The fifth-ranked Lightning visit a Nashville team searching for a response after consecutive losses.
Tampa Bay brings an 8-3-1 record, 17 points and the No. 5 power-index ranking to Bridgestone Arena; Nashville is 4-4-5 with 13 points and ranks 21st. The Predators have lost four of their last five and are on a two-game skid, while the Lightning have won three of their last five. Nashville’s Juuse Saros has a .906 save percentage, and the challenge in front of him is a Tampa attack led by Brandon Hagel’s 16 points and Nikita Kucherov’s 15. The key is whether Nashville can slow those playmakers and generate enough offense of its own, with Roman Josi and Steven Stamkos tied for the Predators’ scoring lead at 15 points apiece.