Lightning Cap Off Special Night With Win Over Predators

On a night dedicated to the fans, the Tampa Bay Lightning raised the 2019-20 Stanley Cup Champions banner to the rafters. They then withstood a third period rally to defeat the Nashville Predators 6-3.

Game Flow

First Period

Immediately following an emotional pregame ceremony honoring the 2020 Stanley Cup championship team, the Lightning looked off to start. A young Predators team tried to take advantage, but weren’t able to cash in. It came back to bite them, as the Bolts found their legs after several minutes. The line of Tyler Johnson, Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman led the way, with Johnson scoring the game-opening goal. It was the first goal in front of the home crowd in over a year, as the coronavirus pandemic forced the team to play minus fans until now.

The pressure came in waves after that. Johnson nearly netted his second goal three minutes later, but Pekka Rinne dove back and was able to keep the puck out. After that, the teams traded chances until the period’s final minutes. Captain Steven Stamkos won an offensive zone face-off and passed the puck to Mathieu Joseph, whose laser shot surprised Rinne to make it 2-0.

Second Period

With a late first period score, the Lightning came out full of energy to start the middle frame. That put the Predators back on their heels, evidenced by the early penalty they took. Eeli Tolvanen was sent to the box for slashing, giving the Bolts a power play. It took a minute, but they converted on the opportunity. Ondrej Palat threaded a perfect pass through two defenders to Alex Killorn who tipped the puck past Rinne, making it 3-0.

The Predators refused to go quietly though. Ryan Johansen hit the post on a breakaway. Not long after that close call, a turnover gave Viktor Arvidsson the puck. He passed it cross-ice to Yakov Trenin who had all the time in the world to pick a corner and beat Andrei Vasilevskiy. That trimmed the lead to 3-1.

Erik Cernak was then sent off for tripping Filip Forsberg. The Lightning began to swing momentum there, as Coleman got a nice chance short handed but couldn’t bury it. The penalty kill kept the Predators off the scoreboard though, giving the offense time to again come through late. They didn’t disappoint, with Brayden Point motoring into the offensive zone and flipping the puck top shelf on Rinne. That made it 4-1 after two.

Third Period

Down by three entering the third, a Predators team decimated by injuries refused to go quietly. Their speed created issues for the Lightning, with a rush up ice resulting in Alex Carrier’s goal minutes in that made it 4-2.

Shortly after that, Johnson was sent to the box for boarding Matt Benning. Benning went to the locker room for medical attention, and the Predators power play went to work. Calle Jarnkrok’s shot missed the net, but took a favorable bounce off the boards to Erik Haula. Haula flicked the puck past Vasilevskiy to make it 4-3.

All of a sudden, the Lightning found themselves in a familiar position. They had to clamp down, something they did numerous times during last season’s magical run to the Stanley Cup.  It worked, as the line of Johnson, Goodrow and Coleman took control of the game again. Some pretty passing ended with the puck on Coleman’s stick. He fired it top shelf to make it 5-3, giving the team some much-needed breathing room.

From there, the Predators got chances but couldn’t break through. Rinne was pulled with three minutes left in regulation, leaving the net empty. After Yanni Gourde’s shot from center ice hit the post, Ryan McDonagh banked the puck off the boards and ended up hitting the empty net to make it 6-3 Lightning.

Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Nashville Predators 3

Stats

  • The Lightning moved to 10-1-0 on home ice this season.
  • A limited capacity crowd of 3,800 was allowed inside Amalie Arena, the first fans allowed in the building since March 5, 2020.
  • Brayden Point joined Mathieu Joseph as the only two players to score on their birthday this season. Point turned 25 on Saturday night.
  • With the Carolina Hurricanes idle, the Lightning and Florida Panthers are tied atop the Central Division standings.

Next Up

The Lightning look to carry momentum from this win when they host these same Predators on Monday, March 15. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 PM EST.

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