{"id":529657,"date":"2026-03-29T17:43:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T17:43:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/529657\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T17:43:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T17:43:36","slug":"lightning-look-to-play-with-emotion-physicality-vs-predators-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/529657\/","title":{"rendered":"Lightning look to play with emotion, physicality vs. Predators – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charle-Edouard D\u2019Astous has a strong idea of what he and his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates need the rest of the season. <\/p>\n

The defenseman said using emotion and playing with more physicality are the answers for the Lightning, who will conclude a back-to-back set on Sunday with a game against the visiting Nashville Predators.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay (45-21-6, 96 points) overcame two quick goals to the surging Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon in a 4-2 victory. <\/p>\n

The win, however, largely was due to the play of D\u2019Astous and Emil Lilleberg, depth players on an injury-ravaged defensive corps.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust play with emotion, be physical. I think when we do those things (that) it\u2019s going our way and like we showed tonight,\u201d said D\u2019Astous, who collected one goal and one assist on Saturday. He has two and five, respectively, in his past eight outings. <\/p>\n

Tampa Bay\u2019s Brandon Hagel scored his 34th goal of the season, one off matching his career-high mark he set in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

Lilleberg provided the game-winning goal on a four-man rush for the Lightning, who are 5-0-2 in their last seven games and are in second place in the Atlantic Division.<\/p>\n

It was Lilleberg\u2019s first goal since Nov. 15 and third overall to help Tampa Bay improve to 12-1-1 in the front end of back-to-backs.<\/p>\n

However, the Lightning bring a 6-5-2 mark in the second half of that scenario into Sunday\u2019s game with the Predators (34-30-9, 77 points), who hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

At home Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville succumbed to a quick attack by the visitors in a 4-1 loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey outplayed us tonight,\u201d center Ryan O\u2019Reilly said after his team\u2019s second loss following five straight victories. \u201cAgainst their top line, we lost that matchup. We didn\u2019t do enough against them defensively. \u2026 It\u2019s disappointing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to shake this one off and get on to the next. It\u2019s kind of nice it\u2019s back-to-back. We have to shift the focus right now and start preparing for the Lightning. It\u2019s going to be a very tough test for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since Dec. 9, the Predators are 24-16-5 and are in the postseason hunt. <\/p>\n

Of course, any matchup between Tampa Bay and Nashville eventually leads to future Hall of Famer Steven Stamkos. <\/p>\n

During a spectacular 16-year career with the Lightning, the 36-year-old Stamkos produced 555 goals and 582 assists for a franchise-record 1,137 points \u2014 22 more than Nikita Kucherov, who was ill and missed Saturday\u2019s win. <\/p>\n

In his lone game in Tampa as a visitor on Oct. 28, 2024, Stamkos had two assists in the Predators\u2019 3-2 overtime loss.<\/p>\n

The only assist on the winning marker went to Jake Guentzel, whom the Lightning acquired for their top forward line to replace Stamkos. <\/p>\n

That move occurred after Tampa Bay declined to sign its captain, who won two Stanley Cups and two Maurice \u201cRocket\u201d Richard Trophies in 16 seasons.<\/p>\n

After a 27-goal first campaign in Nashville, Stamkos has 36 tallies in 73 games. <\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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