Associated Press

Hagel ties NHL record with 4 assists in 1st period, Lightning beat Avalanche 8-2

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) makes a save against Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Hagel tied an NHL record with four assists in the opening period and finished with five as the Tampa Bay Lightning cruised past the Colorado Avalanche 8-2 on Monday.

Jake Guentzel scored twice while Mikey Eyssimont, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Nick Perbix, Anthony Cirelli and Luke Glendening also scored for Tampa Bay. Hagel tied a franchise record with five assists.

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 23 shots.

Ivan Ivan scored both goals for Colorado, which had a three-game winning streak come to an end. Justus Annunen, who was pulled in the first period but returned for the third, allowed five goals on 16 shots. Alexandar Georgiev allowed three goals on 17 shots.

Takeaways

Avalanche: Colorado ended a four-game road trip with a record of 3-1. The Avalanche had won six of the previous seven games. … Ivan registered his first career multi-goal game.

Lightning: Cirelli scored for the sixth consecutive game to become the sixth player in franchise history to record a goal in at least six consecutive games, joining Steven Stamkos, Kucherov, Brian Bradley, Point and Vinny Lecavalier. … Zemgus Girgensons recorded his 100th career assist.

Key moment

After the Lightning jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Guentzel's power-play goal 7:46 into the first, the Avalanche cut the deficit in half 70 seconds later. But Kucherov scored 1:07 later to regain the two-goal lead and chase Annunen, who allowed three goals on six shots in 10:03.

Key stat

Tampa Bay’s five goals in the first period marked the fourth time in franchise history the Lightning have scored five goals in the opening period, done most recently on Feb. 23, 2011, against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Up next

The Avalanche host Vegas on Wednesday and the Lightning welcome Washington on Wednesday to end a three-game homestand.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86), defenseman Victor Hedman (77), center Brayden Point (21), and left wing Brandon Hagel (38) celebrate after Point's goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates after his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) looks to shoot against Colorado Avalanche defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) and goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) during the second period period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy makes a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Colorado Avalanche center Ivan Ivan (82) scores against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Lightning center Luke Glendening (11) celebrates after his short-handed goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)