Lightning Prospects Fall to Nashville Prospects

By: Cristina Hauerstein

Tampa Bay Lightning prospects lose to the Nashville Predators prospects 5-2 during their first prospect game of the year in North Carolina. The teams started off strong making the game pretty even, but the Bolts quickly started taking penalties and the predators got opportunities, leading to Egor Afanasyev to score the first goal for the predators in the first period. Despite Nashville getting their first goal, and Lucas Edmonds takinfg that first penalty, the Lightning were able to keep control of the puck and get a few shots in despite, the Predators goalie Yaroslav Askarov stopping them from going through.

Second period started off strong for Nashville, putting in an early goal by Marc Del Gaizo. The Lightning was able to keep up their speed after that and phiscality started to increase between both teams and a few fights broke out in the second and third period of the game, and penalties were called for both teams. Jack Finley and Gabriel Fortier continued to show their worth this year during this game along with Gage Goncalves, keeping up the chemistry this prospect team has.

During the third period, the Bolts thankfully found themselves with a power play of 5-on-3 and gave Felix Robert the opportunity to score his first goal for the lightning tonight and he was able to bring the score to 2-1. Soon later after a fight between Declan Carlile and Cameron Hausinger the Predators were able to bring their score up to 3-1. Later on Nasvhille had 2 empty netter goals with a Fortier goal for Tampa in between those to goals.

Despite the devistating loss, the prospect Tampa team put up a fight and willl be back stronger Sunday against the Panthers at 1PM ET.

QUOTES FROM THE "Bolts drop Prospect Showcase opener to Nashville." BY CHRIS KRENN FROM THE PLAYERS

"It's always nice to score," said Robert . "Next game, we want to win...... Obviously, the first couple of games it's about getting the pace and getting the timing. It's good to be on the ice with all the rookies. It was a fun game." "I like the pace we're bringing." Robert added. "Everybody's good, so we've just got to find a way to score... the pace was there and we'll get our chances."

Jack Finley on his teammates: "Gage and Forts are both really good players," said Finley. "I know both of them really well. I spent a little bit of time in Syracuse during the COVID year and practiced with them lots and I've pplayed with them a bit... They're both really smart players. Forts can fly and Gage is a great playmaker, so I think all of our games complement each other really nice so it was fun."