Anaheim opened the scoring 6:03 into the game on a redirection by forward Troy Terry, but the Lightning tied the score eight minutes later on the power play. Hedman got the puck at the left point and fed forward Brandon Hagel in the right corner, where the latter passed the puck to Anthony Cirelli at the back post for a tap-in and a tie game.

While the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to move up the Eastern Conference standings, their captain Victor Hedman keeps checking off milestones. The Lightning and their hulking defenseman will finish a two-game homestand Saturday night against the sizzling Detroit Red Wings in the opener of four matchups between the Atlantic Division foes.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman became the first player in franchise history to reach 600 assists on Thursday night against the Anaheim Ducks. Back in November, the veteran defenseman earned the top spot on the Lightning's all time assist record, passing Martin St. Louis who recorded 588 assists throughout his 13 seasons in Tampa Bay.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Anaheim Ducks in a shootout as Victor Hedman sets a Lightning franchise record.

The Lightning captain and top defenseman left midway through the third period against San Jose on Thursday, after taking a puck to the side of his head.