Jake Guentzel's goal, 2 assists lead Lightning over Predators 3-2

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists while Corey Perry broke a third-period tie to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory against the Nashville Predators on Sunday to move into first place in the Atlantic Division.

Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, who improved to 6-0-2 in the past eight games. Guentzel has scored in four consecutive games.

Jonas Johansson finished with 29 saves.

Joakim Kemell and Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators who hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference despite three consecutive losses. Justus Annunen finished with 25 saves.

Perry scored the winning goal at 6:52 of the third period. A pass by Emil Lilleberg was tipped by Guentzel but the rebound popped right to Perry at the side of the net for his fourth goal since being acquired from Los Angeles at the trade deadline.

Kemell scored his first career goal in an unconventional manner as he had a half-step on Erik Cernak to take a pass from Filip Forsberg. But Cernak pushed Kemell from behind and knocked both Kemell and the puck into the net at 8:31 of the second period.

Guentzel pulled the Lightning even at 13:32 of the second period as a shot from Darren Raddysh hit the glove of Roman Josi and came to Guentzel at the left circle with an open net.

Hagel put the Lightning in front at 4:33 but the Predators answered 20 seconds later on a tip from Forsberg that deflected off Yanni Gourde and then in off the skate of Charle-Edouard D’Astous.

Nashville: At Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

Lightning: Host Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) races for the puck against Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) and defenseman Adam Wilsby (83) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Pontus Holmberg (29) and Nashville Predators center Tyson Jost (17) battle or the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) handles the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78), left wing Brandon Hagel (38) and right wing Corey Perry (10) celebrate Hagel's goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) scores on Nashville Predators goaltender Justus Annunen (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

CHICAGO (AP) — Nico Hoerner and the Chicago Cubs finalized their $141 million, six-year contract Sunday that establishes the Gold Glove second baseman as a franchise cornerstone going forward.

The team announced the move before its 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Hoerner could have become a free agent after this season, but instead chose to stay with the club that drafted him.

“It means the world,” said Hoerner, joined by his fiancée and family at a postgame news conference. “There’d be nothing more satisfying than winning a championship in the place you started."

The contract runs from 2027-32 and includes deferred money.

Hoerner's long-term deal comes days after All-Star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong agreed to a $115 million, six-year contract. The Cubs announced Crow-Armstrong’s deal after Thursday’s 10-4 loss to the Nationals on opening day.

The 28-year-old Hoerner was selected by the Cubs in the first round of the 2018 amateur draft out of Stanford. He is starting his last season under a $35 million, three-year contract that was finalized in March 2023.

“Our kind of player. Plays like a Cub; needs to be a Cub,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said, recalling the team's early scouting reports on Hoerner. “He’s so unbelievably consistent.

“Super-easy decision for us and we couldn’t be happier he’s going to be with us for a long time.”

Hoerner was a key performer last year as Chicago won 92 games and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020. He batted .297 with seven homers, 61 RBIs and 29 steals in a career-best 156 games. Hoerner also won his second Gold Glove.

He hit .419 (13 for 31) in the playoffs with a .424 on-base percentage and a .973 OPS.

“It’s a good group and I think we’re capable of so much more,” Hoerner said.

Hoerner made his major league debut in September 2019, hitting .282 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 20 games down the stretch. He had a breakout performance in 2022, when he batted .281 with 10 homers, 55 RBIs and 20 steals in 135 games.

Hoerner, who won his first Gold Glove in 2023, is a .282 hitter with 36 homers, 279 RBIs and 132 steals in 706 career games.

This story has been corrected to show the final score of Sunday's game was 6-3.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) prepares to field the ball during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Geoff Stellfox)

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) warms up before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Geoff Stellfox)

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) prepares to field the ball during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Geoff Stellfox)

Chicago Cubs Nico Hoerner (2) runs to first after hitting a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Geoff Stellfox)

Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner scores during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)