Predators Edge Lightning 5-4 in Shootout
Steven Stamkos scored the decisive fourth-round shootout goal as Nashville rallied from multiple one-goal deficits.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Hockey
The Nashville Predators defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in a shootout in Nashville. Steven Stamkos scored the game-deciding goal in the fourth round after the teams traded leads throughout the contest.
Why it matters
The result extends Tampa Bay's recent pattern of surrendering leads, as the team has allowed opponents to fight back on the scoresheet over several games. Nashville's comeback highlights the value of sustained rush pressure in a close contest.
Vasilevskiy stopped 29 shots while Tampa Bay killed two of three Nashville power plays but failed on all three of its own. The extraction does not indicate whether the miscommunication Cooper described has been corrected.
The players
Steven Stamkos
Stamkos is a veteran Tampa Bay Lightning center and one of the franchise's most prolific goal scorers, who has long been a cornerstone of the team's offense.
Jon Cooper
Cooper is the longtime head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who guided the franchise to multiple Stanley Cup championships during his tenure.
The details
Nashville opened the scoring when Reid Schaefer beat Tampa Bay on a rush 11:14 into the game, and John Carlson tied it after a shot-pass deflection. The Lightning regained control in the second period with goals from Jake Guentzel, Victor Hedman and Jayden Struble, but Nashville answered each time, and Conor Geekie gave Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead in the third before Stamkos tied it on a power-play rebound.
Timeline
Saturday, October 31, 2026: Tampa Bay lost 5-4 in a shootout to Nashville.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7 p.m.: Tampa Bay hosts the Detroit Red Wings.
Season Trajectory
The loss comes after Tampa Bay's blown lead against Winnipeg, and it extends a stretch in which the team has repeatedly failed to hold advantages. Tampa Bay's 8-3-2 record leaves it competitive in the early season, but its ability to close out games will shape its standing in the Atlantic Division race.
Fantasy managers rostering Stamkos or Vasilevskiy should note Stamkos's game-winning shootout goal and Vasilevskiy's 29-save performance. Tampa Bay's penalty kill finished 2-for-3, a figure relevant to lineup decisions for its next home game against Detroit.
The takeaway
Tampa Bay's inability to hold leads is the central storyline to watch, and the team's next game against Detroit offers a chance to show it can protect a lead. Readers following the Lightning should track whether the miscommunication Cooper described is addressed before that matchup.
What happens next
Tampa Bay hosts the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Further reading
Find more coverage in the Hockey section of our Nashville sports coverage.
