Kucherov scores twice as the Lightning beat the Penguins 5-2

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nikita Kucherov had two goals and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Sunday.

Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, and Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul had empty-net goals.

Tampa Bay recorded points in both halves of back-to-back games for the first time this season. It lost in overtime against New Jersey on Saturday.

Jake Guentzel, who won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2017, had two assists to become the second player in Lightning history with at least 20 goals and 40 points in his first 40 games with the franchise. Guentzel signed a seven-year deal with the Lightning in the offseason.

Rickard Rakell scored his 22nd goal of the season for Pittsburgh, and Kevin Hayes added his third goal in five games. Sidney Crosby recorded his 1,040th career assist to tie Marcel Dionne for 11th on the NHL’s career list.

The Penguins played without Evgeni Malkin, who was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

Lightning: Looked lethargic early, but Kucherov snapped a 2-2 tie with his 20th goal with 3:03 left. The Lightning have won three of four since a four-game losing streak.

Penguins: Dropped to 3-5-3 in their last 11 games.

Kucherov stole the puck at the Penguins’ blue line and beat Tristan Jarry on a partial breakaway for his clutch goal.

Tampa Bay became the first team this season to have four players with 20 or more goals. The last team to have four players with 20 goals through 41 games were the 1995-96 Penguins.

Pittsburgh finishes a five-game homestand Tuesday against Seattle. Tampa Bay closes a three-game trip Tuesday at Boston.

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

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, center top, talks with linesman Bryan Pancich, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov (86) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Tampa Bay Lightning's Brandon Hagel (38) celebrates with Darren Raddysh (43), Ryan McDonagh (27) and Anthony Cirelli (71) after his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, center top, talks with referee Tom Chmielewski (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson, top, blocks a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell, right, celebrates after his goal with Bryan Rust (17) and Sidney Crosby (87) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) gets a shot under the arm of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) prepares to take a face off during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Tampa Bay Lightning's Brandon Hagel (38) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) blocks a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov (86) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.

The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday," the airport's official X account wrote.

A spokesperson for the airport said the pedestrian, who jumped a perimeter fence, has died. They said the unidentified person was hit two minutes after entering the airport. The person is not believed to be an airport employee.

“We're stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”

The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”

The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now" before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”

Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.

“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”

Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal. The airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals.

Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted. It is expected to open later today.

The pedestrian death came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport. In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed Thursday night without providing details of the incident nor the name of the employee.

“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” the airline said. "We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”

FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)