Paul scores in OT, Lightning beat Predators 3-2 in Stamkos' return to Tampa

Nick Paul scored 3:22 into overtime and nan Tampa Bay Lightning hit nan Nashville Predators 3-2, spoiling nan return of longtime skipper Steven Stamkos

TAMPA, Fla. -- Nick Paul scored 3:22 into overtime and nan Tampa Bay Lightning hit nan Nashville Predators 3-2 connected Monday night, spoiling nan return of longtime skipper Steven Stamkos.

Brayden Point had a extremity and an assist, and Mitchell Chaffee besides scored to springiness nan Lightning a 2-0 lead successful nan first period. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 35 saves.

Stamkos, who played his first 16 NHL seasons pinch nan Lightning earlier signing pinch Nashville connected July 1, received a opinionated ovation aft being honored pinch a video tribute successful nan first period. His assistance connected Ryan O’Reilly’s power-play extremity midway done nan 2nd play was his first pinch nan Predators, and he sewage his 2nd by mounting up Gustav Nyquist’s game-tying extremity astatine 18:40.

But Paul won it by beating Juuse Saros aft nan Predators had dominated overtime.

Saros stopped 24 shots for Nashville.

Predators: Nashville allowed nan first 2 goals for nan 3rd consecutive crippled but mislaid this 1 aft winning nan first two.

Lightning: Tampa Bay, which had nan NHL’s champion powerfulness play past play astatine 28.6 percent, was 0 for 3 and fell to 5 for 31 (16.1 percent) wide and 0 for 14 astatine home.

The Lightning appeared to return a 3-0 lead 2:27 into nan 2nd play erstwhile Nikita Kucherov hit Saros. But nan extremity was waved disconnected because Kucherov was deemed offside entering nan zone. Nashville dominated nan remainder of nan play and scored doubly to necktie it.

The Predators killed each 3 Lightning powerfulness plays and person allowed conscionable 2 goals connected 29 guidance man-advantages this season.

The Predators big Edmonton connected Thursday night, and nan Lightning sojourn Colorado connected Wednesday to statesman a four-game trip.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL