Tampa Bay Lightning Fall to Nashville Predators in Overtime

Feb 10, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators center Craig Smith (15) attempts to score as Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) defends during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

James Neal scored the game-winner with 32.4 seconds left in overtime as the Nashville Predators held off the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 Tuesday night.

Neal took a pass from Roman Josi at centre ice and skated into the slot, held off Lightning (34-16-6) defenceman Victor Hedman and unleashed a wrist shot that went five-hole on Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The Lightning had erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to get the game to overtime.

Brett Connolly scored his 10th goal of the season 1:20 into the third as he tucked home Valtteri Filppula’s shot that had rebounded off the post.

Connolly became the 10th Tampa Bay player to score 10 or more goals this season, which is tops in the NHL.

The Bolts tied the game at the 7:50 mark as Nikita Kucherov batted a puck out of mid-air to score his 21st goal of the year.

Nashville (36-12-6) had opened a 2-0 lead thanks to second period goals from Seth Jones and Taylor Beck.

Pekka RInne made 30 saves for the Preds while Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots, including a fantastic pad save on Mike Ribeiro in the first period.

Both sides went 0-for-2 on the power play. Nikita Nesterov was scratched, while Cedric Paquette sat out due to an upper-body injury. He is considered day-to-day.

The Lightning return home Thursday to host the St. Louis Blues.