Nick Paul tapped in a objective 3:22 into extra time because the Lightning spoiled Steven Stamkos’ two-assist return to Tampa Bay by beating the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Monday night time.
Paul saved the puck alive with laborious work within the offensive zone and despatched it over to Jake Guentzel, who then returned it to Paul to place previous goaltender Juuse Saros (24 saves) for the successful tally and a private six-game level streak.
Brayden Level had a objective and an help and Mitchell Chaffee scored as Tampa Bay improved to 4-1-0 at residence. Guentzel two assists, giving him 500 profession factors. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 35 saves.
Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist scored for Nashville because the Predators earned a degree of their fourth straight recreation.
Stamkos, who spent his first 16 NHL seasons with the Lightning earlier than becoming a member of Nashville this season, notched his first two assists for the Predators in his Tampa Bay homecoming.
The Lightning confirmed a tribute to Stamkos’ stellar Tampa Bay profession on the jumbotron through the recreation’s first stoppage simply over six minutes in.
The 34-year-old former captain, misty eyed, hopped over the boards, raised his stick in acknowledgement to the followers and skated a small lap at heart ice because the blue-clad Lightning stood and clapped for his or her ex-star heart.
“It was fairly particular, clearly, fairly emotional, perhaps a couple of tears,” Stamkos mentioned through the second intermission. “Trying again on the superb reminiscences. You try this early then you definitely deal with the sport.”
Level, who scored 46 objectives final season, dangled his method within the first interval previous Roman Josi, going forehand-backhand earlier than flipping in his sixth tally at 9:49 to open the scoring.
Within the body’s closing minute, Chaffee raced down a unfastened puck, bore down on Saros and lifted his third objective residence for a 2-0 lead at 19:24.
Early within the second, the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov appeared to internet his team-leading ninth, however Nashville challenged that the fitting winger introduced the puck in offside. After a brief evaluation, the objective was overturned.
On the guests’ second energy play, O’Reilly cleverly managed a puck along with his skate and wrapped in his third objective from the low slot at 10:19 to trim the lead in half.
The Predators tied it 2-all when Brady Skjei despatched an extended cross to Stamkos throughout a nasty Lightning line change. Stamkos then slid his second help to Nyquist for his third objective with 80 seconds left within the interval.
–Subject Stage Media