NASHVILLE, TN – Feelin' good on Broadway.
Leon Draisaitl continued his dominance of the Nashville Predators with two goals and an assist, while centre Noah Philp recorded his first NHL point and Zach Hyman scored his first goal of the season on Thursday night in a 5-1 victory for the Edmonton Oilers at Bridgestone Arena.
Forward Viktor Arvidsson secured his first Oilers goal only 37 seconds into the first period before Philp got on the scoresheet with his first NHL assist by helping set up Corey Perry's go-ahead goal later in the period that made it 2-1 for the Blue & Orange.
"It was an amazing game, and I thought the energy from all the guys was so much fun to be a part of," Philp said post-game. "Having my family here was incredible."
After Draisaitl assisted on Arvidsson's opening goal, the German scored twice over the second and third periods to increase his incredible career numbers against the Predators to 46 points in 28 career games, including 27 goals.
In his last 16 games against Nashville, he's managed to record 41 points and has now produced 17 goals on his last nine visits to Bridgestone Arena.
"He did it right from the start and you knew with Connor not being here that we needed somebody stepping up," Knoblauch said. "Everyone needed to, but probably the biggest one is your best player and Leon definitely is our best player. And tonight, he didn't disappoint. Everything he did tonight, whether it's key face-offs or goals at the big times, you could tell he was ready to play."
Later in the third period, Zach Hyman roofed his first goal of the season on a breakaway over goaltender Juuse Saros with 7:14 left in regulation, ending his goalless drought at ten games and rounding out the scoring on a feel-good win for the Blue & Orange over the Predators.
The Oilers will look to carry momentum into the Battle of Alberta on Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena in Calgary with a 5-5-1 overall record.