On Tuesday night in Edmonton, Connor McDavid delivered an outstanding performance against the Nashville Predators, scoring his 14th career hat trick as the Oilers triumphed 6-2. McDavid now has 28 goals this season and opened the scoring for the Oilers during the first period on a power play, marking the seventh consecutive game that Nashville conceded the opening goal.
Predators head coach Andrew Brunette acknowledged the chaos they anticipated but felt his team managed fairly well despite the challenge. He noted that Edmonton’s three-point lead made it difficult to stage a comeback, and a weak power play in the third period shifted momentum further in favor of the Oilers.
Edmonton extended their advantage in the second period with three goals, including McDavid’s second of the night on a penalty shot saved initially by Adam Willsby. Ryan O’Reilly criticized the penalty calls and admitted Nashville did not control the puck as effectively as usual, which fueled the Oilers.
In the third period, Nashville showed some fight, with O’Reilly scoring his 12th point of the season, preventing a shutout by goalie Connor Ingram. Nick Haig’s shot deflected into O’Reilly’s stick, leading to a goal assisted by Luke Evangelista. Shortly after, Nick Blankenburg scored from a long-range shot, narrowing Edmonton’s lead to 4-2 with help from Reid Schaefer and Michael Bunting.
Leon Draisaitl then pushed the Oilers back ahead with a three-goal lead, followed by McDavid’s final goal in the closing minute.
Despite the loss, Juuse Saros had an impressive night for Nashville, making 37 saves out of 43 shots — the highest save count for a single game this season. O’Reilly emphasized the need for consistent focus over the full 60 minutes and looked forward to regrouping for their next match.
The Predators hold a 19-19-4 record with 42 points, just three points shy of a wild card spot, wrapping up their seven-game road trip with a 4-3-0 record. They will return home to face the New York Islanders on Thursday at 7 pm CST.
Fan Take: This dominant showing by McDavid and the Oilers highlights why he remains one of the most electrifying talents in hockey today. For fans, it’s a thrilling reminder of the game’s excitement and the impact one superstar can have on shifting momentum and driving a team’s success.
