nashville predators fell 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa on Sunday, a defeat sealed when Corey Perry broke a third-period tie with the winner at 6: 52 of the third period. The game, played at 5: 00 p. m. ET, featured Jake Guentzel’s goal and two assists that pushed the Lightning into first place in the Atlantic Division. The result leaves the nashville predators clinging to the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference amid a three-game skid.
Nashville Predators fall in Tampa
Jake Guentzel’s goal and two assists were the headline for the Lightning in a 3-2 victory that ended with Perry collecting his fourth goal since being acquired from Los Angeles at the trade deadline. Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, who improved to 6-0-2 in their past eight games. For the nashville predators, Joakim Kemell and Filip Forsberg found the net, but those efforts were not enough to halt the skid.
Game details and turning points
Perry’s winning goal came at 6: 52 of the third period after a pass from Emil Lilleberg was tipped by Guentzel and the rebound popped to Perry at the side of the net. Kemell opened the scoring for the nashville predators at 8: 31 of the second period in unconventional fashion when he had a half-step on Erik Cernak, received a pass from Forsberg and was pushed from behind by Cernak, with both player and puck carried into the net.
Guentzel pulled the Lightning even at 13: 32 of the second when a Darren Raddysh shot hit the glove of Roman Josi and came to Guentzel at the left circle with an open net. Hagel put Tampa Bay ahead at 4: 33 of the second, and the nashville predators answered 20 seconds later on a tip from Forsberg that deflected off Yanni Gourde and then in off the skate of Charle-Edouard D’Astous. Goaltender Justus Annunen finished with 25 saves for the Predators.
Standings implications and what’s next
The nashville predators (34-30-9) hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference and sit one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for that position. Despite three consecutive losses, the Predators remain inside the wild-card picture, while the Lightning leapfrogged into first place in the Atlantic Division with the victory.
Looking ahead, the nashville predators travel to face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday; Tampa Bay is scheduled to host the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. With 19 days left in the regular season, each game will carry heightened significance for playoff seeding and the wild-card race, and the nashville predators will head west trying to halt their slide and protect their playoff foothold.
Key facts timestamped: game played at 5: 00 p. m. ET; Perry scored the decisive goal at 6: 52 of the third period; Kemell’s goal came at 8: 31 of the second period; Guentzel tied the game at 13: 32 of the second. The nashville predators will aim to respond on the road in their next scheduled matchup.
