Record-setting Darren Raddysh leads Lightning comeback against Bruins

Eduardo A. Encina, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 4, 2026

Published in Hockey

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TAMPA, Fla. — On a day when the Tampa Bay Lightning earned their ninth straight trip to the playoffs, the season’s breakout star kept the team humming along with a record-setting day.

Darren Raddysh scored the game-winning goal with 5:31 left, sending the Lightning to a 3-1 comeback win over the division-rival Boston Bruins Saturday at Benchmark International Arena.

The goal was Raddysh’s 21st, setting a new franchise single-season record for a defenseman, a record previously held by Victor Hedman and Dan Boyle.

With the win, the Lightning stayed in first place in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of Buffalo, which played later Saturday at Washington.

They completed their seven-game homestand with 11 of a possible 14 points before going on the road next week to face four division foes jockeying for playoff spots. Those games against Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal and Boston will play a huge role in determining the Lightning’s first-round opponent.

With Saturday’s game tied 1-1, Raddysh brought the puck into the offensive zone and snapped off a shot from the outer part of the right circle that leaked under Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman’s right arm and into the net.

The first goal of every season is to earn a playoff spot, and even though the Lightning heard lots of outside noise about going to the postseason they don’t presume anything before seeing that X next to their name in the standings.

The Lightning clinched their ninth straight playoff berth well before their game against the Bruins, as about two hours before their puck drop the New York Rangers’ regulation win over the Detroit Red Wings sealed spots for both Tampa Bay and Buffalo.

They are headed to the playoffs for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons. Their nine-season streak is the longest in franchise history and is tied with Colorado for the longest active streak.

So, with a postseason spot secured, the Lightning could focus on getting their game into playoff form. And against a Bruins team that is a potential postseason opponent, they were locked into one of those tight, low-scoring games.

The Lightning entered the third period down 1-0 before scoring three goals in the final 20 minutes.

They found themselves chasing from behind again, but rookie defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous brought them back into the game with a tying goal at 2:13 mark of the period.

Nikita Kucherov’s empty-net goal sealed the game with 1:33 remaining. It was his 42nd goal of the season.

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