Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist, and Justus Annunen made 25 saves for the Predators (34-31-9), who have lost three straight, including 4-1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
Nashville remained one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings and two points ahead of the Seattle Kraken for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Los Angeles has one game in hand and Seattle has two.
“We have to win, and it’s going to be tough going on the road in some buildings with teams that you’re fighting against,” Predators forward Steven Stamkos said. “We’re still in the mix, and that’s where you want to be at this time of the year. We’re going to have to find a way to get some wins and get some points. It’s got to come together pretty quick.”
After a scoreless first period, Joakim Kemell scored his first NHL goal to give Nashville a 1-0 lead at 8:31 of the second. Kemell was pushed from behind by Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak while skating in on a partial breakaway, resulting in both him and the puck going into the net.
The call was confirmed after a review.
“I was just so happy for him,” Predators forward Zachary L’Heureux said. “He’s a shooter, and he scores one off his skate while getting hooked. Really proud of him and it was a big goal at the time for us, too.”
Guentzel tied it at 1-1 at 13:32 after Darren Raddysh sent a shot to the net that Gage Goncalves tried to redirect. The puck instead ended up on Guentzel’s stick in the low slot, where he shot it past Annunen.
“For some reason we haven’t started on time for the last four or five (games),” Guentzel said. “But the push back and the belief in the group … we believe we’re never out of it, and that’s a good trait to have.”
Hagel gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead at 4:33 of the third period, taking a backhand pass from Guentzel and snapping a shot from the slot to the far post.
“We played a good team tonight, so it was a tight game,” Johansson said. “Both teams had their chances, but we managed to get some real pressure there in the third and got some pucks in. We’re just happy with the two points.”