Victor Hedman's Triumphant Return Fuels Tampa Bay Lightning's Historic Comeback

Victor Hedman made a celebrated comeback to the ice on February 1, 2026, returning after nearly two months out due to elbow surgery. He played for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a dramatic outdoor NHL game against the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium before 64,617 spectators. Despite the Bruins taking a commanding 5-1 lead into the second period, the Lightning staged an incredible rally, exploiting eight Bruins penalties in the second period to score three powerplay goals and tie the game.

Nikita Kucherov was instrumental in the comeback, contributing one goal and three assists, while Hedman himself skated over ten minutes, expressing joy in rejoining the team on the ice: "It feels good to be back with the guys on the ice again."

The game featured 11 total goals and a notable fight erupting between goalies Andrej Vasilevskiy and Jeremy Swayman in the second period, Vasilevskiy noting it was his first NHL fight. After a scoreless overtime, the thrilling contest was decided in a shootout where Jake Guentzel scored the decisive goal, securing a 6-5 victory for the Lightning.

This remarkable comeback solidified the team's resilience and Hedman's important return, electrifying fans and reviving Tampa Bay's competitive spirit in the NHL season.