Paul, Kucherov each scores twice, Lightning defeat Predators in season opener

TAMPA -- Nicholas Paul and Nikita Kucherov each scored twice for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 5-3 season-opening win against the Nashville Predators at Amalie Arena on Tuesday.

Paul put the Lightning ahead 4-3 with a power-play goal at 10:52 of the third period when he stuffed in a rebound off a shot from Mikhail Sergachev.

“We have a lot of good players, I just try to get them the puck,” Paul said. “My job is to stand there, take the goalie away, find the trash in front and put it in.”

Brayden Point had three assists, and Jonas Johansson made 28 saves in his first game for the Lightning.

Johansson, who signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 average annual value) with Tampa Bay on July 1, was pressed into starting duty when Andrei Vasilevskiy had back surgery Sept. 28 that is expected to keep him out until early December.

"There's so much emotion that goes into the first game," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "I know there's 82 of them, but there's something special about the first one -- the home opener. The guys wanted to impress."

Ryan O'Reilly had a goal and an assist in his debut for the Predators, who were also playing their opener. Filip Forsberg had two assists, and Juuse Saros made 29 saves.

“I felt good about our game, but against this team you can’t get into penalty trouble,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “That’s where they gain all their momentum, their power play is elite. I’ve seen this record played too many times in this building with the penalties in the third period and changing the course of the game.”

Kucherov gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 9:48 of the first period.

O’Reilly tied it 1-1 at 16:15 of the second period when Forsberg used a toe drag to shake Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman and fed O’Reilly, who chipped the puck in from close range.

O’Reilly signed a four-year, $18 million contract ($4.5 million AAV) with Nashville on July 1.

“It wasn’t the start we wanted, but we just reset, moved our feet, won some battles and our game started to come,” O’Reilly said. “We had some chances for sure, but their power play beat our power play tonight. We did some good things and have some things we need to clean up.”

The Lightning were 2-for-5 on the power play; the Predators were 1-for-4.

Juuso Parssinen gave Nashville a 2-1 lead 11 seconds into the third period, using a slick move to score through the five-hole from in close.

“It was fun to be back out there,” Forsberg said. “It was pretty awesome, too bad we couldn’t get a win. They came out hard. We didn’t manage the puck well early. Second period was a lot better.”

Paul tied it 2-2 at 2:25 with a power-play goal during a scramble in front. Brandon Hagel gave the Lightning a 3-2 lead at 3:07 with a penalty shot after Predators defenseman Luke Schenn pulled him down and was called for holding.

“He’s a big body,” Point said of Paul (6-foot-3, 229 pounds). “All through camp and exhibition season he was great in that spot. Today was no different. He was using his body, getting those rebounds and putting them in.”

Tommy Novak tied it 3-3 at 8:48 with a snap shot from the left face-off circle to the short side.

After Paul put Tampa Bay in front, Kucherov scored into an empty net at 19:58 for the 5-3 final.

“We have a bunch of new guys out there, and I thought everybody contributed right down the line,” Cooper said. “Everybody had something to do with this win tonight. From the goalie on out. And if we’re going to have success on this team, it’s going to have to come from everybody.”

NOTES: Lightning forward Tyler Motte did not play in the third period because of an undisclosed injury. Cooper said he'd have an update Thursday. Motte played 7:55 in his Tampa Bay debut after signing a one-year, $800,000 contract on Sept. 9. … Lightning forward Steven Stamkos had an assist and went 12-for-17 on face-offs. … Predators center Cody Glass left the game after being hit in the top of the helmet by a one-timer from teammate Tyson Barrie in the second period but later returned to the bench. … Nashville defenseman Ryan McDonagh had an assist and two blocked shots in 20:48 of ice time in his first regular-season game here since being traded to the Predators from the Lightning on July 3, 2022. McDonagh played five seasons for the Lightning and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021. He was injured and unable to play when Nashville played at Tampa Bay last season, but did play a preseason game here Sept. 30.