Stamkos scores in regulation and only goal in shootout to lead Predators over Lightning 5-4

Steven Stamkos scored the tying goal in regulation and the only goal of the shootout on Saturday, lifting the Nashville Predators to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Bridgestone Arena.

Reid Schaefer, Adam Edstrom and Jayden Struble also scored for Nashville, while goaltender Justus Annunen made 22 saves through regulation and overtime. Filip Forsberg and Nick Perbix each contributed a pair of assists for the Predators, who entered the matchup having lost two straight games and struggled early in extra time this season.

The win marked Nashville’s first victory in six games that extended past regulation during the 2026 campaign. For the Lightning, the loss continues a rough patch in which they have dropped three of their last four contests.

Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov recorded three assists just one day after reportedly asking to be traded. John Carlson chipped in a goal and an assist, while Jake Guentzel, Victor Hedman and Conor Geekie also scored for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 29 shots in the loss.

Milestones and Momentum Shifts

The game turned on special teams in the third period. Stamkos, the former longtime Tampa Bay captain, beat Vasilevskiy with a power-play goal at 7:27 of the final frame to knot the score at 4-4.

Steven Stamkos scored the tying goal in regulation and the only goal of the shootout to lead the Nashville Predators to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.https://t.co/v1qjcLWFr8 pic.twitter.com/tyNgh0Voql

— https://x.com/WFLA/status/2116655823141134653

That power-play marker was the 246th of Stamkos’ career, pulling him even with Phil Esposito for sixth place on the NHL’s all-time list for power-play goals.

The scoring opened earlier in the evening when Schaefer notched his first goal of the season. At 11:14 of the first period, Schaefer skated into the Tampa Bay zone on the right side during a two-on-one break alongside Jonathan Marchessault, ripping a wrist shot past Vasilevskiy’s far side.

Carlson answered for the Lightning at 13:38 of the opening frame, sending a slap shot from the right side that deflected off Edstrom’s stick and past Annunen.

The second period brought immediate offense. Guentzel found the back of the net just 18 seconds after the opening faceoff to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 advantage. That lead vanished shortly after when Edstrom answered at 45 seconds of the second to pull the Predators back even.