Arvidsson's goal sends Predators to 5-4 win
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Playing their sixth game in nine days, the Nashville Predators found just enough energy to hold off the Edmonton Oilers.
Viktor Arvidsson scored Nashville's third power play goal of the game at 1:19 of the third period Sunday, lifting the Predators to a 5-4 win at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.
Arvidsson's 21st goal of the season withstood a replay review of around seven minutes as Edmonton challenged on the basis of offside. It was ruled that he stayed onside as the puck was brought into the offensive zone.
Filip Forsberg scored his eighth goal in four games for the Predators (31-22-9) and James Neal collected three assists. Defensemen P.K. Subban and Roman Josi each added two assists.
NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid tallied a goal and an assist for the Oilers (33-22-8), which stayed five points behind idle San Jose in the Pacific Division. Defenseman Oscar Klefbom contributed two assists.
Pekka Rinne (24-15-6) made 28 saves in posting his ninth straight win over Edmonton, and Cam Talbot (31-18-7) stopped 23 of 28 shots.
Nashville initiated scoring on its first shot, as Ryan Ellis bombed a slapper past Talbot on the power play at 4:55 for his 10th goal of the season.
Edmonton tied it 28 seconds later when McDavid blew past Josi and Ellis down the right side and beat Rinne with a wrister for his 21st goal.
The Predators regained the lead on another power play at 14:34 with Forsberg's wrister from the left faceoff circle, his 24th goal of the season.
Vernon Fiddler made it 3-1 at 7:29 of the second period with his first goal of his second stint with Nashville on a wrister from the right faceoff circle, but Milan Lucic drew the Oilers within 3-2 by tipping home McDavid's point shot on the power play.
Colin Wilson's backhander at 15:21 restored a two-goal lead for Nashville. The goal was originally waved off but was counted after a replay showed the puck clearly bulging the net at its top.
But Edmonton forged a 4-4 tie after two periods, thanks to a power play tally by Mark Letestu at 16:25 and a deflection by Jordan Eberle at 19:00.
NOTES: Edmonton D Darnell Nurse (ankle) returned to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 1, when he was injured in Winnipeg. He played on a pairing with Matt Benning. ... Nashville LW Filip Forsberg's goal Saturday against Washington was his seventh in three games with two hat tricks, making him the first NHL player to do it since Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders in 2011. ... The Oilers scratched LW Anton Slepyshev, along with Ds Eric Gryba and Brandon Davidson. ... Predators scratches were D Anthony Bitetto, C Colton Sissons and D Brad Hunt.