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Edmonton Oilers 5, Nashville Predators 3: Saturday Afternoon Nap

Posted on by Chris Brooks

It appears the Edmonton Oilers had enough of their losing streak to the Nashville Predators.

Nashville had won 13 consecutive games against Edmonton—until Saturday, that is. The Oilers turned the tables on Juuse Saros and handed the Predators a 5-3 loss at Bridgestone Arena. March 18, 2014 was the last time Edmonton defeated Nashville.

Drake Caggiula opened the scoring for the Oilers (5-3-1), capping a sequence that began after Ryan Ellis caught an edge and fell at the end of the Predators’ first power play of the game.

Edmonton extended the lead in the second period after hemming the Predators (8-3) in their own end for seemingly all of the first four minutes. Leon Draisaitl did the damage on the power play.

Filip Forsberg converted on the power play late in the second period to get the Preds on the board. Seven seconds later, the Oilers took a 3-1 lead when Connor McDavid got behind the Nashville defense.

Draisaitl added his second goal early in the third period, only to be answered by Forsberg with his second of the game moments later.

With five minutes remaining, Peter Laviolette pulled Saros to begin a power play, and Forsberg responded by completing his hat trick.

McDavid missed an empty net, but Caggiula collected the rebound to put the game back in the freezer for the Oilers.

Random Observations

  • I like afternoon hockey. That is all.
  • Okay, that’s not all. I suppose I have to tell you more stuff. There is a blimp-like object flying around inside Bridgestone Arena, but it’s not in the shape of a blimp, so it’s not a blimp.
  • Don’t see a goaltender wearing No. 19 every day, but those are the digits Mikko Koskinen sports on his back for the Oilers. Oh, and it’s his first NHL start since 2011.
  • Crap. Tim Peel alert.
  • John Buccigross is in the house, folks.
  • Whatever the Oilers did to make Juuse Saros mad, they’d probably better stop if they expect to score.
  • Also—the fact that Saros has had to play out of his mind so far should be concerning.
  • That pass from Forsberg…man alive. Arvy just missed high.
  • Does Ryan Johansen have a wager with somebody on who can take more penalties this year? He’s been in the box almost every game it seems.
  • A few good shot attempts on that power play. Too bad Ryan Ellis blew a tire and it helped lead to the Oilers’ first goal against Saros.
  • “The Post” isn’t just a movie, it’s Kevin Fiala’s nemesis.
  • Forsberg dumps Nurse and draws a penalty in the same sequence. And probably smiled the entire time.
  • Another power play has come and gone with nary a goal to show for it.
  • That first period was more of an afternoon nap than an afternoon period of hockey.
  • Edmonton swarming early in the second…and it took the Preds more than 90 seconds to finally get out of their own end.
  • Adam Larsson gets a puck in the mouth and there’s…wait, Johansen’s getting a double-minor for high sticking. Maybe it was a stick. Who knows? This period is going well.
  • Forsberg and Bonino combine on a shorthanded chance and Bridgestone Arena comes alive.
  • Major kill of that double minor. Huge to still only be a 2-0 score at this juncture.
  • Eight shots on goal in the first 30 minutes? Yuck.
  • The Preds’ power play still isn’t anywhere near anything we could consider good.
  • Man, Mattias Ekholm can sure break up a 2-on-1.
  • The fact that I even have to type that, though, is…not good.
  • Now, for something different—a power play goal!
  • Also, for something different—letting McDavid get behind the defense right off the next faceoff. Literally seven seconds later.
  • On second look, Nick Bonino literally falls down after the faceoff. Make of that what you will.
  • Good shorthanded look by Forsberg early in the third.
  • So, how’s your Saturday going?
  • Joey with the dish, Fil with the finish. Where have we seen that before?
  • Josi was robbed by the post, which now owns two Nashville players, it seems.
  • Pulling Saros with five minutes to play on the power play? That’s a bold strategy, Cotton.
  • I’ll be damned if it didn’t work. All the hats, Fil./

Three Stars

  1. Forsberg. He’s in beast mode right now.
  2. Johansen. Ten assists so far this season.
  3. The sellout streak. That’s 115 sellouts in a row and even Saturday afternoons in SEC country don’t matter right now. Bridgestone Arena was stuffed to the gills.

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