Nashville outshoots Tampa 37-27, falls in overtime 3-2
By Anthony Pellegrino @Pellegrinoap50 IceInsider.com Predators All Access Reporter
BOSTON--He'll go down as a member of the Tampa Bay Lighting, once he hangs up the skates. Much like Patrick Kane to Detroit/New York, Kane will return home to Chicago once retired. Even Tom Brady to Tampa Bay, technically known as a Patriot for life.
Steven Stamkos is becoming a Nashville Predator during the tail end of his career. Even still, his goal remains the same: to win another Stanley Cup for the new team, and the new city.
Although his attention is now focused on Nashville, last night marked the first official time Stamkos returned to Amalie Arena, in front of the fans he played for during his sixteen seasons with the Lightning.
Stamkos won two Stanley Cups and became Tampa's franchise leader in games played (1,082), goals (555) and points (1,137). Aditionally during his tenure with Tampa, Stamkos won two Stanley Cups (2020-21), two Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies (2009-10 and 2011-12), and the Mark Messier Leadership Award (2022-23).
He recorded two assists in his return to Tampa, which doubled as his first two with Nashville.
"Pretty weird night, it's emotional"...He said following the 3-2 loss to Tampa. "It's weird, you come into the game, go out to dinner before the game with (the guys), and on the ice you're both trying to win."
He matured off the ice, into adulthood in Tampa Bay. His kids Carter and Chase were born there, he was married there.
"To see where it all began as an 18-year-old kid, right here where I grew up from a boy to a man...We wanted to come here and get a win for our team, but we'll take the point."
From Chicago on Friday, back to Nashville on Saturday to face Columbus, Sunday spent traveling to Tampa for Monday evening against Tampa.
It was evident, especially during the first period against Tampa, that Nashville had been playing just about every other day since the beginning the season. The team looked unnecessarily flat-footed as Tampa controlled about 75% of the offensive zone, leading shot attempts 21-9.
As the first media timeout started, everyone at Amalie Arena turned their heads towards the video screen as a tribute was played for Stamkos. While he held his emotions together, he later expressed it wasn't the easiest to do so.
"I thought I could feel some tears coming so I decided to get back to the bench." He said.
Juuse Saros became the story of the period, sprawling across his crease to keep Nashville in the game. Until Brayden Point split through Dante Fabbro and Roman Josi, opening up Saros laterally and scoring blocker side.
With less than a minute remaining in the period, third-liner Mitchell Chaffe caught Forsberg, Schenn, and Skjei on their heels as he emerged on a breakaway, which beat Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros's glove side, heading into the second.
Ten minutes into the second period on the power play, Ryan O'Reilly hustled to make his play, from an initial wide shot, he screened and found home the puck as it re-entered the slot to put Nashville within one. As the time ticked, Steven Stamkos set up Gustav Nyquist for a partial breakaway who beat Vasilevsky's blocker side, to tie the game into the final period.
A close period that certainly had chances for both teams, resulted in extra time, as the score remained 2-2 after 60. With two minutes remaining in overtime, the Predators failed to clear a puck out of their own zone, resulting in Jake Guentzel saucing a pass to Nicholas Paul who tapped the puck past Saros, to win the game.
Nashville knew they we're lucky to come out of the game with a point.
The Predators dominated the physical side of the game, as often have early on in the season. They lead the Lightening in hits, 31-13. Zachary L'Heureux led the team, with four hits. With an assist, the newcomer recorded his first career NHL point against Columbus.
Tomorrow night Nashville welcomes in Edmonton, to begin a three-game homestand. The Oilers arrive in the absence of Connor McDavid.
Single-game tickets for the Predators 2024-25 home games at Bridgestone Arena, are now available at Ticketmaster.com.
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