Lightning beat Red Wings, 6-3, behind pair of goals from Yanni Gourde
Perhaps it was the early start time, but for the first two periods the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings decided that defense was optional. If it wasn’t for the play of Andrei Vasilevskiy and John Gibson there would have been even more than the seven goals the two teams combined to score. The Lightning emerged from those forty minutes with the 4-3 lead, and not only held off a surge from the home team, but added a couple of goals to win their sixth game in a row by a final of 6-3.
For most of their recent run of success it’s been defense that has powered the Lightning. For Friday’s game, it was the offense, especially from unexpected sources, and opportunistic defense that provided the win. Vasilevskiy, who finished with 33 saves, was especially sharp in the first period as he turned aside several golden chances by the Red Wings. J.T. Compher finally solved the goaltender to give Detroit a lead midway through the period.
The Lightning bounced back on the power play (of all things). It wasn’t fancy as Darren Raddysh ripped a 100 MPH shot on net and past John Gibson. It was the Bolts only power play of the game and they made the most of it. Goals from Gage Goncalves (!) and Yanni Gourde within the first three minutes of the second period gave them a little cushion, but Detroit wasn’t going away easily.
Michael Rasmussen scored 12 seconds after Gourde’s goal to make it a one-goal game. Gourde crashed the net three minutes late to regain the two-goal lead. This time it lasted more than two minutes before Dylan Larkin snuck one past Vasilevskiy.
The goal came with less than two minutes to go in the period and gave Detroit a bit of momentum heading into the final period. The Lightning would be challenged early in the period as the Red Wings pushed for the equalizer. The Bolts bent, but didn’t break. Then they survived a short-handed situation. While they didn’t generate a ton of shots in the final period (just 11 attempts), they made them count. Jake Guentzel put them up two goals with under eight minutes to go by doing what he does – getting in front of the net and tipping a puck home.
Brandon Hagel ended any thought of a comeback with an empty net goal, and the Lightning picked up a big win against a division rival. Nikita Kucherov ended up with two assists while Raddysh ended up with a three-point night.
Coach Cooper characterized it as a complete team win, and that pretty much summed it up. Vasilevskiy carried them in the first period, the Gourde line provided the offense in the second, and the entire team did what they needed to do in the third to pick up the win.
The Goals
Darren Raddysh [3] (Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel) Power Play, 1-1
Gage Goncalves [2] (Oliver Bjorkstrand, Nick Paul) 2-1 Lightning
Yanni Gourde [4] (Unassisted) 3-2 Lightning
Yanni Gourde [5] (Unassisted) 4-2 Lightning
Jake Guentzel [13] (Darren Raddysh, Nikita Kucherov) 5-3 Lightning
Brandon Hagel [13] (Darren Raddysh) Empty Net 6-3 Lightning
Former World Series Champion Outfielder, Now a Free Agent, Wants to Return to the Yankees – “One Time Wearing the Pinstripes Again Is a Dream Before I Retire”
One of Major League Baseball’s most respected veteran outfielders — a former World Series champion and multiple-time All-Star — has publicly expressed his desire to return to the New York Yankees before hanging up his cleats for good.
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The player in question? Andrew Benintendi, who last played for the Chicago White Sox and remains a free agent after his release earlier this year. A key contributor to Boston’s 2018 World Series title and a midseason spark for the Yankees during their 2022 playoff run, Benintendi says he still dreams of one last shot in the Bronx.
“Getting to wear the pinstripes again would be a dream before I retire,” Benintendi said in a recent interview. “There’s something about playing in New York — the energy, the fans, the tradition. I’ve been fortunate to experience it once, and I’d love nothing more than to finish my career there.”
Benintendi’s connection with the Yankees remains strong. During his brief stint with the team in 2022, he posted a solid .304 on-base percentage and earned praise for his steady defense and leadership in the clubhouse. However, a wrist injury late that season cut his momentum short, and he went on to sign with the White Sox the following year.
Now 31, Benintendi is healthy again and seeking a final opportunity to compete for a championship — and the Yankees, who have struggled to find consistent production in left field, could be an ideal destination.
While New York boasts stars like Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe, the team has lacked a steady defensive outfielder to round out its lineup. A veteran presence like Benintendi — known for his contact hitting and postseason composure — could be exactly what the Yankees need heading into 2026.
“The Yankees are always built to win,” Benintendi added. “You see the roster, the history, the passion — that’s the standard every player dreams to be part of. If I get one more chance to help them chase a title, I’d take it in a heartbeat.”
At his best, Benintendi was one of baseball’s most complete left fielders — a career .276 hitter with a Gold Glove (2021) and over 80 outfield assists. His leadership and playoff experience could prove invaluable to a Yankees team looking to return to its championship identity.
With free agency heating up and New York expected to pursue veteran depth this winter, fans across the Bronx are already buzzing. And for Andrew Benintendi, one final chapter in pinstripes would be more than a comeback — it would be coming home.
