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
Nashville Predators Nashville Predators Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Colton Sissons, C Out Apr 16
Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
John Klingberg, D Injured Reserve Apr 22
Troy Stecher, D Day-To-Day Apr 22
Evander Kane, LW Injured Reserve Apr 19
Mattias Ekholm, D Out Apr 14
Alec Regula, D Injured Reserve Dec 14

Game Information

Bridgestone Arena

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

2024-25 Pacific Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Vegas 50 22 110 10
Los Angeles 48 25 105 9
Edmonton 48 29 101 5
Calgary 41 27 96 14
Vancouver 38 30 90 14
Anaheim 35 37 80 10
Seattle 35 41 76 6
San Jose 20 50 52 12

2024-25 Central Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Winnipeg 56 22 116 4
Dallas 50 26 106 6
Colorado 49 29 102 4
Minnesota 45 30 97 7
St. Louis 44 30 96 8
Utah 38 31 89 13
Nashville 30 44 68 8
Chicago 25 46 61 11
Full Standings