The Nashville Predators are still searching for their first win of the 2024-25 campaign after dropping a 4-2 decision to the Edmonton Oilers to fall to 0-4-0 on the season.
The Predators took their first lead of the 2024-25 season at 11:46 of the first period, when Roman Josi hammered a one-timer through traffic and Filip Forsberg tipped it into the net to make it 1-0.
The Predators’ lead only lasted about six minutes, until the Oilers gained control of the puck and Brett Kulak scored on a shot from the point that beat Juuse Saros to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
Saros made a number of key saves to keep the game close, and the Predators killed back-to-back penalties by Jeremy Lauzon and Cole Smith in the second period to preserve the tie. As soon as the teams were back to even strength, however, Jeff Skinner gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead on a shot from the crease that deflected off of Luke Schenn and past Saros.
The Predators earned a four-minute power play late in the second period on an Edmonton high-sticking penalty and cashed in when Josi skated into the offensive zone after a pass from Saros and flipped the puck to Jonathan Marchessault in front of the net. Marchessault beat Calvin Pickard for the game-tying goal, his first as a member of the Predators.
Connor McDavid broke the tie to give the Oilers a 3-2 lead at 18:29 of the second period, burying the loose puck after a shot by Mattias Ekholm was blocked by Alexandre Carrier. Kulak added an empty net goal at 19:25 of the third period for the 4-2 final.
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