Connor McDavid scored the only goal in the shootout giving the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators Thursday night at Rogers Place.
Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen stopped all three shooters he faced in the shootout, including a “scorpion” pad save on Matt Duchene.
“I think he actually lost the puck, so I don’t believe they would have called it a goal anyways,” Koskinen said after the game.
“Those are make-or-break points in the game,” Evan Bouchard said of Koskinen’s effort.
“Those are huge saves. He’s been doing that a lot this season, especially the past few games.”
For the eleventh straight game, the Oilers surrendered the first goal of the game. Filip Forsberg buzzed a shot past Koskinen just past the five-minute mark.
McDavid evened it up in the last minute of the first. He grabbed the puck in his own end, stormed through the neutral zone, drove to the left side and slipped a shot under Nashville netminder Juuse Saros.
Nashville regained the lead in the second when Duchene sniped his 21st. The Oilers replied when Bouchard’s point shot pinballed past Saros.
After a scoreless third, the teams traded great chances in overtime. Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse drilled a one-timer off the post.
Koskinen denied Predators defenceman Roman Josi, who had a chance from point-blank range.
McDavid was the second shooter in the shootout for the Oilers. He made several shifty dekes before lifting a forehand past Saros.
“It was an OK move,” Nurse joked post-game. “I’ve seen nicer in practice.”
The Oilers have won three games in a row. During the game, they confirmed the signing of free agent forward Evander Kane.
“He’s big, strong (and) obviously he has a physical presence,” Nurse said of Kane. “He’s willing to fight anyone, and at the same time, he gets the puck in the right spot and it’s in the back of the net.
“With the passers and playmakers we have on the team, to add that into the fold, it makes our team better.”
Koskinen made 28 saves. Saros finished with 44.
The Oilers (21-16-2) will play in Montreal on Saturday.
–With files from Brenden Escott, 630 CHED