The forward scored two goals in 82 games last season with Tampa Bay.
Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel each had a goal and an assist for the Lightning (4-4-2), who have won three consecutive games. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 18 saves.
Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist for the Predators (4-5-2), who are 2-5-1 in their past eight games. Juuse Saros made 25 saves.
Girgensons gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 10:31 of the first period on a one-timer from the slot on a one-handed pass from behind the net by Pontus Holmberg.
Hagel gave the Lightning a 2-0 lead at 15:37 of the second period on a rebound in the crease after a shot from Anthony Cirelli eight seconds after their power play had expired. It was Cirelli’s 300th NHL point.
Evangelista scored for the Predators to make it 2-1 at 5:05 of the third period on a rebound of a shot from Erik Haula on the power play.
Charle-Edouard D’Astous gave the Lightning a 3-1 lead at 7:58 of the third period on a 3-on-2 rush. He received a pass from Brayden Point and beat Saros with a wrist shot from the slot. It was his first NHL goal in his third game.
Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators to make it 3-2 at 17:54 of the third period on a rebound of a one-timer by Evangelista with Saros pulled for an extra attacker.
Kucherov scored an empty-net goal to make it 4-2 at 19:07 of the third period. Girgensons added a goal at 19:33 of the third period on a rebound for the 5-2 final.
Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby left the game in the second period because of a lower-body injury.