I'm going to spare everyone the suspense and tell you that without a doubt the Nashville Predators notched one of their best wins of the season by exorcising some demons and defeating Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena.
The Predators endured a season sweep at the hands of the Oilers last season, and also got easily handled by the Oilers just a week prior in a 6-2 final score.
With an overtime winner, and two-goal night from Roman Josi, the Predators ended their five-game losing streak to the Oilers and pushed their season record to 22-20-4 for 48 points and one back of the final wildcard spot.
Last season the Predators only won 30 games all season, so it's an extremely low bar, but the Predators just need nine more wins over their last 36 games to improve on that total from 2024-25.
The Predators traded blows with the Oilers in a back-and-forth affair, but it appeared that the Oilers were going to run away with it again thanks to their top-ranked power play that connect on it 33.8 percent of the time. They went 2-for-4 against the Predators penalty kill in this one, including the go-ahead goal by Zach Hyman not too long after Preds killer Leon Draisaitl tied it at 2-2 in a busy 2nd period.
What is most impressive about this game is the Predators kept punching back. Steven Stamkos opened the scoring with his 20th of the year, and 602nd of his NHL career to move him into sole possession of 21st on the NHL's all-time goals list.
Juuse Saros also stole the show so to speak with 28 saves and a 0.48 Goals Saved Above Expected while his counterpart Tristan Jarry went for a -1.04. The Predators definitely stole this game from the Oilers, and the two teams will meet one more time in the regular season on March 15.