SPORTS

Cirelli's Hat Trick Sends Lightning Into Atlantic Lead

PUBLISHED Apr 2, 2026, 11:34 PM ET

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Tampa, Fla. — Anthony Cirelli scored a hat trick and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Thursday night, moving the Lightning into first place in the Atlantic Division; key contributors included Nikita Kucherov, Zemgus Girgensons and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. The victory improved Tampa Bay’s recent form to 7-1-2 and elevated the team to first in the Atlantic, with The News-Gazette noting a 47-22-6 record and 100 points; the Lightning can clinch a playoff berth Saturday at home, while Pittsburgh remains second in the Metropolitan, three points ahead.

By Neha R. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Regular-season divisional race set the context entering the Tampa–Pittsburgh matchup.
Early in the game, Cirelli and Rakell traded goals within the opening minutes.
Cirelli scored short-handed 11 seconds into the second period, sparking a decisive three-goal frame.
Zemgus Girgensons scored his 100th career goal late in the second period.
Cirelli added an empty-netter to complete the hat trick; Tampa Bay moved into first place.

News Intelligence

If you're a Tampa Bay Lightning fan, this is a huge win. It puts the team in a strong position for the playoffs. If you're a Penguins supporter, don't lose heart. The team is still in a good spot in the Metropolitan.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 5
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 5
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

The Tampa Bay Lightning organization, its players and fans benefited immediately as the win moved the team into first place in the Atlantic Division and improved its playoff positioning and point total.

Who Impacted

The Pittsburgh Penguins and their supporters suffered a setback as the loss left the team trailing in divisional positioning and preserved a tighter race in the Metropolitan Division.