals this season. Vasilevskiy recorded his 310th career victory to tie Kari Lehtonen for 33rd on the career list.

Just after the Lightning were turned aside late, Victor Hedman collected the puck in the neutral zone and re-entered the zone with a pass to prevent Carolina from a late change right before Tampa Bay’s winning goal.

Tampa Bay improved to 21-5-1 when scoring at least three goals.

The Penguins host Toronto while the Lightning welcome Boston, both on Thursday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) knocks the puck away from Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake (53) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates with the bench after his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) keeps the puck from Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) keeps Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) from the puck after a save by Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Carolina Hurricanes center Jack Drury (18) carries the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning center Luke Glendening (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) shoots on Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) and defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) cuts around Carolina Hurricanes left wing Eric Robinson (50) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Four years after showing up late for the Beijing Olympics and missing one of his races because of a case of COVID-19, U.S. long track speedskater Casey Dawson is enjoying what he jokingly terms his “villain arc,” peaking at the right time ahead of the Milan Cortina Games.

Dawson secured a spot for next month in the men's 5,000 meters — an event he was forced to skip in 2022 while sick — by winning at that distance at the U.S. Olympic trials in 6 minutes, 12.857 seconds on Friday night.

“I actually got COVID two or three weeks before going to the competition. Tested positive for 50 straight tests,” said Dawson, a 25-year-old from Park City, Utah. “Couldn’t go over to the Games. I missed the opening ceremonies. Missed the 5,000 meters. Showed up 12 hours before my 1,500 meters. So I kind of got a little screwed over from that point of view. But this time around, I’m just looking forward to getting there smoothly and just getting a little bit of redemption.”

And then, with a chuckle, Dawson added: “It’s kind of fun to have, like, my villain arc, I would call it. Just coming back and having some fun.”

Ethan Cepuran was about 6 1/2 seconds back Friday, finishing next in 6:19.335.

The last American man to medal in the 5,000 at an Olympics was Chad Hedrick at the 2006 Turin Games.

Dawson already had secured the lone U.S. place for Milan in the men’s 10,000 — a race not being contested at these trials — and also will be part of the trio for men’s team pursuit at the Olympics.

Dawson, Cepuran and Emery Lehman took the bronze in that event in Beijing four years ago, set the world record in 2024 and claimed gold in the team pursuit at the world championships in March.

In the other race Friday, the women's 3,000, Greta Myers won in 4:06.799. As of now, the United States does not have a berth in Milan for that distance, but one of its athletes could end up in the field if another country relinquishes an opening.

“It's hard to wait,” said Myers, a 21-year-old from Lino Lakes, Minnesota. “But I'm very hopeful. I think it's at least a 50-50 chance that it'll happen.”

The U.S. Olympic roster for long track won't become official until the four-day trials at the Pettit National Ice Center wrap up on Monday. One element that could come into play is that the Americans are allowed to bring a maximum of eight men and six women to these Winter Games.

The biggest star of the team — and the sport — is scheduled to make his trials debut Saturday in the men's 1,000 meters: Jordan Stolz. The 21-year-old from Kewaskum, a town about 40 miles north of Milwaukee, is not just competing at home this week; he's racing at the same rink where he first began taking lessons as a kid.

He made his Olympic debut at age 17 in Beijing four years ago, finishing 13th in the 500 and 14th in the 1,000.

At both the 2023 and 2024 world championships, Stolz earned titles in each of the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

He's already pre-qualified for the Olympics based on performances at those three distances. All he really needs to do to lock down berths on the squad for the Feb. 6-22 Milan Cortina Games is show up at the starting line this week.

The 500 and 1,500 are slated for Sunday, and the mass start is Monday.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Casey Dawson, of Park City, Utah, right, and Ethan Cepuran, of Glen Ellyn, lllinois, left, compete in the men's 5,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speed skating at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Howard Fendrich)

The Pettit National Ice Center is seen in Milwaukee on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, the first day of the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speedskating. (AP Photo/Howard Fendrich)