NHL twitter reacts as Tampa Bay Lightning score two late goals against Dallas Stars

By Srihari Anand

Modified Feb 11, 2023 21:21 GMT

The Tampa Bay Lightning won a crucial match against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The game was very close, with a 1-1 scoreline with 45 seconds left on the clock. Overtime seemed inevitable, but last-minute goals from Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel proved too overpowering for the Stars.

NHL Twitter blew up over the last-second goals from the "Bolts".

"What a pass from Hedman and good on Cirelli to have his stick on the ice for the tip in. #GoBolts," tweeted jpnuc

"After two stinkers after the break, credit is deserved for two excellent efforts. That third period was superb! Congratulations!!" tweeted JT_Spire

"Congratulations! I can’t wait to see you play in Phoenix Wednesday! Look for us!" tweeted 802summit

"Heddy is just too goddamn good man. Cirelli with the insane stick to knock it in. I love this team so much," tweeted GingerMullet9

Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring for the Tampa Bay Lightning at 10:13 in the 2nd period. He backhanded his shot into goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy's net.

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn made it 1-1 two minutes after the Lightning scored with a wrist shot into the back of the net.

Both teams were locked in defensively throughout the rest of the game, up until the last second of the game. Defenseman Victor Hedman circled around the goal and squared it to Anthony Cirelli, who tapped it into the back of the net with 44 seconds left in the game. It delivered a staggering blow to the Stars as he collected his second goal of the game.

The Stars had to call up their goalie to have any chance at getting a goal back and equalizing. However, they lost possession of the puck to Brandon Hagel, who netted his 22nd goal of the season into an empty goal.

The Bolts have now won two consecutive games and are placed third in the Atlantic Division standings.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman sets franchise record

Victor Hedman assisted on Cirelli's game-winner, marking his 500th assist in the league. The 32-year-old Swede is the third player in Tampa Bay Lightning history and the 33rd defenseman in NHL history to record 500 career assists.