Tampa Bay Lightning Get Unexpected Hero In Dominant Win Over Winnipeg Jets

Pontus Holmberg celebrates after his career-high four-point night© Getty via AFP

Pontus Holmberg was not supposed to be the headline Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena. But the Swedish centre made himself impossible to ignore, finishing with a career-high four points as the Tampa Bay Lightning dismantled the Winnipeg Jets 6-4. The win pushed Tampa Bay to 6-0 at home, matching a franchise record for the best home start to a season. Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli each contributed a goal and two assists. Brayden Point, John Carlson, and Conor Geekie also scored.

Holmberg Takes Over in a Second Period Tampa Bay Won't Forget

Tampa Bay and Winnipeg were tied 1-1 heading into the second period. Then Holmberg took over. He set up Cirelli for a power-play goal at 15:56, threading a cross-crease pass that his linemate redirected home. Less than three minutes later, Holmberg found Carlson alone at the left faceoff dot and Carlson one-timed it for 4-1. Hagel tapped in another to close the period and make it 5-1. Three goals in the final four minutes of the middle frame, all with Holmberg's fingerprints on them.

He eventually sealed the game with an empty-netter in the final two minutes, completing a four-point night that no one in the Lightning locker room had circled on a calendar beforehand.

Stuart Skinner lasted just two periods for Winnipeg, allowing five goals on 21 shots before being pulled. Nico Daws took over in the third and made nine saves in his Jets debut, but by then the damage was done.

Jets Can't Buy a Win Since Hellebuyck Trade

Winnipeg's collapse has been steep and fast. The Jets are now 0-5-2 over their last seven games, including three straight regulation losses since they traded goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey. Their last win came on October 13.

Neil Pionk gave the Jets a brief moment to feel good about, scoring twice, including a milestone 600th-career-game marker. Kyle Connor pulled it to 5-4 with under three minutes left, and for a short stretch Winnipeg made it uncomfortable. But Holmberg's empty-netter finished the rally before it had a chance to breathe.

Mark Scheifele recorded three assists, and the Jets showed they can still generate offence. The problem right now is that they've been bleeding goals with no reliable answer between the pipes.

Who is next on the schedule for Winnipeg? Won't be an easy place to rebuild confidence.