Lightning's Nick Paul: Deposits goal in Game 5 loss
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Paul scored a goal on five shots and added two hits in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Panthers in Game 5.
Paul put up two goals over the last three games, but his tally Wednesday wasn't enough to help extend the Lightning's season. The 30-year-old forward added 12 shots on net, 18 hits and a minus-4 rating over five playoff contests. He's signed for four more years at an affordable $3.15 million cap hit. Expect Paul to continue in his usual middle-six role in 2025-26 after a strong 41-point effort over 76 regular-season games in 2024-25.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Fires winner in Game 3
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Paul scored a goal in Saturday's 5-1 win over Florida in Game 3.
Paul fired a wrist shot from the right circle, and it clipped the inside of Sergei Bobrovsky's skate and in for the game-winner. It was a bit of a weak goal, but it gave the Bolts a lead for the first time in the series. It was Paul's first point this postseason and his 13th in 37 playoff outings. However, he has contributed in other ways, earning 14 hits and winning 62.1 percent of his faceoffs.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Registers helper in win
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Paul logged an assist and three shots on goal in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Sabres.
Paul ended a five-game point drought with the helper on a Conor Geekie tally in the second period. The versatile Paul could be leaned on in more of a defensive role leading up to and early in the playoffs, as the Lightning are missing shutdown center Luke Glendening (upper body) and two-way winger Oliver Bjorkstrand (lower body). Paul is at 41 points, 138 shots on net, 64 hits, 31 blocked shots and a plus-14 rating over 74 appearances and can fill a variety of roles, primarily as a middle-six option.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Second straight 40-point season
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Paul scored a goal Tuesday in a 4-1 win over the Islanders.
It was his 22nd goal and 40th point of the season. Paul has put up 40 points in two consecutive campaigns in Tampa Bay. This season, he's done it with just five power-play points; in 2023-24, he put up 14. Paul has just 62 hits in 68 games, a drop from three-straight 100-plus seasons, but he still offers a touch of secondary scoring, and his 357 face-off wins (50.0 percent) can help.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Spoils shutout bid
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Paul scored a goal on four shots and added two hits in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Golden Knights.
Paul got the Lightning on the board late in the second period, ending a shutout bid for Ilya Samsonov. This hasn't been Paul's strongest month, but he's managed three goals and three assists over 12 outings in March. All of that production has come with a shrinking role on the second power-play unit. The 30-year-old has been decent this year with 38 points, 119 shots on net, 58 hits and a plus-9 rating over 64 appearances. He's running out of time to challenge his career-best 46 points from the 2023-24 regular season, but a return to the 40-point mark is still within reach.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Two-point night in win
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Paul had a goal and an assist in a 6-2 win over Boston on Saturday.
Paul's goal was his 20th. He got off to a torrid start with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his first 12 games, but his pace has slowed dramatically. Paul went into a deep offensive funk after that with just 26 points in his past 48 appearances, including nine in his last 13. He's never been known for his offense -- his best season came last year with 24 goals and 46 points (153 shots) -- and he's really cut back on his secondary stats (53 hits in 60 games). Paul may help you if he warms up again, but you may want to let someone take on his mid performance.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: First two-point game since January
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Paul scored a goal and added an assist in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Sabres.
It was a dirty goal -- Paul's first-period centering pass attempt deflected off Connor Clifton's skate and past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. It was Paul's first multi-point game since Jan. 20. He has 19 goals, 16 assists and 99 shots over 56 games this season.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: First assist in 17 games
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Paul picked an apple in Saturday's 3-1 win over Washington.
It was Paul's first assist since Jan. 14, a span of 17 games (seven goals). He started the season strong with nine points (three goals, six assists) in his first nine games and 14 in his first 18 outings. Those are incredible numbers for a guy whose best season was 46 points (2023-24). However, Paul's pace has slowed significantly since then -- he has just 19 points in his past 35 games. He does have five points (four goals, one helper) in his last six appearances, but Paul is better left on your wire. This run will get cold fast.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Tallies goal in third straight
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Paul scored an empty-net goal and added two hits in Sunday's 4-1 win against Seattle.
Paul's empty-netter helped seal the win for Tampa Bay with just under two minutes left to play. With the goal, Paul has scored in his previous three games dating back to Feb. 8 before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Overall, Paul is up to 17 goals, 31 points and 92 shots on net in 50 appearances this year. Tampa's third-line center has eight goals since the start of 2025 but only three assists in 22 outings in that span. While better options are likely on the waiver wire in fantasy, he is close to the pace needed to set a career high in points, which he established with 46 points over 82 contests in 2023-24. If he can become a more consistent playmaker, he could have increased value in deeper leagues.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Goals in consecutive contests
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Paul scored a goal in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Canadiens.
Paul opened the scoring at 6:56 of the first period on a feed from Brandon Hagel. The 29-year-old Paul has goals in back-to-back outings after snapping a six-game slump. He's enjoyed a productive campaign with 30 points (16 goals, 14 helpers), 91 shots on net, 49 hits and a plus-5 rating through 49 appearances in a middle-six role.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Sets stage for comeback
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Paul scored a goal on three shots in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks.
Paul tallied late in the second period to bring the Lightning within a goal. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a strong January with five goals and three assists over 13 contests in a middle-six role. He's up to 14 tallies, 28 points, 76 shots on net, 37 hits, 20 PIM and a plus-1 rating over 41 appearances. He's playing less of a physical game than in years past, but he's also found a little more offense.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Seven points in last eight games
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Paul scored twice in a 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs on Monday.
Paul's last multi-point game was over a month ago on Dec. 17 when he put up three points, but that's not really what you expect from him. He has seven points (four goals, including two on the power play, and three assists) in his last eight games and 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 39 games. That puts Paul on a 52-point pace, and that would be a career high. It's come at the expense of some physicality -- Paul has just 35 hits after putting up three consecutive seasons with at least 104. That doesn't affect all managers, but it's clear his game has evolved. Paul can help in deep formats.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Fills empty cage
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Paul scored an empty-net goal and added three hits in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Penguins.
Paul has two goals and two assists during a four-game point streak, which he kept alive with a goal in the final minute of this contest. The 29-year-old forward was up on the second line as a winger Sunday since Conor Geekie was a healthy scratch. Paul has most often played as a third-line center, racking up 11 goals, 13 helpers, 59 shots on net, 31 hits, 20 PIM and a plus-1 rating over 35 appearances this season, giving him some value in deeper fantasy formats.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Tallies in Saturday's win
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Paul scored a goal on two shots in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Rangers.
Paul put away an unassisted insurance tally at 14:12 of the third period. The 29-year-old forward has warmed up again with three goals and three assists over his last five outings, a run reminiscent of his play in October. He's now at nine goals, 20 points, 44 shots on net, 23 hits, 18 PIM and a plus-5 rating through 27 contests overall.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Three-point outburst
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Paul had a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over Columbus on Tuesday.
It was a big night for Paul, who started the season with an outstanding October (nine points in 10 games) but had struggled to rebound after missing time with an injury. This game snapped a four-game scoreless streak. Paul is a decent mid-level fantasy contributor in deep formats, that is if this game signals a return to his potential. He won't often put up big games, but he can deliver secondary scoring.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Tallies in return
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Paul scored a goal on five shots, blocked two shots and added two PIM in Thursday's 8-1 win over the Sharks.
Paul returned from a six-game absence due to an undisclosed injury, and he logged 19:07 in the blowout win, which suggests he'll have no limitations moving forward. The 29-year-old has been effective for the Lightning in a middle-six role this season. He's at six goals, 14 points, 30 shots on net, 20 hits and a plus-3 rating through 18 appearances.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Set to return Thursday
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Paul (undisclosed) will be available for Thursday's home game against the Sharks, Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun reports.
Paul missed the Lightning's last six games due to an undisclosed injury, but head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that the 29-year-old will be back in action against San Jose. Paul got off to a hot start this season, tallying five goals, 13 points and 19 hits while averaging 16:24 of ice time over his first 17 appearances.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Leaves Tuesday's game
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Paul left Tuesday's game versus the Penguins with an undisclosed injury, and there wasn't an update on his status, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Paul will be evaluated further Wednesday. The 29-year-old left midway through Tuesday's contest, logging 10:38 of ice time with three shots on goal and one hit. If Paul can't play Thursday against the Blue Jackets, Cam Atkinson or Nick Perbix could enter the lineup.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Puts up helper
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Paul notched an assist, three shots on goal and two hits in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Jets.
Paul was held off the scoresheet in back-to-back games prior to Thursday, the first time that's happened to him all season. The 29-year-old isn't a flashy scorer, but he has been consistent while seeing second-line minutes. He's up to four goals, eight helpers, 21 shots on net, 17 hits and an even plus-minus rating over 15 contests in 2024-25.
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Lightning's Nick Paul: Scores late in loss
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Paul scored a goal and went minus-2 in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Lightning.
Paul's six-game point streak ended Wednesday in Colorado, but he's still been a pleasant surprise in a middle-six role this season. The 29-year-old's goal Friday cut the Wild's lead to 4-3 late in the third period, but the Lightning were unable to tie the game. He has produced four goals, six assists, 17 shots on net, 11 hits and a plus-3 rating through 11 appearances this year. Paul is an effective secondary scorer who can chip in shots and hits, but he's unlikely to be consistent on offense throughout the full campaign.
