Nikita Kucherov scored the first goal of the 2023-24 NHL season, while teammate Nicolaus Paul added a pair as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 5-3 on the first night of the 107th season for the NHL.
Kucherov blasted a one-timer past Nashville goalie Juuse Saros to make it 1-0 Tampa just before the halfway point of the opening period. It was the only goal by either side in the first 20 minutes. Heading to the 2nd period, the Predators would tie it from veteran Ryan O'Reilly at 16:15, also marking the 2nd consecutive period in this game that 1 team scored. The 3rd period was a total goalfest, starting off with the Preds' Juuso Parssinen just 11 seconds in to make it 2-1 Nashville before Nicholas Paul scored his first of 2 goals on the night on the power play at 2:25. Not too long after, Tampa took a 3-2 lead via a rare penalty shot goal by Brandel Hagel at 3:07. Nashville responded at the 8:48 mark with a PPG of their own from center Tommy Novak. Paul added his 2nd of the game after this at 10:52, and then Kucherov slam dunked an empty netter with 2 seconds left in regulation for the final goal of the evening.
Nashville's next game on the schedule is their home season opener against the Seattle Kraken, October 12 at 8 p.m. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, heads to Detroit to clash with the Detroit Red Wings on October 14, with a 7 p.m. puck drop.
Team Stats:
Shots: NSH 31, TB 34
Hits: NSH 18, TB 18
Faceoff Wins: NSH 26, TB 34
PIM: NSH 5, TB 4
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