The Columbus Blue Jackets erupted for eight goals — including a hat trick from Mason Marchment — to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-5 on January 24, 2026, snapping Tampa Bay's 15-game point streak at Nationwide Arena. The game was an offensive fireworks display that saw both teams combine for 13 goals in one of the wildest contests of the NHL season.
Tampa Bay's 14-0-1 streak was the third-longest in franchise history, and it took everything Columbus had to end it. But end it they did, in spectacular fashion.
Mason Marchment was the undeniable star, recording his third career hat trick with a mix of skill, timing, and sheer opportunism. His ability to capitalize on defensive breakdowns was on full display, particularly his second goal — scored moments after leaving the penalty box — which gave Columbus the lead for good at 5-4.
But Marchment wasn't alone. Charlie Coyle scored his milestone 200th career goal and added two assists. Adam Fantilli broke a 17-game goal drought with a clutch finish. Dmitri Voronkov showed his forechecking prowess by stripping the puck and converting. And Zach Werenski quietly added two assists to continue his stellar season.
Columbus scored four goals in the first period — its most in an opening frame since March 15, 2003. That's not a typo. This team hadn't come out this hot in over two decades.
Context matters here, and Tampa Bay deserves some grace. The Lightning were completing the back end of a back-to-back and wrapping up a brutal stretch of 10 road games in their last 12 across three time zones. A bug was running through the team, forcing pregame replacements. Then they lost Erik Cernak and Gage Goncalves to injuries early in the game.
Despite all of that, Tampa Bay never stopped competing. They erased a two-goal deficit to tie it 4-4 in the second period. Nikita Kucherov was magnificent with a goal and three assists, including a gorgeous backhand finish off a diving pass from Brandon Hagel. Jake Guentzel scored twice. Anthony Cirelli added a goal and two assists.
But the turnovers killed them. First-period miscues directly led to Columbus goals, and the Lightning simply couldn't maintain defensive structure with a depleted lineup in the third period.
Wilder, actually. Consider this sequence: Columbus goalie Jet Greaves attempted a clearing pass that bounced off his own teammate Isac Lundestrom and into the net. That's right — an own goal that tied the game 1-1 and was credited to Jake Guentzel.
The game featured lead changes, a four-goal first period, a furious Lightning comeback, and enough momentum swings to fill an entire playoff series. Columbus led 4-2 after one, Tampa Bay tied it 4-4 early in the second, and then Marchment's go-ahead goal opened the floodgates.
The crowd at Nationwide Arena got their money's worth and then some.
Bowness improved to 5-1-0 since replacing Dean Evason, and this was his most emphatic win yet. The Blue Jackets have shown an ability to play different styles under their new coach — grinding out a 1-0 win over Dallas two nights earlier and then exploding offensively against one of the league's best teams.
That versatility is a sign of a well-coached team that believes in its system regardless of the opponent. Columbus (24-20-7) is quietly building something, and the rest of the Metropolitan Division should take notice.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper put it in perspective with his post-game comments, noting that in their last 30 available points, they'd collected 29. That's elite-level hockey sustained over more than a month. The 14-0-1 run trailed only their 16-game streak in 2018-19 and 18-game streak in 2003-04 in franchise history.
One loss — especially under these circumstances — doesn't diminish what Tampa Bay accomplished. The Lightning remain one of the NHL's most dangerous teams at 32-14-4 and will be just fine once they get healthy and rested during their upcoming homestand.
The bottom line: This game was a reminder that the NHL is appointment viewing on any given night. Marchment was unstoppable, Columbus played with the confidence of a team that's found its identity, and Tampa Bay showed why they're still elite even in defeat. Circle the next meeting on your calendar — this is a budding rivalry worth watching.