Lightning fall to Predators as Steven Stamkos scores shootout winner

Eduardo A. Encina, Tampa Bay Times on Oct 31, 2026

Published in Hockey

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Lightning aren’t usually hockey’s biggest headline in late October, but when the reigning Hart Trophy winner requests a trade you’re suddenly at the center of it all.

Still, the team was focused on the ice during Saturday’s Halloween matinee at Bridgestone Arena. Less than 24 hours earlier, Nikita Kucherov told the team he was requesting a trade and general manager Julien BriseBois doubled down to say he had no intention of dealing his star right wing.

Kucherov assisted on the Lightning’s first three goals to give Tampa Bay a second-period lead, but Steven Stamkos scored in the third to force overtime before netting the only goal in the shootout, lifting the Predators to a 5-4 win.

Conor Geekie scored a go-ahead goal, his third in as many games, to give the Lightning a 4-3 lead at 3:31 of the third period. But former Lightning star Stamkos tied the game on the power play, putting in his own rebound.

Lightning defenseman John Carlson scored Tampa Bay’s first goal on a wrister from the right point that went off a Nashville stick in front and into the net. Another Carlson attempt from long distance was tipped in by Jake Guentzel 18 seconds into the second period.

But Nashville scored on the next shift as Adam Edstrom blocked Anthony Cirelli’s shot attempt, creating a 2-on-1 rush the other way that was finished by Edstrom.

Kucherov then found Victor Hedman trailing through the middle, threading a pass from the right corner to the defenseman between the circles for Hedman’s third goal of the season.

Jayden Struble’s equalizer with 18 seconds left in the second period tied the game going into the third.