TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Captain Victor Hedman scored just over two minutes into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.
Hedman crossed the blue line, split the defense and drove straight to the net, tapping the puck through the legs of Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer, who was trying to poke the puck away. Pontus Holmberg got an assist on the goal 2:07 into OT.
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Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers (10) moves the puck against Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) falls backwards after stopping a shot by Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton (27) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Seattle Kraken during overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) celebrates his overrime goal against the Seattle Kraken during an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) scores past Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) during overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Brandon Hagel scored twice and Ilya Mikheyev added a goal for the Lightning, who improved to 4-0-0 at home. The last time Tampa Bay opened a season with four straight wins in 2020-21, when they opened 6-0.
Tampa Bay led 2-1 after two periods and was 3-0 when leading after 40 minutes entering Thursday's game. Last season, the Lightning were 33-1 when leading after two periods.
Jared McCann, Matthew Beniers and Ryan Winterton scored for the Kraken. Beniers’ tip-in goal in the third tied the game with 4:19 left in regulation.
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 24 saves in the win for the Lightning. Grubauer had 31 saves for the Kraken.
Kraken: At the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
Lightning: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
See AP’s full NHL coverage here
Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers (10) moves the puck against Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) falls backwards after stopping a shot by Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton (27) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Seattle Kraken during overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) celebrates his overrime goal against the Seattle Kraken during an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) scores past Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) during overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Thursday that the United States is trying to break Canada so it can “own us” as he urged oil-rich Alberta not to begin a process toward separation in Monday’s referendum.
Monday’s vote is not a direct referendum on independence. Alberta, which has the world’s fourth-largest proven oil reserves, will decide whether to remain a province or instruct the government to begin the legal process toward a future referendum on separation.
“This referendum comes at the worst possible time,” Carney told a pro-Canada rally in Calgary. “The world has become more dangerous and divided. Some outside our borders are working to break us so they can own us.”
He did not directly mention the U.S. or its President Donald Trump, but has done so in similar past speeches. Carney’s warning came amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada and repeated threats to make Canada the 51st U.S. state. Carney has argued that Canada needs to become more economically resilient and less dependent on the United States.
Carney urged Albertans not to use the vote simply to send Ottawa a message, saying a decisive result could settle the separation question.
“Don’t be fooled by the idea you can ‘send a message’ with your vote,” Carney said. “This is not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of deep division and great uncertainty.”
Carney, who grew up in Alberta, spent Thursday campaigning in Calgary before addressing the Forever Canadian rally at the BMO Centre. Organizers were also holding a second rally with Carney in Edmonton on Friday.
Earlier Thursday, he pointed to the many Albertans who were born or educated elsewhere in Canada and to firefighters who come from across the country to help Alberta during wildfires as examples of the ties binding the province to the rest of Canada.
At the rally, Carney also acknowledged the grievances that have fueled alienation in Alberta.
“The frustrations that many Albertans have felt are real,” he said. Carney said that while growing up, Ottawa made Albertans feel “like our resources weren’t our own” and that more recently the province was made to feel its energy contributions were “against the tides of history.”
The setting is striking for a Liberal prime minister. Alberta has spent decades feuding with Liberal governments in Ottawa, particularly over energy and federal power. But Carney has broken with some of the policies associated with his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, fast-tracked a proposed new oil pipeline to the Pacific and called Canada an energy superpower.
Carney pointed to the Pacific Link pipeline as evidence of a changed relationship, saying it would create more than 140,000 jobs, reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States and generate revenue for social programs.
Tanya Clemens, co-chair of the pro-independence group Let Alberta Decide, acknowledged Carney presents a challenge.
“He’s formidable for sure,” Clemens told The Associated Press.
Clemens argued, however, that Carney’s agreements with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith amount to “pinky promises” that do not resolve long-standing grievances with Ottawa.
Keith Wilson, another leader of Let Alberta Decide, rejected Carney’s argument that global instability made this the wrong time for the vote.
“The worst timing for this, why? I don’t understand what’s the logic,” Wilson said. “Then it’s the best time for him to get back to Ottawa.”
Wilson said Carney should ask Parliament to repeal federal measures that separatists say have hurt Alberta, including authority he says could be used to tax oil exports in retaliation against the United States. He predicted Carney would eventually impose such a tax despite Carney saying he sees no value in using Canadian energy exports as leverage against the U.S.
“It’s one cabinet meeting away,” Wilson said. “He’s gonna do it. He has to do it.”
Smith, who called the vote but supports remaining in Canada, cast her ballot Wednesday and said she voted for Alberta to remain in Canada. She has said support for separation remains too high for her liking.
“Canada can still work,” Smith said after voting. “We just need to make some changes.”
Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University, called Carney’s popularity in Alberta “highly unusual” for a Liberal prime minister. He said Carney has also benefited from a “Trump effect,” as Trump’s trade war and 51st-state threats have rallied Canadians around their leader — even in Alberta.
The referendum marks a remarkable rise for a cause long relegated to Alberta’s political fringes. After the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Freedom Convoy, activists who had organized against vaccine mandates and other restrictions turned their attention to Alberta independence.
The convoy began over vaccine requirements for cross-border truckers but grew into a broader protest against pandemic restrictions, paralyzing downtown Ottawa and blocking major Canada-U.S. border crossings.
Clemens said COVID accelerated the movement by teaching people how to organize politically and become more involved in party politics. She said separatists also see Monday’s vote not simply as a step toward independence but as a way to give Alberta leverage in negotiations with Ottawa.
Advance voting runs through Saturday, with the final vote Monday.
Canada Prime Minister, center left, meets with University of Calgary students in Calgary, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, center, meets with supporters at a restaurant in Calgary, Canada, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, center right, meets with supporters at a restaurant in Calgary, Canada, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, meets with supporters at a restaurant in Calgary, Canada, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada Prime Minister, center, meets with University of Calgary students in Calgary, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, arrives with Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta Brad Lafortune to meet volunteers at Bridgeland Riverside Community Association Park in Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday Oct. 15, 2026. (Mike Sturk/The Canadian Press via AP)
