Mason Marchment’s hat trick fuels Blue Jackets’ 8-5 win over Lightning, ending long point streak

Blue Jackets outscore Lightning in high-event game at Nationwide Arena

The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-5 at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in a game marked by early Columbus pressure, a Tampa Bay pushback, and a decisive response from the home team in the middle frame.

Forward Mason Marchment led Columbus with three goals and one assist, recording the third hat trick of his NHL career. Columbus improved to 24-20-7, while Tampa Bay fell to 32-14-4.

How the scoring unfolded

Columbus set the tone with four goals in the first period to take a 4-2 lead after 20 minutes. The Lightning erased the deficit early in the second period, tying the game 4-4, but Columbus scored twice later in the period to regain control at 6-4 entering the third.

Tampa Bay generated late offense after pulling its goaltender for an extra attacker, but Columbus added two empty-net goals to seal the outcome.

• Columbus goals included Marchment (3), Charlie Coyle (2, including a power-play goal), Adam Fantilli, Dmitri Voronkov, and Sean Monahan (empty net).
• Tampa Bay goals included Jake Guentzel (2), Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, and Darren Raddysh (power play).

Key individual performances

Along with Marchment’s four-point night, Columbus received a three-point performance from Coyle (one goal, two assists) and Fantilli (one goal, two assists). Coyle’s first goal of the game was the 200th of his NHL career. Defenseman Zach Werenski added two assists, and goaltender Jet Greaves finished with 25 saves.

For Tampa Bay, Kucherov posted a goal and three assists, while Guentzel recorded two goals and an assist. Cirelli added a goal and two assists. Jonas Johansson made 23 saves in net for the Lightning.

Streaks, context and roster notes

The loss ended Tampa Bay’s 15-game point streak. The Lightning entered the matchup on the second night of a back-to-back after winning in Chicago on Friday, Jan. 23. Tampa Bay also had multiple in-game absences: defenseman Erik Cernak left with an injury, forward Gage Goncalves exited due to illness, and defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous departed in the third period.

Columbus’ win continued a strong stretch: the Blue Jackets have won six of their last seven games.

Marchment’s immediate impact in Columbus

Marchment has quickly become a central figure in Columbus’ attack after arriving via trade on Dec. 20, 2025. The Blue Jackets acquired him from the Seattle Kraken for a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (previously acquired from the New York Rangers). The 30-year-old forward is in the final season of a four-year, $18 million contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Tampa Bay’s next game is at home Monday, Jan. 26, against the Utah Mammoth.