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
Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Trent Frederic, C Out Mar 28
Leon Draisaitl, C Injured Reserve Mar 19
Colton Dach, C Injured Reserve Mar 13
Mattias Janmark, C Injured Reserve Mar 6
Curtis Lazar, C Injured Reserve Mar 4

Game Information

Bridgestone Arena

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

2025-26 Pacific Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Anaheim 41 27 86 4
Edmonton 36 28 81 9
Vegas 32 26 79 15
Los Angeles 29 25 76 18
Seattle 32 29 74 10
San Jose 32 31 71 7
Calgary 30 34 68 8
Vancouver 21 42 50 8

2025-26 Central Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Colorado 48 13 106 10
Dallas 43 18 97 11
Minnesota 41 20 94 12
Utah 37 30 80 6
Nashville 34 29 77 9
Winnipeg 30 30 72 12
St. Louis 30 30 71 11
Chicago 27 33 67 13
Full Standings