Lightning sweep back-to-back, top Steven Stamkos' Predators

Eduardo A. Encina, Tampa Bay Times on Mar 29, 2026

Published in Hockey

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There are very few days off down the stretch in this season’s condensed schedule, and the Lightning are consistently finding themselves playing three games in four days.

With nine games left in the regular season, the Lightning are still searching for 60 minutes of consistent hockey. But they’ve been able to compile points regularly in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race.

It was far from pretty, but the Lightning swept their home weekend back-to-back while extending their point streak to eight games with a 3-2 win over the Predators at Benchmark International Arena on Sunday. They are 6-0-2 over the stretch.

Corey Perry scored the game-winner at the 6:52 mark of the third, putting in a puck that Jake Guentzel tipped in from the crease between Predators goaltender Justus Annunen’s legs and to the back post. It was Perry’s 15th goal of the season and his fourth in 13 games since he was acquired at the deadline from Los Angeles.

Backup goaltender Jonas Johansson, making just his second start in three weeks, stopped 29 of 31 shots.

The Lightning didn’t fall behind by two goals as they had in their previous four games, but they didn’t have much going early offensively. They didn’t record their first shot on goal until 17 minutes into the game, and it was their only shot of the first period, setting a net season low for shots in a period.

Former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos was back in town for his second game in Tampa since departing for Nashville, and former Tampa Bay defenseman Nick Perbix, who left for Nashville this summer in free agency, received a tribute video and warm reception from the home crowd.

After a scoreless first period, the Lightning fell behind 1-0 8:31 into the second when the puck crossed the goal line after defenseman Erik Cernak pushed Predators forward Joakim Kemell into the net from behind, taking Johansson with him into the back of the net. Initially it was called a penalty on Cernak, but after review, Kemell was awarded a goal.

The Lightning tied the score on a fortunate bounce when Darren Raddysh’s slap shot from the point hit off Predators defenseman Roman Josi’s glove and to Guentzel’s stick along the left post in front of an open net.

Brandon Hagel — who earlier in the game, saw his wrister go off the right post and across the crease, hitting off the left post before harmlessly bouncing out — scored at 4:33 in the third period to give the Lightning their first lead of the game.

Just 20 seconds later, Nashville tied it when Fedor Svechkov’s puck on net from the left point was redirected by Filip Forsberg’s stick and off Charle-Edouard D’Astous’ skate and into the net.

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