Kucherov scores twice, Lightning top Panthers 4-2 in another penalty-filled matchup

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Pontus Holmberg scored with 7.3 seconds left in the first period to put Tampa Bay on top for good, Nikita Kucherov scored twice and the Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 4-2 in another penalty-filled matchup between the Sunshine State rivals.

Jake Guentzel also scored for Tampa Bay, which has won three straight. Kucherov sealed it with an empty-netter with 56 seconds left.

Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen scored for the Panthers, who lost for just the second time in their last seven games. Florida was 1 for 11 on the power play.

Both teams set season-highs for penalty minutes — by far. Tampa Bay finished with 87, Florida finished with 49. The Lightning had 33 on Nov. 16 against Vancouver; the Panthers had 20 on Nov. 22 against Edmonton.

And there were reminders that these teams, as has been the case forever, simply do not like one another.

Tampa Bay's Scott Sabourin — who had a starring role in the preseason game that featured more than 300 penalty minutes — drew two minors and a misconduct early in the third period for roughing and slashing the Panthers' Niko Mikkola. Sabourin was called up earlier in the day, and three of his nine games with the Lightning this season have been against Florida.

Those penalties against Sabourin came after play was stopped for about eight minutes late in the second period while referees sorted out 13 roughing penalties — seven against Tampa Bay, six against Florida. At one point during a stoppage, there were six players in the Lightning's penalty box.

Sabourin was given another misconduct with 33 seconds remaining, part of a 26-penalty night for Tampa Bay.

Lightning: Host Montreal on Sunday.

Panthers: Host Washington on Monday night.

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

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy allows a goal by the Florida Panthers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) defend the goal against Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) defend the goal against Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) celebrates with teammates after his goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his goal with teammates in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Defenseman Jakob Chychrun scored in overtime and Logan Thompson made 35 saves as the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Saturday night.

Chychrun beat Devils netminder Jake Allen with his 15th goal 4:06 into the extra session to lift Washington to only its second win in its last eight games. New Jersey lost its third straight.

Aliaksei Protas also scored and added two assists for Washington. Anthony Beauvillier and Alex Ovechkin also scored for the Capitals who are 11-1-0 in their last 12 visits to Prudential Center.

The visitors led 2-1 entering the third period before the Devils scored twice in a 32-second span to move ahead. Ovechkin then tied the game at 3 with his 15th goal, the NHL-record 912th of this career at 9:17.

Jesper Bratt — who had just one goal since Nov. 6 — scored twice for New Jersey. Cody Glass also scored for the Devils, who have lost 13 of their last 20 games.

Protas opened the scoring with less than a second left in the first, tapping in a pass from Ovechkin for his 14th goal.

Bratt tied the contest 1-1 at 4:56 of the second on the power play.

Beauvillier snapped the puck past Allen for his seventh goal at 17:33 of the middle period to put Washington ahead 2-1.

Bratt tied the contest again at the seven-minute mark of the third with his second goal of the game and eighth of the season. Glass then put New Jersey ahead at 7:32 with his seventh before Ovechkin tied the game for a third time.

Washington rebounded from Tuesday’s 7-3 home loss to the Rangers.

The Devils were coming off Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Islanders at UBS Arena and last Sunday’s 3-1 home loss to Buffalo.

Allen made 29 saves in defeat.

Devils: Visit Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

Capitals: Visit Florida Panthers on Monday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) defends against New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) skates with the puck against Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) defends against the New Jersey Devils during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Washington Capitals center Nic Dowd (26) plays the puck against New Jersey Devils center Cody Glass, center, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) reacts after scoring the game winning goal against New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) during overtime of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)