by Murat Karul

In Saturday’s game, Ryan O’Reilly’s outstanding performance led the Nashville Predators to a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, ending the Predators’ two-game losing streak. O’Reilly recorded three goals and an assist, while Filip Forsberg contributed a goal and two assists. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 33 saves to help the Predators improve their record to 5-6-0.

The game saw O’Reilly showcasing his talent and hockey IQ, particularly when facing the formidable Connor McDavid line. O’Reilly, who joined Nashville as a free agent in the summer, displayed his ability to make the right plays and create scoring opportunities.

Notably, this game marked O’Reilly’s fifth career hat trick, illustrating his excellence on the ice. Forsberg praised O’Reilly’s intelligence and stick skills, highlighting his knack for finding scoring chances around the net.

For the Edmonton Oilers, Darnell Nurse and Zach Hyman scored, but their struggles continued. The Oilers remain winless at home and have now lost six of their last seven games, leaving them with a 2-7-1 record.

Nashville initially fell behind with Nurse’s power-play goal, but Forsberg quickly responded with a wraparound goal, and Nashville tied the game. In the second period, O’Reilly’s rebound goal and a power-play goal extended the Predators’ lead, while Hyman scored for the Oilers on the power play. Thomas Novak added another goal for the Predators, further solidifying their lead.

In the third period, O’Reilly capped off his exceptional performance by scoring two more goals. The game’s result was determined by a review, which confirmed that one of O’Reilly’s earlier shots had crossed the goal line before being cleared, completing his hat trick.

Looking ahead, the Nashville Predators will face the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, while the Edmonton Oilers will play the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.