Predators 4, Oilers 1
EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Nashville Predators are halfway to sweeping Western Canada after scoring a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm scored twice, center Mike Fisher added a single and Filip Forsberg added the empty netter for the Predators, who defeated Winnipeg 4-1 on Thursday.
Nashville visits Calgary and Vancouver before heading into the All Star break.
The Oilers begin their All-Star break Sunday and they do it in last place in the Pacific Division with a 19-26-5 record.
Edmonton scored first as left winger Leon Draisaitl chopping a bouncing puck over the shoulder of Predators' goaltender Pekka Rinne at 11:54 of the first period. The goal was Draisaitl's second in three games after one in the previous 18.
The lead didn't last long, however, as Nashville tied it 1:42 later when Ekholm capped a scramble in the Edmonton zone with his sixth goal of the season, sending the teams into the first intermission tied 1-1.
The only scoring of the second period came on a freak goal. The puck got caught up in the equipment of goaltender Cam Talbot for at least two seconds and popped out behind him and rolled into the net.
It was hard to imagine how the referee didn't lose sight of the puck, but play continued and the goal counted. Ekholm got credit for his second of the night.
The Predators went up 3-1 at 52 seconds into the third period when Fisher shook Darnell Nurse in the slot and scored from close range.
NOTES: The Oilers placed D Brandon Davidson on injured reserve with an undisclosed issue. To fill his roster spot, D Griffin Reinhart was recalled from Bakersfield in the American Hockey League. ... Oilers C Connor McDavid, who has been out since Nov. 3 with a broken collarbone, will rejoin the lineup after the NHL All-Star Game break. ... The Oilers will have nine days between games because of the All-Star break and a scheduling quirk. ... Predators C Ryan Johansen put up nine points in his first seven games after being traded from Columbus. ... The Predators are just 6-10-2 against teams in their own division this season. ... F Colin Wilson didn't accompany the Predators on their four-game road trip and likely won't be back until after the All-Star break. He has been out since Jan. 8 with a lower-body injury.