The Predators returned home to the friendly confines of the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and posted a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night.
The Preds got off to a fast start and posted two goals in the opening period and then sat back for the rest of the game.
Home ice and the Oilers were welcome opportunities Tuesday as the win gave
Pekka Rinne made 25 saves in 2-1 win over the Oilers Tuesday night – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Nashville 11 straight wins over Edmonton.
“It’s an impressive record,” Pekka Rinne said. “There’s something about some teams that you just seem to find success. I guess the Oilers are one of those teams, but it’s not because they’re not a good team. I think they showed again tonight they have a lot of talent. It’s a fun team to play against. There’s obviously a few individuals who can really skate and really bring the pace up in the game.”
Rinne made 25 saves to get the win.
The Predators built the early lead off goals from Craig Smith and Viktor Arvidsson.
“I thought we came out and had a good start,” Smith said. “It’s what we were looking for. Just tried to get some points on the board. I think kudos to our video group getting that one at the end there. That was really nice. [Rinne] stood on his head. It was great. I thought guys were going, especially at the start of the third. I thought we managed it well and got some points.”
Edmonton dropped to 18-23-3 with the loss and continue to have trouble putting a complete game together. They have lost three straight and have won just once in their last eight games.
Connor McDavid scored the lone Oilers’ goal, his 15th of the season.
“It’s crazy,” McDavid said. “It’s just the bounces we’ve been getting. It’s just the way it goes sometimes. I think everyone goes through a stretch like this so it’s frustrating, but we’ll find a way out of it.”
It’s not just the bounces, there are issues of playing a solid 60-minute effort from this roster. The defense is lax and rarely covers down low leaving the goalies unprotected.
It appeared the Oilers had tied the game in the latter stages of the third period but the goal from Mark Letestu was waved after a challenge.
[WATCH: All Oilers vs. Predators highlights]
Cam Talbot made 22 saves in the loss.
“I thought tonight we worked hard enough for a break. I’m not sure that we were in that situation in prior games, but I was just talking to [Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli], and if we play like that we’ll have our opportunities to win games. It’s a step in the right direction,” Oilers head coach Todd McLellan said after the game.
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