3 major takeaways from the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 win against Nashville Predators

The Edmonton Oilers got their second win of the season, a solid 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena on Thursday night.

Brett Kulak scored twice for the Oilers, with Jeff Skinner and Connor McDavid adding the other tallies. Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault replied for Nashville. For Marchessault, the goal was his first as a Predator.

So, let’s take a closer look at the three major takeaways from the Edmonton Oilers' 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators.

3 major takeaways from the Edmonton Oilers win against Nashville Predators

#3. The Oilers wreaked havoc around the Predators net

The Edmonton Oilers did an excellent job of making it tough for Nashville netminder Juuse Saros to see the puck. The craziness led to the Oilers’ first two goals.

First, Brett Kulak’s first of the season got through traffic in front of Saros, leaving him unable to see the puck. Jeff Skinner’s goal resulted from a mess around the Predators’ net, leading to a scramble in the crease. Skinner picked up a rebound and put the puck home.

Lastly, McDavid’s goal came on a similar type of play. Following Nashville’s second goal, the Edmonton Oilers top line put pressure on the Preds, allowing McDavid to take advantage of a messy situation in front of Saros. Saros lost sight of the puck, giving McDavid plenty of time and room to bury the puck.

Overall, the Oilers’ goals were not pretty. They were hardworking goals that enabled the Oilers to skate away with a hard-fought win.

#2. The Oilers’ defense got exposed

The two Nashville goals exposed the Oilers’ defense. In particular, Marchessault’s goal made the Oilers’ second defensive pair look vulnerable. The Predators entered the Oilers’ zone leading to a rush chance. Specifically, Darnell Nurse was unable to catch Marchessault, allowing him to fly to the front of the Oilers’ net, tipping the puck in for his first of the year.

While Edmonton played an overall solid game, it is concerning that the Oilers' defense looked slow to react at times.

#1. The Oilers controlled much of the game

The Oilers controlled much of the game despite giving up the first goal. As mentioned earlier, the Preds were able to cash in on the Oilers’ defensive miscues. Beyond that, the Oilers kept much of the pressure on Nashville, outshooting them in the first two periods.

Then, the Oilers were able to hold on in the third period, locking the game down for the win. In the end, Kulak added an empty netter to seal the win.

The solid performance seems encouraging for the Edmonton Oilers after a shaky start to the season. The Oilers will be back on the ice on Saturday night as they take on the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center.