Red-hot Connor McDavid (hat trick) sparks Oilers over Preds
Connor McDavid had a hat trick to lead the host Edmonton Oilers to a 6-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists, Kasperi Kapanen a goal and an assist and Curtis Lazar also scored for the Oilers, who had lost three of their previous four. Vasily Podkolzin had two assists and Connor Ingram made 24 saves.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recorded his 500th assist.
Ryan O'Reilly and defenseman Nick Blankenburg scored for the Predators, who had won six of the last eight games. Juuse Saros stopped 37 shots.
It was the finale of a seven-game road trip for Nashville.
McDavid's power-play goal gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead 8:53 into the game.
After taking a pass from defenseman Evan Bouchard just inside the Nashville blue line on the rush, McDavid sped down the center of the ice, veered to his left to get around O'Reilly, cut to the net, made a move and slid a forehand shot past Saros.
Edmonton scored three times in the last four minutes of the second period to make it 4-0.
McDavid was awarded a penalty shot when Nashville defenseman Adam Wilsby impeded him on a breakaway with 4:07 left in the second. McDavid beat Saros on the penalty shot.
Lazar backhanded in a rebound 22 seconds later to make it 3-0, and Kapanen scored from the slot as his shot deflected in off the skate of Predators defenseman Roman Josi with 1:08 remaining in the middle stanza.
It was Kapanen's first game back after missing 36 games with a knee injury.
Nashville scored twice in 15 seconds to make it 4-2.
O'Reilly spoiled the shutout by putting in a rebound 3:48 into the third and Blankenburg one-timed a shot in from the right point at 4:03.
Draisaitl's 21st goal made it 5-2 with 6:14 left, then McDavid completed his 14th career hat trick in the last minute.
The goals were McDavid's 26th, 27th and 28th and extended his point streak to 16 games (39 points on 17 goals and 22 assists).