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 Nashville, on the strength of two goals from center Craig Smith,
rolled into Rexall Place and snuffed out the Oilers' four-game
winning streak with a convincing 4-1 victory.
The revamped Predators, with defenseman Shea Weber on the point,
Pekka Rinne in net and some added scoring punch up front, proved a
much tougher test than anything else Edmonton saw through the first
five games of its seven-game homestand.
"We came in here and did a pretty good job," said Weber, whose
third-period goal put the game out of reach for good at 3-0. "That's
a hot team, they had won four in a row. We knew we had to be ready."
And they were. Smith scored the first and last goals of the game as
the Central Division-leading Predators improved to 6-1-2 on the
season.
"I think our line played well, and I think our unit was able to
create some turnovers and use our speed to make plays," said Smith,
sharing credit with his linemate, center Matt Cullen, who was in his
first game back from injured reserve. "I thought he was outstanding
tonight, moving his feet well, I didn't think he missed a stride.
"He seems to have a knack for finding my stick when I'm trying to
get open. I really like playing with him, and he's been good on our
line so far."
The Oilers, who were 14-14-4 against the East last season and
15-30-5 against the West, are now 4-0-0 against the East and 0-5-1
against the West this season.
It is a question they are tired of answering.
"Yeah, I know, you guys really want to make a story about that,"
left winger Taylor Hall said. "It's unfortunate we can't beat teams
in our own division because we get zero points, they get two and
they get a leg up on us.
"Tonight wasn't really an effort that deserved two points, but at
times during the game, it was there to be taken."
The Predators hit a goal post, had a good goal erased by a blown
call and outshot the Oilers 11-3 in the first period, but they still
had to settle for a scoreless tie at the first intermission.
Their hard work started to pay off in the second period. Nashville
grabbed a 2-0 lead on goals from Smith and left winger Taylor Beck
at 6:23 and 7:49, respectively.
"I thought we started the game strong and played a real good first
period," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "I really like the
way we came out and played. We were able to get a lead and then
build on that, and I think the goal to start the third was a real
positive for us."
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The Predators put the game away early in the third. Weber knocked a
slap shot behind Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens to make it 3-0 and
pretty much seal the victory 24 seconds after the second
intermission.
"If we get a goal there, it's completely different," Edmonton center
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. "We're the type of team now that if we get
that goal, we're right in that game. Obviously, it went the other
way and it's tough to come back against a team like that when it's
3-0."
The Oilers tried to make a fight of it, with Hall cutting the
deficit to 3-1 with his sixth goal in 10 games at 8:54, but
Nashville snuffed the comeback attempt when Smith converted a
two-on-one with eight minutes to play to close out the scoring.
The Oilers admitted the new-look Predators, more aggressive and
offensive than previous versions, caught them somewhat by surprise.
"Maybe even we were thinking too much about the previous Nashville
Predators teams," Edmonton left winger Jesse Joensuu said. "They're
a different team now. And they play really good."
NOTES: Matt Cullen returned from injured reserve to center
Nashville's third line with LW Gabriel Bourque and RW Taylor Beck.
... Predators LW Viktor Stalberg, pointless and minus-1 in his first
five games after missing the preseason with a knee injury, was sent
to the minors on a conditioning assignment. ... Oilers D Nikita
Nikitin will have an MRI to determine what is causing the back pain
that has kept him on the sideline since Sunday. ... Oilers G Viktor
Fasth is expected to be given green lights to play this week. Fasth
has been out two weeks with a groin injury. ... Oilers LW Luke
Gazdic, out since April while rehabilitating from shoulder surgery,
was assigned to the club's AHL affiliate in Oklahoma City postgame
on a conditioning assignment. G Richard Bachman also was sent to
Oklahoma City.
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