EDMONTON – Seeing the Nashville Predators on the calendar appears to all the time give the Edmonton Oilers and their star gamers some additional soar.
Connor McDavid scored three objectives, together with one on a penalty shot, and Leon Draisaitl had a purpose and two assists because the Oilers got here away with a 6-2 victory over the Predators on Tuesday.
Of their final 16 video games in opposition to Nashville courting again to the 2019-20 season, Edmonton has gone 14-1-1 and have outscored the Predators 72 to 36.
“It was begin for us and we type of rode it all over. We have been strong all over,” mentioned McDavid, who had 10 photographs on the night time. “Somewhat little bit of a lapse there early within the third, however I believed we did job regaining it.”
McDavid was awarded a penalty shot with 4:07 left within the second interval after defenceman Adam Wilsby interfered with him on a breakaway alternative and made probably the most of it, taking his time coming in on Juuse Saros earlier than chipping it into the highest nook for his second purpose.
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McDavid added a 3rd late within the sport to offer him 28 on the 12 months and 17 objectives in his final 16 contests.
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“It looks like there may be all the time one other degree that by some means he will get to,” mentioned linemate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who picked up his five hundredth profession help on McDavid’s hat trick purpose. “He’s taking part in some phenomenal hockey proper now. We’re making an attempt to maintain up, (Zach Hyman) and myself on that very same line, it’s not all the time straightforward.”
McDavid prolonged his factors streak to 16 video games throughout which he has posted 39 factors (17G, 22A). It’s his fourth factors streak of 16 video games or extra, tying Denis Savard for the fourth most in NHL historical past behind Wayne Gretzky (16 instances), Mario Lemieux (5) and Peter Stastny (5).
“Is anyone stunned right here that this man is doing these things?” mentioned Oilers ahead Kasperi Kapanen, who had a purpose and an help in his first sport again within the lineup after lacking the final 36 video games with harm. “I’ve been watching it as a result of I’ve been damage and it’s outstanding what he can do along with his velocity and his fingers. He simply sees every thing on the market. I’m simply completely happy to be on his facet.”
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch mentioned Kapanen was undoubtedly a constructive presence in his first sport since Oct. 19.
“The fellows are so completely happy for him,” Knoblauch mentioned. “Right here’s a man that labored extremely onerous to get again within the lineup and right here he comes again in his first sport and will get a purpose and an help.
“We knew that he was going to assist us. Not essentially on the rating sheet, however his physicality and simply all-around sport. That’s what we count on from him. And after taking virtually three months off, we weren’t anticipating that, however he put within the work.”
Curtis Lazar additionally scored and Vasily Podkolzin had a pair of assists for the Oilers (21-16-6), who snapped a two-game shedding skid.
Draisaitl has feasted on the Predators lately. Together with his purpose and two assists on Tuesday, the German phenom has recorded 22 objectives and 42 factors in his final 16 video games in opposition to Nashville
Connor Ingram put collectively a 24-save efficiency to earn the win in web for Edmonton.
A few loopy stats surrounding Edmonton and opening objectives — the group that has scored first has emerged victorious within the final 20 Oilers’ video games, with Edmonton now sporting an 18-1-3 total file when getting the sport’s first purpose.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 7, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
