Holmberg has four points as Lightning hold off Jets 6-4

Pontus Holmberg finished with a goal and three assists in Tampa Bay’s 6-4 home win over Winnipeg on Thursday, setting his NHL career high for points in a game.

The Lightning took a 5-1 lead into the third period, but Winnipeg scored three times to get within one. Holmberg ended the comeback attempt with an empty-net goal at 18:29.

Brayden Point opened the scoring for Tampa Bay, and Neal Pionk tied the game before the first intermission. Conor Geekie restored the Lightning lead in the second period. Anthony Cirelli, John Carlson and Brandon Hagel then scored in a span of 3:07 to give Tampa Bay its four-goal cushion.

Cirelli and Hagel each contributed a goal and two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 17 shots for the Lightning.

Dylan Samberg began Winnipeg’s third-period rally, Pionk added his second goal of the night and Kyle Connor cut the deficit to 5-4. Mark Scheifele assisted on three Winnipeg goals.

Nico Daws played the third period in his Jets debut and stopped all nine shots he faced. Starter Stuart Skinner allowed five goals on 21 shots.

The win left Tampa Bay unbeaten in six home games this season. Winnipeg has gone seven games without a victory.

Holmberg played alongside Cirelli and Hagel for the first time. Cooper said the experiment was designed to add Holmberg’s puck protection and defensive play to the pair. Hagel praised his ability to contribute at either end of the ice.

The Lightning’s Friday feature suggested the combination could get another opportunity in Nashville on Saturday. That remains a possibility rather than an announced lineup decision.