Colorado Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning

NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan 06, 2026. Final score: Colorado Avalanche 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 4.

StatusFinal
DateJan 06, 2026
VenueBenchmark International Arena
Colorado Avalanche score2
Tampa Bay Lightning score4

Shot charts, expected goals (xG), Game Score and advanced box scores for this game are available on Hockey Alchemy.

Three Stars by Game Score

Ranked by Game Score, which rolls goals, assists, shot quality, play-driving and penalties into one number — so the best player is chosen by the box score, not by a vote.

PlayerPosGASOGTOIxGGame Score
1stBrandon HagelL11217:390.261.39
2ndDarren RaddyshD02424:390.111.18
3rdNikita KucherovR02016:200.121.18

Scoring Summary

TimeTeamGoalAssistsStrengthScore (Colorado Avalanche–Tampa Bay Lightning)
1st 19:48TBLJake GuentzelNikita Kucherov, Darren Raddysh5v40–1
2nd 03:22COLParker KellyZakhar Bardakov, Ilya Solovyov5v51–1
2nd 09:31COLBrock NelsonCale Makar5v52–1
2nd 17:22TBLZemgus GirgensonsYanni Gourde, Pontus Holmberg5v52–2
3rd 08:31TBLBrandon HagelMax Crozier, Nikita Kucherov5v52–3
3rd 18:35TBLAnthony CirelliBrandon Hagel, Darren Raddysh5v62–4

Team Comparison

Colorado AvalancheTampa Bay Lightning
Goals24
Shots on goal3328
Expected goals (xG)3.573.14
High-danger shots1410
Corsi %50.0%50.0%
Power play0/21/2
Faceoff %69.1%30.9%
Hits2021
Blocks1916
Giveaways1912
Takeaways45

Colorado Avalanche Skaters

PlayerPosGAPSOGTOIxGGame Score
Cale MakarD011126:040.130.84
Parker KellyC101211:200.450.80
Brock NelsonC101422:140.240.75
Ilya SolovyovD011012:530.000.69
Zakhar BardakovC01117:230.010.59
Sam MalinskiD000318:510.060.20
Nathan MacKinnonC000522:370.080.10
Samuel GirardD000118:420.050.10
Ross ColtonC000412:340.220.10
Josh MansonD000019:020.030.05
Jack DruryC000115:540.290.05
Artturi LehkonenL000218:550.170.05
Taylor MakarL00015:290.170.05
Valeri NichushkinR000019:300.000.05
Victor OlofssonL000111:540.400.00
Gavin BrindleyC000014:490.000.00
Martin NecasC000321:540.510.00
Brent BurnsD000418:190.09-0.25

Tampa Bay Lightning Skaters

PlayerPosGAPSOGTOIxGGame Score
Brandon HagelL112217:390.261.39
Darren RaddyshD022424:390.111.18
Nikita KucherovR022016:200.121.18
Yanni GourdeC011016:150.010.94
Zemgus GirgensonsC101114:400.140.85
Jake GuentzelC101318:380.740.75
Pontus HolmbergR011114:270.040.74
Anthony CirelliC101214:050.420.70
Max CrozierD011215:330.030.69
Dominic JamesC000112:080.030.20
Erik CernakD000120:180.050.20
J.J. MoserD000224:060.190.15
Nick PaulL000212:120.170.05
Declan CarlileD000011:300.000.05
Brayden PointC000116:500.230.05
Gage GoncalvesC000211:470.280.00
Oliver BjorkstrandR000213:430.140.00
Charle-Edouard D'AstousD000221:100.03-0.85

Goaltending

GoalieTeamSVSASV%GSAxDecision
Scott WedgewoodColorado Avalanche242788.9%-0.44L
Andrei VasilevskiyTampa Bay Lightning313393.9%0.97W

Analysis

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4–2 on Jan 06, 2026.

Tampa Bay Lightning generated 3.14 expected goals to Colorado Avalanche's 3.57 — Colorado Avalanche owned the better of the chances but Tampa Bay Lightning took the game, the kind of split that usually means finishing or goaltending decided it; by expected goals it was close to a coin flip.

Brandon Hagel led all skaters with a Game Score of 1.39 on 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 shots on goal.

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 31 of 33, worth 0.97 goals saved above expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Colorado Avalanche vs Tampa Bay Lightning game?

The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Colorado Avalanche 4–2 on Jan 06, 2026.

What was the final score?

The final score was Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Colorado Avalanche 2.

Who was the best player in this game?

By Game Score — a single-number summary of everything a skater did — Brandon Hagel led all skaters at 1.39, on 1G, 1A and 2 shots on goal.

Which team deserved to win by expected goals?

Tampa Bay Lightning generated 3.14 expected goals and Colorado Avalanche generated 3.57, so Colorado Avalanche created the better chances. The scoreboard went the other way, which points to finishing or goaltending.

What were the shot totals?

Colorado Avalanche put 33 shots on goal and Tampa Bay Lightning put 28. High-danger chances went 14 to 10.

How did the goaltenders play?

Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 of 27 (-0.44 goals saved above expected); Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 31 of 33 (0.97 goals saved above expected).