Bolts Down Preds as Part of Fast-Paced Training Camp Weekend
By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports
Ilya Mikheyev scored early, and Conor Geekie added the game-winning goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Nashville Predators, 2-1, Sunday night in a preseason matchup at Benchmark International Arena. The game capped a fast-paced opening weekend of training camp for the Bolts and featured a mix of team veterans and prospects looking to fill out the final roster.
Mikheyev wasted no time making an impact for Tampa Bay, scoring at the 1:33 mark of the first period off a tip-in on a John Carlson shot. The seven-year veteran signed a four-year deal with the Lightning over the summer after last playing for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Carlson, who also signed with the team in July as an unrestricted free agent from Anaheim, had an assist during 24 shifts and near 22 minutes of ice time. Filling the void left by now-Toronto Maple Leaf Darren Raddysh, Carlson had the most ice time of any Lightning player.
Nashville's Brady Martin snapped the game-tying shot past Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy at the 7:39 mark of the period, with assists by Reid Schaefer and Jack Achan.
Vasilevskiy held the Predators at bay for the rest of the game, stopping 12 of 13 shots. The game was likely the only appearance the star goalie will make before opening night on October 1st.
Geekie stole an errant Cole O'Hara pass in the slot at the 15:31 mark to score the game-winner. Lightning prospect and AHL phenom Sam O'Reilly earned the assist after pressuring O'Hara enough to force the turnover.
"I just saw the puck go out there," O'Reilly said. "Tried to go stick-on-puck. I got a stick on it, and thankfully Geeks (Geekie) was there and made no mistake."
"I thought everybody tried really hard. They tried to do what we asked them," Head Coach Jon Cooper said. "I didn't think we gave up a whole ton and we got to roll lines and we got to play and, then, there was special teams involved....I thought everything worked out well and, then, everybody got away from the game healthy, so it was a win all the way around."
Bolts' Fast-Paced Training Camp Continues
The fast pace of training camp continued over the weekend as 67 players vie for 23 spots on the Lightning roster for 2026-27. After taking Monday off, players resume Tuesday with sessions at the Lightning Training Facility in Brandon and an away game for some in Nashville, and Cooper acknowledged Sunday that it's time to whittle down the list.
"There's going to be situations where guys have to go back to their teams, especially the young kids," Cooper said Sunday morning. "We have to keep that in mind, too, because they have full seasons to play, so we will make sure to get a good enough look."
"So that will probably be determined today and tonight, and take it from there."
O'Reilly continues to impress during training camp and in Sunday night's action. Cooper said O'Reilly was "excellent all the way around" against Nashville. Along with having an assist on the game-winner, the Syracuse Crunch standout from Toronto played strong on the penalty kill and won six of eight faceoffs.
With the need to fill opening-night roster spots due to injuries to Yanni Gourde and Dominic James, O'Reilly is positioning himself to wear Bolts blue next week.
Three Stars of the Game
Conor Geekie, Tampa Bay. Found a loose puck in the slot and nailed the game-winner.
Ilya Mikheyev, Tampa Bay. The new addition from Chicago wasted no time getting on the scoresheet with an early goal.
Sam O'Reilly, Tampa Bay. A forecheck leads to a Nashville turnover deep and gives Geekie the winning shot.
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