Predators edge Oilers in shootout
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Ryan Ellis and James Neal scored shootout goals for the Nashville Predators, who completed a sweep of Alberta with a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.
The Predators edged the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Thursday.
Oilers winger Milan Lucic snapped a 12-game goal scoring drought by tying it 2-2 at 15:29 of the third period and sending Edmonton to overtime for the 16th time this season, but the Predators, who outshot Edmonton 44-32, would not be denied.
The Oilers spent a large part of the first two periods on their heels, in large part because they couldn't stay out of the penalty box. And it started early, with Nashville getting a two-man advantage for 1:17 in the first few minutes of the first period.
The Oilers escaped without sustaining any damage, but only because goaltender Cam Talbot came up with some clutch saves and the Predators also hit two posts.
It was more of the same in a snarly second period, with Edmonton giving Nashville three more power plays. But once again the penalty killers came up huge and kept Nashville off the board.
Finally, after 37 minutes of scoreless hockey, the teams erupted for two quick ones late in the second. Viktor Arvidsson gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 17:12, but they only held the lead for 41 seconds before Oilers winger Matt Hendricks took a pass from Matt Kassian and put a wrist shot between Pekke Rinne's pads to tie it 1-1.
Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis gave the Predators a 2-1 lead 6:55 into the third period, but they couldn't hold off the Oilers, who converted a power play of their own after Austin Watson retaliated on Lucic for a clean hit behind the Edmonton net.
The Predators, coming off a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday, had been gaining a little momentum after their slow start. They had won four of their last five games after a nasty little stretch that saw them go 7-9-4.
The Predators got a surprise and welcome addition Friday when defenseman PK Subban returned to the lineup after missing the last 15 games with a herniated disc in his back.
NOTES: Predators G Pekka Rinne brought a 15-6-1 career record against the Oilers into Friday's game. ... Edmonton recalled RW Anton Lander from the AHL as insurance up front after Jujhar Khaira injured his wrist last game against Florida. ... Lander has 27 points (14 goals) in 16 AHL games and four points in 20 games with the Oilers ... Edmonton D Matt Benning is back in the lineup after missing the Panthers game with the flu. ... Nashville D Roman Josi is still out after suffering a concussion against Boston on Jan. 12. He could be back next week. ... The Oilers lost all three games to the Predators last season and scored just three goals. ... Preds C Mike Fisher has six power play goals, which puts him in the top 15 in the NHL. ... Oilers C Connor McDavid is the fourth-fastest active player to reach 100 points, doing it in his 92nd game. Only Alex Ovechkin (77), Sidney Crosby (80) and Evgeni Malkin (89) did it faster.