It’s an opportunity for redemption for the Nashville Predators as they get another chance to earn a statement win this season against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Predators are without Ryan Johansen due to an upper-body injury, so that has shuffled the lines up. Here’s a look at the lineup from the team’s website based off practice rushes.
Four of the five wins so far this season for the Predators have come at Bridgestone Arena. They’re back tonight, and we’ll be following the action live.
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1st Period
We are underway from Bridgestone Arena between the Predators and Lightning. Predators are debuting their Reverse Retro jerseys!
Mathieu Olivier drops the gloves just two minutes into the game and gets the better of Luke Schenn! That’s one way to fire up your team.
Tampa Bay just got some good looks in the Nashville zone, but they come up empty. Pekka Rinne with a couple good saves.
An odd angle shot from Tampa Bay ends up getting past Rinne. 1-0 Lightning.
Predators having a hard time finding any high quality shots on goal. A recurring theme for this season.
Calle Jarnkrok takes the tripping penalty. First special teams scenario of the night. 1-0 Lightning with under 5 minutes left in the 1st period.
Rinne had to stand tall there to keep it a one-goal deficit. He even got a stop on Steven Stamkos late in the period. Predators only trail by one goal, but their offensive attack is basically non-existent.
2nd period
Rinne opens the period with a huge save after a Nashville turnover. The score is still luckily 1-0 Lightning. Could easily be a two or three-goal lead by now.
Predators finally getting a power play chance. Maybe this will wake up the offense and generate some momentum. There’s not been much to speak of so far tonight.
Power play ends. Nothing much to speak of other than one decent look from Nick Cousins. This power play is so predictable, and Tampa Bay is reading it easily.
Predators are battling defensively. Blocking some big shots and getting into passing lanes. Mark Borowiecki and Mathieu Olivier with two huge blocks in that last sequence.
Just another case of Tampa Bay finding the loose pucks. Pekka Rinne just got done making a tough save on the TB power play, but he can only do so much. Predators are just so limited against elite team like the Lightning. 2-0 lead now in the last few minutes of the 2nd period.
Stamkos and Cousins scrap and it leads to a Predators power play. They have to get one back here. A two-goal deficit feels like they’re down five.
You’re hearing the boo birds now at Bridgestone Arena. Predators power play cut short after they nearly scored a goal. Officiating hasn’t been consistent, and the Predators can’t find any offensive rhythm.
3rd period
Period opens with the Predators killing off the remainder of the Tampa Bay penalty. Defense continues to stand tall and keep this within reach, but there’s just no quality scoring chances from Nashville.
With under 15 minutes left in regulation, the Predators have managed just 13 shots on goal. And I wouldn’t call them of the high quality. They would make any backup NHL goaltender look good tonight.
Predators are getting a power play. There’s time left, but the way things are going it just feels insurmountable. Let’s see what happens here.
Eeli Tolvanen and Roman Josi had strong looks on that power play, but they come up empty and it’s still a 2-0 deficit for the Predators. Probably their best chances of the night.
Tolvanen’s presence on the power play makes a big impact and Dante Fabbro eventually slaps it home! Predators down 2-1 with just over six minutes remaining.
With all of the key players missing tonight for the Predators, you can call this a “moral victory” win or lose. Moral victories don’t get you points in the standings, but this team has shown some fight in a game that they’re drastically outmatched on paper.