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Edmonton Oilers Rise to Victory, Predators Continue to Struggle

Edmonton Oilers found their saviour in Brett Kulak, who netted the puck twice, and Connor McDavid, who marked his first goal of the season, leading the Oilers to a 4-2 triumph over the floundering Nashville Predators on Thursday evening. Jeff Skinner found the net too, while Calvin Pickard stood like a wall with 25 saves for the Oilers, the reigning Western Conference champions. After an initial three-game slump, the Oilers are now on a winning streak.

On the other side, Nashville (0-4) saw Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault score, while Juuse Saros stood between the pipes, deflecting 32 shots. Forsberg’s goal, halfway through the first period, gave the Predators their season’s first lead. However, this brief joy was eclipsed within six minutes as Kulak evened the score. Kulak’s second goal, an empty-netter in the closing minute, marked the defenseman’s first ever two-goal game.

Key Insights from the Game: Oilers and Predators

Oilers: Power Play Needs Revival

Despite the victory, the Oilers’ formidable power play appears to be in a rut. After a 0 for 4 performance on Thursday, the Oilers’ power play statistics stand at a dismal 1 for 13. McDavid, who was the league’s top assist provider with 100 assists and scored 32 goals last season, and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, is yet to find his groove this season, even though the Oilers fell short in the Stanley Cup Final against Florida.

Predators: A Rocky Start

The Predators are experiencing a season-opening wobble for the first time since the 2002-03 season, starting 0-4. This was far from the anticipated start after their hefty offseason investment, including the addition of Marchessault, who scored his first goal wearing the Predator’s jersey, Steven Stamkos, and Brady Skjei.

Decisive Moment and Stat of the Game

The game’s pivotal moment arrived just 44 seconds after Nashville leveled the score at 2-2 towards the end of the second period. McDavid, capitalizing on a loose puck in the low slot, fired a wrist shot past Saros.

The standout stat of the match was Leon Draisaitl’s assist, which tallied his career points against the Predators to 43 (25 goals, 18 assists) in 27 games.

What’s Next?

The Oilers will face off against Dallas on Saturday in a replay of last season’s Western Conference final, while the Predators will welcome Detroit on home ice.