Despite strong showings from a pair of new faces in the Tampa Bay Lightning locker room and a 2-0 lead, the Bolts suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Nashville scored three unanswered goals, including the overtime winner from Felix Nilsson, to take the preseason win over the visiting Lightning at Bridgestone Arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot more good than bad from tonight,\u201d head coach Jon Cooper said of the game. \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate, you want to walk away from the game with the win, but I think it was a growing moment for a lot of the players.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeffrey Viel made a grand entrance in his Tampa Bay Lightning game jersey on Tuesday\u2014the forward, signed to a five-year contract in free agency this summer, scored a pair of goals to lead Tampa Bay in scoring and give the visitors a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n
The Lightning controlled play for much of the first period before Viel opened the scoring three minutes, 44 seconds into the middle frame. Linemate Zemgus Girgensons forced a turnover at the offensive blue line, where Viel corralled the puck before skating to the left hashmark and burying the 1-0 goal through goalie Justus Annunen\u2019s legpads.<\/p>\n
That line got the start on Tuesday, and the trio was effective on the forecheck for much of the night. The line has seen time together since training camp opened, with Tuesday\u2019s victory marking their first game action.<\/p>\n