NHL

Edmonton Oilers at Nashville Predators

· National Hockey League
Final
4 - 2

Kulak scores twice and McDavid gets first goal of season as Oilers beat Predators 4-2

Edmonton Oilers vs. Nashville Predators: Game Highlights

Jeff Skinner also scored and Calvin Pickard made 25 saves for the defending Western Conference champion Oilers, who have won consecutive games after beginning the season with a three-game skid.

Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault scored and Juuse Saros made 32 saves for Nashville (0-4).

Forsberg’s goal midway through the first period gave Nashville its first lead of the season. That lasted less than six minutes before Kulak tied it.

Kulak sealed it with an empty-netter in the final minute for the defenseman's first career two-goal game.

Takeaways Oilers: The potent Edmonton power play has yet to find its stride. After going 0 for 4 on Thursday, the Oilers are 1 for 13 with the man advantage. McDavid had 32 goals and a league-leading 100 assists last season and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP despite Edmonton losing the Stanley Cup Final to Florida.

Predators: Nashville is 0-4 for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The Predators hardly expected that start after spending big in the offseason, adding Marchessault — whose goal was his first as a Predator — along with Steven Stamkos and Brady Skjei.

Key moment Just 44 seconds after Nashville tied the game at 2-all late in the second period, McDavid picked up a puck in the low slot and lifted a wrist shot over Saros.

Key stat Leon Draisaitl had an assist, giving him 43 points (25 goals, 18 assists) in 27 career games against the Predators.

Up next The Oilers play at Dallas Saturday in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference final, while the Predators host Detroit Saturday.

Regular Season Series

EDM leads series 1-0

Scoring Summary

Goal 1st Period 11:46 Filip Forsberg Goal (2) Tip-In, assists: Roman Josi (2), Ryan O'Reilly (2)
Goal 1st Period 17:39 Brett Kulak Goal (1) Slap Shot, assists: Mattias Janmark (2)
Goal 2nd Period 10:50 Jeff Skinner Goal (2) Wrist Shot, assists: Darnell Nurse (2)
Goal 2nd Period 17:45 Jonathan Marchessault Goal (1) Tip-In, assists: Roman Josi (3), Juuse Saros (1)
Goal 2nd Period 18:29 Connor McDavid Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Mattias Ekholm (3), Leon Draisaitl (2)
Goal 3rd Period 19:24 Brett Kulak Goal (2) Wrist Shot, assists: none

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/edm.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originEDM https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/nsh.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originNSH
18 Blocked Shots 15
9 Hits 29
1 Takeaways 5
36 Shots 27
0 Power Play Goals 1
4 Power Play Opportunities 3
0.0 Power Play Percentage 33.3
0 Short Handed Goals 0
0 Shootout Goals 0
30 Faceoffs Won 36
45.5 Faceoff Win Percent 54.5
18 Giveaways 21
3 Total Penalties 5
11 Penalty Minutes 13

Game Information

Bridgestone Arena

Location: Nashville, TN
Attendance: 17,159 | Capacity:

2024-25 Pacific Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Vegas 29 14 61 3
Edmonton 29 14 61 3
Los Angeles 25 13 55 5
Calgary 22 16 51 7
Vancouver 20 15 50 10
Seattle 20 24 43 3
Anaheim 18 22 42 6
San Jose 14 28 34 6

2024-25 Central Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Winnipeg 31 13 65 3
Minnesota 27 15 58 4
Dallas 28 16 57 1
Colorado 28 18 57 1
St. Louis 22 21 48 4
Utah 19 19 45 7
Nashville 16 22 39 7
Chicago 15 28 33 3
Full Standings