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Historic Outdoor Goalie Fight Sparks Lightning's Epic Comeback

2/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 2026 NHL Stadium Series featured the first outdoor goalie fight between Andrei Vasilevskiy (Lightning) and Jeremy Swayman (Bruins).
The fight started in the second period after Swayman reacted to a poke from Brandon Hagel, prompting Vasilevskiy to skate to confront him.
The bout energized the Lightning as they rallied from 5-2 to win 6-5 in a shootout, the largest comeback in outdoor NHL history, with mutual respect afterward.

History

Historical Context

The 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton marked the NHL's first regular season outdoor game, drawing 57,167 fans despite frigid temperatures. This event followed the 2001 "Cold War" game between Michigan State and Michigan, which popularized outdoor hockey. The success of these games has since shaped the NHL's identity, fostering rivalries and enhancing fan engagement through annual outdoor events like the Winter Classic.

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Story summary

The 2026 NHL Stadium Series featured the first outdoor goalie fight between Andrei Vasilevskiy (Lightning) and Jeremy Swayman (Bruins).
The fight started in the second period after Swayman reacted to a poke from Brandon Hagel, prompting Vasilevskiy to skate to confront him.
The bout energized the Lightning as they rallied from 5-2 to win 6-5 in a shootout, the largest comeback in outdoor NHL history, with mutual respect afterward.

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