Anthony Cirelli's hat trick leads way in Lightning's 6-3 win vs. Penguins

Eduardo A. Encina, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 2, 2026

Published in Hockey

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TAMPA, Fla. — Lightning center Anthony Cirelli netted a hat trick, leading Tampa Bay to a 6-3 win over the Penguins on Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena.

With the win and Buffalo’s loss in Ottawa, the Lightning (47-22-6, 100 points) took over first place in the Atlantic Division on point percentage. The Lightning are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and can clinch a playoff berth Saturday at home against Boston.

Cirelli’s second goal, which came short-handed 11 seconds into the second period, fueled a three-goal period in which the Lightning took control of the game.

Brayden Point’s 18th goal of the season was a momentum boost for the Lightning’s top-line center; he had just one goal in his last 12 games.

Third-line forward Zemgus Girgensons scored his 100th career goal with 54.4 seconds left in the second, taking a pass from Yanni Gourde behind the net and cutting in front, then pulling back the puck with a nifty backhand move for his 12th goal of the season.

Cirelli opened scoring 5:06 into the first period, collecting a long rebound off Gage Goncalves’ initial shot and beating Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner on a wrister from the left hash past his glove side.

Nikita Kucherov put the Lightning up 5-2 with 6:10 left to play, whipping a shot from the outer edge of the right circle that beat Skinner short side and went into the top far corner of the net.

Cirelli’s empty-netter with 4:27 remaining sent a smattering of fans throwing their hats onto the ice.

The Lightning were without forwards Brandon Hagel and Scott Sabourin, both of whom were out with undisclosed injuries. Ahead of the game, Mitchell Chaffee came in from AHL Syracuse on an emergency recall to serve as the team’s 12th forward.