Predators Beat Lightning 5-4 in a Shootout in Nashville as Stamkos Scores Against His Old Team

The Nashville Predators beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Steven Stamkos, the former Tampa Bay captain, tied the game 4-4 on a power play at 7:27 of the third period and then scored the only goal of the shootout, in the fourth round, against his old teammate Andrei Vasilevskiy. The win ended a two-game losing streak for Nashville and was the Predators' first victory past regulation in six tries this season. Nashville improved to 5-4-5 with 15 points. Tampa Bay fell to 8-3-2 with 18 points and has lost three of its last four games.

The lead changes hands all afternoon

Reid Schaefer opened the scoring at 11:14 of the first period, keeping the puck himself on a two-on-one break with Jonathan Marchessault and beating Vasilevskiy on the far side for his first goal of the season. John Carlson tied it 1-1 at 13:38 of the first when his slap shot deflected off the stick of Adam Edstrom and past Justus Annunen.

The second period brought three quick swings. Jake Guentzel tipped in a Carlson shot 18 seconds into the period for a 2-1 Tampa Bay lead. Edstrom answered 27 seconds later, at 0:45 of the second, with his fifth goal of the season to make it 2-2. Victor Hedman put the Lightning back in front 3-2 later in the period, scoring off a pass from Nikita Kucherov. Jayden Struble tied it 3-3 with 17 seconds left in the period, skating down the left side and beating Vasilevskiy short side for his second goal as a Predator.

Stamkos finishes it against his old team

Conor Geekie gave Tampa Bay its last lead, 4-3, at 3:31 of the third period. Stamkos tied it at 7:27. His first shot hit the post, and he put in his own rebound on the power play. The goal was the 246th power play goal of Stamkos's career, tying him with Phil Esposito for sixth place in NHL history. Overtime produced no goal. In the shootout, Annunen stopped Pontus Holmberg, Brayden Point, Guentzel and Gage Goncalves, going a perfect 4-for-4 in the first shootout of his career, which came in his 83rd NHL appearance. Annunen made 22 saves in regulation and overtime. Vasilevskiy made 29 saves. Filip Forsberg and Nick Perbix each had two assists for Nashville, and Forsberg recorded multiple points for a fourth straight game. Nashville scored three game-tying goals in one game for the first time since a 4-3 win at Utah on Dec. 29, 2025.

Kucherov finished with three assists for Tampa Bay, one day after a report that he has asked the Lightning to trade him. Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois said in a statement on Oct. 30 that the team has no intention of trading him. Stamkos, who won two Stanley Cups as Tampa Bay's captain before moving to Nashville, kept his focus on his own team. "It's a big win for our group," he said. "We're fighting for our lives here and in the mix of things early on in the season." Head coach Andrew Brunette said he asked Stamkos if he wanted the shootout chance against Vasilevskiy. Stamkos answered, "Yeah, I got it." Nashville closes its five-game homestand on Tuesday, Nov. 3, against the Carolina Hurricanes. Tampa Bay hosts the Detroit Red Wings the same night.