Predators 5, Lightning 4 (SO)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- In an entertaining early-season game between two of the NHL's top teams, the Nashville Predators emerged from a shootout with the win.
Left winger Filip Forsberg scored the lone goal of the shootout Tuesday night, and goalie Pekka Rinne stoned all three Tampa Bay Lightning shooters for a 5-4 victory at Bridgestone Arena.
Tampa Bay right winger Erik Condra snapped a 3-3 tie at 5:24 of the third period, one-timing a pass from center Brian Boyle past Rinne for his second goal of the season.
However, Nashville left winger James Neal potted his fifth goal in three games -- and second of the night -- at 14:30 to erase the Lightning's third lead of the night. Neal one-timed a pass from Forsberg to tie the score.
Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop (4-2-1) made 29 saves in regulation and overtime, while Rinne (4-1-0) came up with 25 stops.
The Predators (5-1-0) upped their home record to 3-0-0, while the Lightning (4-2-1) dropped the opener of a four-game road trip through the Central Division.
Nashville scored the first goal for the sixth consecutive game when center Mike Fisher rammed home a rebound of his shot at 19:07 of the first period. It was Fisher's first goal, with defenseman Shea Weber and Neal drawing assists.
Tampa Bay equalized on the power play at 3:25 of the second period as center Steven Stamkos' one-timer from the left faceoff circle caromed off Rinne's left leg and trickled over the goal line for his fifth goal.
Right winger Nikita Kucherov gave the Lightning their first lead at 8:51 with his second goal. His wrister from the slot struck the skate of Predators center Paul Gaustad and landed just over the goal line for his second goal.
Weber tied it at 10:29 with his first goal, a slapper, but right winger Ryan Callahan restored Tampa Bay's one-goal lead with a slapper from the left point at 17:41.
However, Neal recorded his fourth goal at 18:55 with a wrister to even the score at 3.
NOTES: Tampa Bay D Victor Hedman (concussion) returned Tuesday night after missing Saturday night's 2-1 win over Buffalo. Hedman was injured in a 5-3 loss Thursday evening against Dallas. ... Nashville D Ryan Ellis (knee) and D Barret Jackman (upper-body) didn't play and were replaced by D Victor Bartley and D Anthony Bitetto. Jones was hit by a shot during Saturday night's 4-3 shootout win in Ottawa. ... Lightning RW Erik Condra was back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch Saturday night, with RW J.T. Brown being the odd man out. ... Predators LW Austin Watson was scratched and replaced by LW Viktor Arvidsson, who sat out the last three games as a healthy scratch.