Tampa Bay took a 3-2 decision over Florida in a shootout, the only goal of the skills competition settling a game the Lightning had to claw back into. Regulation and overtime ended 2-2, with the visitors erasing a one-goal deficit in the third.
Lucas Mercuri opened it at 9 on a Jeffrey Viel feed before Sandis Vilmanis answered at 18, assisted by Kai Schwindt, for a 1-1 first period. Matvei Shuravin's goal at 23, set up by Gracyn Sawchyn, put Florida ahead 2-1, and that margin held until Benjamin Rautiainen tied it at 53 off a Gage Goncalves assist — the turning point.
Four goals, four different scorers, and none after the 53rd minute: a scoreless overtime pushed it to the shootout, where Tampa Bay converted once and Florida did not. The Lightning's third-period response, and Goncalves' assist on it, was the difference.