Predators Drop Three-Game Winning Streak in 5-2 Loss to Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning cooled off the Nashville Predators' hot streak with a 5-2 win Thursday at AMALIE Arena. The Preds, unable to extend their win streak to four games, fell to 0-1-1 in the season series against Tampa Bay.
The Lightning scored two goals in the first three minutes of the game, but the Preds dug themselves out of the early 2-0 hole and tied the score at 2-2 with goals from Mark Jankowski and Alexandre Carrier. However, Tampa Bay came roaring back with three more goals in the third period for the 5-2 final.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Shorty Snipe
With Jeremy Lauzon in the box for a tripping penalty, Jankowski got the Preds on the board with an unassisted shorthanded goal at 10:51 of the first period. After forcing a turnover by Steven Stamkos, Jankowski skated into the zone and fired the puck from the slot to cut Tampa Bay's lead in half and bring the Predators within one.

Jankowski's third goal of the season - and his first since Nov. 12 - was Nashville's first shorthanded tally of 2022-23. There are now three NHL teams remaining who have yet to score at 4-on-5 this season: Ottawa, Montreal and Anaheim. Tampa Bay was also without a shorthanded tally this season until Brandon Hagel's third-period game winner.
Atta Boy, Alex
Carrier scored his first goal of the 2022-23 season with impeccable timing, netting the equalizer at 12:36 of the second period. Assisted by Filip Forsberg and Nino Niederreiter, Carrier took a shot then collected his own rebound in the circle and fired it past Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott to tie the score at 2-2.

Welcome Back, Mac
Despite being placed on injured reserve with an upper body injury on Monday, defenseman Ryan McDonagh still made the trip to Tampa Bay for the matchup against his former team. McDonagh, who helped lead the Lightning to three finals and two Stanley Cups in his four years with Tampa Bay, was greeted by a standing ovation and thunderous applause from the crowd at Amalie Arena.

Additionally, McDonagh was presented with a signed proclamation from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declaring Dec. 8, 2022, "Ryan Patrick McDonagh Day" in recognition of his commitment and dedication to the City of Tampa and its citizens.

THEY SAID IT

Alexandre Carrier on scoring his first of the season with father Bernard in attendance:
"It was a great moment. I went back home this weekend for his father who passed away, so it was a special moment to have him here and then to be able to score the first one. It was great. Great for him to be here, but also all the dads. Couldn't get the win, but at least we got that."
Mark Jankowski on scoring with his father Len in attendance:
"It was pretty cool for that to happen. Obviously, if we got the win it would have been that much sweeter and would have been a much better plane ride home. But for him to be here, and for everyone here, just being able to have our dads here on the trip was awesome. And it's just too bad we couldn't get the win."
Alexandre Carrier on Nashville's overall effort:
"I think we should have been fresher than they were. It was a slow start and coming here we always know that they're going to be fast and start strong and they always do that playing in their building. So they caught us off guard. I think we adjusted in the second but we just had major breakdowns in the third and couldn't get the win."
Alexandre Carrier on improvements needed for Saturday against Ottawa:
"I think we've got to play faster, execute better with the puck coming out of our zone. I think the chances we created were because we made some tape to tape passes, we had some poise and we executed. We've got to do that more and be more consistent with that and we'll have the puck more and score more."
Head Coach John Hynes on Nashville's overall effort:
"The game was balanced at 2-2 and we gave up an odd-man rush and we turned the puck over. I think the attention to detail that we need to play with in a 2-2 game going into the third period [needs improvement]."

UP NEXT

The Preds will head home to host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports South, ESPN 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio.