Draisaitl, Smith power Edmonton over Predators 4-0

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Leon Draisaitl had three goals and Mike Smith made 30 saves, leading Edmonton Oilers to a 4-0 win over Nashville Predators on Thursday night.

Draisaitl's hat trick gave him 54 goals this season, four behind NHL-leading Auston Matws (58) of Toronto.

Darnell Nurse also scored and Conr McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had two assists for Edmonton, which snapped a two-game losing streak. Oilers swept three-game season series with Nashville and have beaten Predators six straight games.

shutout was Smith’s first of season and 43rd of his career. His finest save came 24 seconds into third period when he made a glove save of Matt Duchene’s shot from close range on right side.

Juuse Saros made 28 saves for Nashville, which has lost three of four. Predators entered Thursday in Western Conference’s top wild-card spot by one point.

Draisaitl opened scoring at 8:56 of first period.

With Edmonton on a power play, McDavid sent a pass from left circle to Nugent-Hopkins in slot. He made a quick touch pass to Draisaitl in right circle, and he beat Saros with a one-timer.

Draisaitl struck again at 12:36 of second.

Zach Hyman drove down right side and, from below goal line, sent a pass to Draisaitl in slot. He beat Saros with a wrist shot through traffic on stick side.

Nurse scored a short-handed goal at 15:29 to make it 3-0, connecting from slot off of a feed from Evander Kane.

Draisaitl capped off his second hat trick of season and sixth of his career at 11:09 of third, again on power play. It was his 23rd power-play goal of season.

Colton Sissons appeared to break Smith’s shutout bid early in third, but Edmonton challenged call of a goal on ice and video review determined that play was offside.

LOVES FACING PREDS

Draisaitl has had plenty of success in his career when facing Predators With three goals Thursday night, Draisaitl has 19 goals and six assists in 20 games against Nashville.

Two of his career hat tricks have come at Nashville. His previous one was March 2, 2020, when he scored four times.

He had five goals and one assist in three games against Nashville this season.

GLASS BACK

Earlier Thursday, Predators recalled center Cody Glass from Milwaukee of AHL. Glass, obtained in offseason as part of trade that sent Ryan Ellis to Philadelphia, began season in Nashville before being sent to mirs for a majority of season.

Glass centered Nashville’s fourth line Thursday between wingers Nick Cousins and Luke Kunin.

WHAT’S NEXT

Predators: Host Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

Oilers: Host Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports