TAIT'S EIGHT: Music City musings yield Oilers win over Predators

Long-time sports journalist Cam Tait joins EdmontonOilers.com to deliver his eight thoughts (music edition) from Thursday night's victory in Nashville, which was Edmonton's second straight win. Living with Cerebral Palsy his entire life, Cam hasn't let his condition prevent him from having a successful 45-year career as a sports writer, with bylines seen in the Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun.

8. Another Try (Josh Turner)

The Oilers came out humming, opening up an 8-0 lead in shots before the Predators registered their first attempt on target against Edmonton netminder Calvin Pickard.

Nashville drew a power play but was guilty of throwing the puck around carelessly in the opening 10 minutes, waiting until 9:54 of the first period for their first attempt on goal against the Oilers shot-stopper.

7. Who Are You When I’m Not Looking (Blake Shelton)

Pickard didn’t have a chance on the Predators' third shot: a deflection off the stick of Filip Forsberg that found its way into the net for the 1-0 lead.

6. That’s Why We Fight (Elia Langley, Joe Wetzel)

In keeping with Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, where Troy Stretcher dropped the gloves and Edmonton came from behind to win 4-3 in overtime, Darnell Nurse and Michael McCarron went for a centre-ice two-step at 17:17 of the first period.

Then, 22 seconds later, Brett Kulak fired high with a hard shot from the left point and tied the game before the Stony Plain product added a final-minute empty-netter.

"It's nice to see him get those goals," Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said. "Obviously, the first one's an outstanding shot and then the next one's just an empty-netter, but the bench was cheering for him. They did a little more to get him to go for that third, but he was a little cautious about not getting out of position. But anytime you see those role guys that don't necessarily get on the score sheet as much as other guys have success, everyone gets excited."

"It's always fun scoring goals, for sure, but it's more fun when the team builds its game," Kulak added. "We did and it feels like we're getting our game back on track."

5. Workin’ Man’s Blues (Merle Haggard)

Jeff Skinner continued his goal-scoring prowess as a member of the Oilers with a gritty, hard-working jam in the right side of the net with everyone out of the blue paint and not interfering with the Nashville goaltender, right? Yes! Skinner with his second goal of the year and fourth point. And, let’s check... yup. Face-off at centre ice. Not called back.

"I think every day, every game, I'm feeling more comfortable," he said. "I think I've felt better as its gone along. I think guys have done a great job off the ice making me feel welcome right away, but obviously, there are a lot of guys in here that have been together for a while and have some great chemistry.

"I think to kind of play off some of those guys, I think it's going to be an adjustment, but I think it's gotten better every time I've been out there and hopefully can keep building."

4. Almost Maybes (Jordan Davis)

Thirty-five seconds.

That’s how far the Oilers were away from killing off a four-minute high-sticking penalty against Vasily Podkolzin. Thirty-five seconds, Oiler fans! But Predator Jonathan Marchessault zoomed across the Oilers blue line and deflected home Roman Josi's effort from the left side, beating Pickard inside the near post to tie the game at 2-2.

3. Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver)

In his fifth game, Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the season, giving Edmonton back the lead at 3-2 with 1:31 remaining in the second period by scooping his shot into the top corner to find prime real estate in Nashville's net. It was the longest the Oilers captain had to wait (five games) in his NHL career to get the first goal of the season, with his longest beforehand being three during his rookie NHL campaign.

Edmonton's next opponent? Dallas, whom he scored his first NHL goal against back in 2015.

2. Heroes and Friends (Randy Travis)

Pickard was solid in his first win of the season, stopping 25 of 27 saves, including a save with just over a minute left, hugging the left post wit Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly on the prowl.

1. On The Road Again (Willie Nelson)

The Oilers now buckle up for a 110-mile flight into Dallas where they will meet the Stars on Saturday afternoon. And speaking of the Stars, they lost 3-2 Thursday in Washington against the Capitals, and have a three-hour and 25-minute flight home.