National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Edmonton 6, Nashville 3
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Paul Devorski
Linesmen: Pierre Racicot, Brad Kovachik
Attendance: 17113

OILERS 6, PREDATORS 3: Ales Hemsky netted a hat trick to lead visiting Edmonton to its third win in the past four games.

Hemsky scored twice in a three-goal second period for the Oilers, who have won their last two trips to Bridgestone Arena.

Hemsky broke out along the boards, bursting to the net and beating Anders Lindback glove side at 14:03 of the middle frame for his first-career hat trick. He opened the period with his second goal just 28 seconds in, knocking in his own rebound off a wrist shot from the slot.

Nashville cut the lead to two goals on David Legwand’s second goal of night four minutes into the third period, but couldn’t solve Devan Dubnyk, who made 41 saves.

The Predators fell to the Oilers for the fifth time in their last seven meetings and lost at home for just the ninth time in regulation this season.

Edmonton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Darcy Hordichuk snapped a 91-game scoreless skid and Hemsky netted his first of the game, both goals coming in a four-and-a-half minute span.

Nashville got on the board with just seven seconds left in the first period when Legwand banged home a scramble in front of the Oilers goal.

Following Edmonton’s goal on the man advantage, Nashville answered with a power-play marker of its own, making the score 4-2 on Patric Hornqvist’s goal at 12:35 of the second period.

Sam Gagner added an empty net goal.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hemsky scored his hat trick on his first four shots. … Edmonton won for just the fourth time in the last 13 trips to Nashville. … Lindback replaced Pekka Rinne, who was chased after allowing four goals on seven shots.
Top Game Performances
 
Edmonton   Nashville
Ales Hemsky 4 Points David Legwand 2
Ales Hemsky 3 Goals David Legwand 2
Teemu Hartikainen 2 Assists Gabriel Bourque 2
Ryan Jones 1 Power Play Goals Patric Hornqvist 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Devan Dubnyk .932 Save Percentage Anders Lindback .833
Devan Dubnyk 41 Saves Anders Lindback 10
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Edmonton 20 6 1-1 3-4 10 35
Nashville 44 3 1-4 0-1 4 30
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game on the road against Pittsburgh. The Predators have a W/L % of .535 after a win and .633 after a loss.
  • Edmonton will play their next game on the road against Tampa Bay. The Oilers have a W/L % of .357 after a win and .422 after a loss.