Nick Paul tapped in a purpose 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 evening.
Paul stored 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 profitable tally and a private six-game level streak.
Brayden Level had a purpose 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 some extent of their fourth straight sport.
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 in the course of the sport’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 number of tears,” Stamkos mentioned in the course of the second intermission. “Trying again on the wonderful reminiscences. You do this early then you definitely give attention to the sport.”
Level, who scored 46 targets final season, dangled his approach 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 last minute, Chaffee raced down a free puck, bore down on Saros and lifted his third purpose 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 correct winger introduced the puck in offside. After a brief evaluation, the purpose was overturned.
On the guests’ second energy play, O’Reilly cleverly managed a puck along with his skate and wrapped in his third purpose 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 purpose with 80 seconds left within the interval.
–Area Degree Media
