EDMONTON -- In a stunning display of skill and tenacity, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos recorded his first-ever four-goal game in the NHL, leading his team to a thrilling 7-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Thursday night.

With 1,031 games and 529 goals under his belt, Stamkos had never before achieved this milestone. However, his incredible performance was overshadowed by an extraordinary 53-save effort from Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who stole the show and earned the first-star honors.

Reflecting on Stamkos' achievement, Lightning coach Jon Cooper expressed his surprise, stating, "[Stamkos] looks at me after the fourth one and says, 'First time ever.' I was like, 'you have 500 of them, and that was the first time you've had four in a game?' And he said, 'Yeah,' so we had a little chuckle on the bench. But you need your big guys to come out and when the game is on the line; 'Vasi' and 'Stammer' did that tonight."

Stamkos' four-goal feat brought his season total to 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 28 games. The 33-year-old forward had not scored since November 30, when his team defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1.

Following the game, Stamkos humbly addressed his recent scoring drought, saying, "The last week or two, I've had some really quality chances that haven't gone in the net. It's probably been bunching up for a moment like this, and that's what happens, they come in spurts usually. So you just try not to get too down and continue to shoot the puck, and obviously, they went in tonight, which was really nice to see."

Despite the impressive performances of Edmonton's Connor McDavid, currently fourth on the scoring list with 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) in 25 games, and Leon Draisaitl, who has accumulated 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists), Stamkos undoubtedly stole the spotlight that evening.

Teammate Mikhail Sergachev acknowledged Stamkos' impact on and off the ice, stating, "Nobody says he's not a star anymore; he's up there. He's getting points, he's getting goals and providing for us. But on top of that, he's a big presence in the room too."

Stamkos' exceptional performance was perfectly complemented by Vasilevskiy's outstanding goaltending. While Vasilevskiy shut the door at one end, Stamkos carried the offense at the other. He opened the scoring just over a minute into the game on a power play and later tied the game 3-3 in the third period. The captain then put Tampa Bay ahead 5-3 with a powerful shot from just inside the blue line. To cap off his remarkable night, Stamkos scored an empty-net goal in the final seconds of the game.

Stamkos' dominant display of scoring prowess came after a stretch of games in which he faced numerous near misses and hit several posts. However, the two-time Stanley Cup champion expressed his confidence that his luck would eventually turn, stating, "When you get those chances, you just keep shooting them. Eventually, the odds say that they're going to go in the net."

With their playoff hopes on the line, the Lightning (14-12-5) are counting on Stamkos to continue his offensive prowess. Coach Cooper emphasized the importance of Stamkos' ability to shoot the puck, saying, "He's going to go to the Hall of Fame because he shot the puck. For guys that can score, that's a big thing for them."

As the Lightning push for their seventh consecutive playoff appearance, Stamkos' incredible four-goal performance serves as a reminder of his remarkable talent and leadership within the team.