Recap of NHL from 1 February 2026 #FireChrusDrury

Posted on by

With a capacity crowd of 64,617 fans packed inside a football stadium on the coldest Feb. 1 in Tampa in 126 years, the Lightning and Bruins combined for countless memorable moments in an outdoor game oozing with intensity and record-setting moments before the home team staged the largest comeback win in its 2,799-game history and the largest outdoor rally across the 45 NHL outdoor contests.

* After being named “First Star of the Month” for January, Nikita Kucherov tallied 1-3—4 to rally his club to their historic win while teammate Andrei Vasilevskiy (29 saves, 7 PIM) extended his point streak to 15 games and claimed his 25th win of the season (tied for the League lead).

* Sunday also saw Brandon Bussi best the Kings to record the most wins by a goaltender through their first 25 career games in NHL history and Beckett Sennecke continue his ascent up the Ducks rookie scoring list.

* The final four days of NHL action before players participate in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 features a showdown between defensemen Quinn Hughes and Lane Hutson during Prime Monday Night Hockey.

BOLTS STAGE BIGGEST COMEBACK WIN IN OUTDOOR, FRANCHISE HISTORY
In one of the highest-event contests in NHL outdoor game history, a sellout crowd of 64,617 witnessed the fastest goal to start a game outdoors (0:11), the Bruins jump out to a 5-1 lead 8:18 into the second period and the Lightning rally all the way back from four goals down to win in a shootout – the first outdoors in more than a dozen years – and pull off the biggest comeback victory in franchise and NHL outdoor history. It was the third four-goal comeback win by any club this season.

* Olympic-bound Lightning forward Jake Guentzel scored the third shootout-deciding goal in NHL outdoor game history – against his soon-to-be Team USA teammate – to secure the historic win and join Tyler Bozak (2014 WC) and Sidney Crosby (2008 WC) as the only players to net an outdoor shootout winner.

Stadium Series #NHLStats By the Numbers (in chronological order from puck drop):

11 – Seconds it took Brandon Hagel to open the scoring, the fastest goal from the start of an NHL outdoor game.

3 – Goals scored by the Bruins in the first period, tied for the most by one team in the opening frame of an NHL outdoor game.

4 – Game goal streak for Darren Raddysh, a new Lightning record for a defenseman.

4 – Points recorded by Nikita Kucherov (1-3—4), tied for the second most in an NHL outdoor game.

80 – Combined shots on goal (TBL: 46 & BOS: 34), tied for the second most in an NHL outdoor game.

40 – Combined penalty minutes (BOS: 25 & TBL: 15), the second most in an NHL outdoor game.

12 – Years between NHL outdoor shootouts (last before Sunday was the 2014 NHL Winter Classic).

4 – Goal comeback win by the Lightning, the largest in NHL outdoor game history and also in franchise history (regular season or playoffs).

More Stadium Series notes in #NHLStats: Live Updates

THROUGH THE SPYGLASS: PIRATES, THE ‘BIG RIG’ AND COUNTRY SUPERSTARS

The 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series closed out Gasparilla weekend in Tampa, with the pirate theme prevalent across Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A cast of pirates read from a scroll as they introduced the Bruins and Lightning, who “walked the plank” to the rink surrounded by Gasparilla parade floats, cannons, barrels and treasure chests on a rink backdrop that resembled a treasure map.

* After serving as the grand marshal for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade on Saturday, Lightning alumnus and three-time Stanley Cup champion Pat Maroon dropped the ceremonial first puck. Two of Maroon’s three Cup wins came with Tampa Bay (2020 & 2021).

* Prior to entering Raymond James Stadium, 25,000-plus fans attended the 2026 NHL PreGame, the League’s official fan festival for the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series. Among the many attractions, fans were able to take photos with the Stanley Cup, practice their shooting accuracy and take in a performance by country music duo LOCASH.

* Country music was also represented throughout the game inside the stadium. Hunter Hayes sang the U.S. national anthem prior to puck drop and three-time GRAMMY winner Tim McGraw entertained the packed stadium with a medley of hits during the first intermission.

* Buccaneers Hall of Famer RondĂ© Barber, ESPN’s P.K. Subban and current Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield were on hand to present cancer survivor Rob Higgins with $200,000 on behalf of the Lightning Foundation and the NHL. The funds will be donated to University of South Florida (USF) Health, Coop’s Catch for Kids, presented by Heritage Insurance, USF Foundation Stampede for Women, Moffitt Cancer Center, Coaching Love and Hockey Fights Cancer via the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

TEMPERATURE WAS LOW, EXCITEMENT FOR PLAYER ARRIVALS HIGH
The temperature at puck drop was 42°F/5°C, which was cooler than puck drop of the last outdoor game held in Boston (51°F/11°C at 2023 Winter Classic). According to Earth Networks, Sunday matched the coldest Feb. 1 on record in Tampa since 1900 (46°F/8°C based on daily high temperature).

* Continuing an outdoor game tradition, the Bruins walked into the stadium wearing historic patriot costumes to show support for the NFL’s New England Patriots, who will play in Super Bowl LX this upcoming weekend. The hometown Lightning wore full vintage Buccaneers orange “creamsicle” uniforms and were led into Raymond James Stadium by quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs.

MORE STATS AND STORYLINES FROM SUNDAY
More from around the League on the first day of February:

* Three players who played in the Stadium Series were part of the NHL’s monthly awards rollout before the game: Nikita Kucherov (TBL), David Pastrnak (BOS) and Evan Bouchard (EDM) were named the Three Stars of the Month, while Fraser Minten (BOS) was named Rookie of the Month. #NHLStats shared a look back at some of the top stats from a record-setting January.

* Brandon Bussi extended his winning streak to five games – his second run of at least that length this season (also 9 GP from Oct. 30 – Dec. 14) – as the Hurricanes bested the Kings in overtime to bolster their lead atop the Metropolitan standings. Bussi improved to 23-3-1 in his first career campaign, including a 14-1-0 record at Lenovo Center – tied with tied Karel Vejmelka (14-7-1) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (14-5-0) for the most home wins by a goaltender this season.

* Beckett Sennecke factored on one of four Anaheim goals and Lukas Dostal made 28 saves as the Ducks (29-23-3, 61 points) fended off a Golden Knights rally and moved into the first Wild Card position in the Western Conference standings. Sennecke recorded his 44th career point (18-26—44) and tied Cutter Gauthier (44 in 2024-25) for the fourth most by a Ducks rookie in a season behind Trevor Zegras (61 in 2021-22), Bobby Ryan (57 in 2008-09) and Dustin Penner (45 in 2006-07).

* ICYMI: Radko Gudas was highlighted for his community efforts prior to the Ducks’ ESPN matchup. Gudas has been instrumental in the building of a school in his hometown of Beroun, Czechia – a school which offers kids the ability to develop high-quality education with athletic training. Gudas will be representing his country at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

QUICK CLICKS

* Jon Cooper plays into Cuban theme with outfit at 2026 Stadium Series
* Travis Roy‘s impact shines on at Hockey Classic ahead of Stadium Series
* P.K. Subban helps showcase Upper Deck’s latest NHL card products at Stadium Series
* Laila Edwards to become 1st Black woman to play for U.S. Olympic hockey team

HUGHES AND THE WILD FACE HUTSON AND THE CANADIENS ON PRIME
The final four days of NHL action before players participate in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 begins with a 10-game slate, highlighted by a showdown between Quinn Hughes (5-47—52 in 50 GP) and Lane Hutson (9-47—56 in 55 GP) during Prime Monday Night Hockey.

* Hughes and Hutson enter Monday tied for the League lead in assists among defensemen with 47. Hughes can become the fastest defenseman (based on fewest GP) to reach the 50-assist mark for the third straight season (55 GP in 2024-25 & 49 GP in 2023-24) – a feat last achieved by Paul Coffey (4 straight from 1987-88 to 1990-91). Meanwhile, Hutson can become the second defenseman in Canadiens history to record 60 points in fewer than 60 games, following Larry Robinson (50 GP in 1985-86 & 56 GP in 1976-77).

* Hughes carries an eight-game assist streak into Monday and can tie the longest run in Wild history. He can also become the third blueliner in NHL history to post a nine-game assist streak in their first season with a franchise, alongside Tom Kurvers (9 GP w/ NYI in 1991-92) and Tom Edur (9 GP w/ PIT in 1977-78).

#NHLSTATS MEMOS TO MILAN: SNAPSHOT OF NHL LEADERS WITH 34 GAMES LEFT
Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon (both Team Canada) have the most points and goals this season, respectively, while Zach Werenski (Team USA) shares the lead in both categories among defensemen heading into the final four days of NHL play before the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (Team Czechia) shares the League lead in wins, with only 10 days to go until his country opens its preliminary round schedule against McDavid and MacKinnon.

* McDavid has two games to add to his League-leading 95 points before heading to Milan and can become the first player with 100 points before an Olympic break. The last player with 100-plus points before any in-season break (Olympics, 4 Nations Face-Off, All-Star Game) was Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 (40-60—100 in 40 GP before ASG).

* MacKinnon and the Avalanche close out a home-and-home with the Red Wings and then face Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks on Feb. 4 before both head to Milan to represent Team Canada. MacKinnon is the fifth player to hit the 40-goal mark before an Olympic break, following Alex Ovechkin (42 in 2009-10 & 40 in 2013-14), Sidney Crosby (42 in 2009-10), Teemu Selanne (41 in 1997-98) and Jaromir Jagr (40 in 2005-06).

* Vejmelka and the Mammoth are matched up against the Canucks tonight followed by the Red Wings on Feb. 4 as he looks to become the second Czech goaltender to lead the NHL in wins before an Olympic break (Dominik Hasek: 32 in 2001-02). Vejmelka can backstop Team Czechia to its first Olympic gold medal since 1998, when the country had an upset shootout victory versus Team Canada during the semifinals before Hasek posted a tournament-clinching shutout in the finale.

* Werenski (19-41—60 in 50 GP) is tied for the most goals and points by a defenseman before an Olympic break. On the goals list, he shares the mark with Washington’s Jakob Chychrun (also 19 in 2025-26) and Mathieu Schneider (19 in 2005-06 w/ DET). On the points list, Werenski is tied with Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard (also 60 in 2025-26) and Mike Green (60 in 2009-10 w/ WSH). Among that group, Schneider and Werenski were named to Olympic rosters (both Team USA) with Werenski entering this year’s tournament with the opportunity to become the second player to win a gold medal while representing the Blue Jackets, following Rick Nash in 2010.

* New pages on Records.NHL.com include more stats from the five prior Olympics with NHL players, while the #NHLStats Pack for the Olympics complements the new site with an abundance of information on the 2026 rosters.