Thrilling Overtime Victory for the Nashville Predators
In an exhilarating overtime finish at Bridgestone Arena on January 13, 2026, Roman Josi once again showcased his clutch performance by scoring the decisive goal, leading the Nashville Predators to a 4-3 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers. This marks Josi’s second consecutive game-winner, as he also contributed a goal to tie the game late in the third period, amassing five points over his last two games.
Notable Performances
In other notable performances, Steven Stamkos reached a personal milestone with his 20th goal of the season—marking his 602nd career goal which pushed him past Jari Kurri into 21st place on the NHL’s all-time scoring ledger. Erik Haula added another goal for Nashville in the second period, while goaltender Juuse Saros secured his 18th victory of the season with 28 saves out of 31 shots faced.
Setting the Tone
As the Predators set out to avenge a disappointing 6-2 loss from their previous encounter against the Oilers just a week earlier, they aimed to establish an aggressive presence right from the start. Just three seconds into the game, Michael McCarron exchanged blows with Darnell Nurse—a battle that has become a recurring rivalry since their junior days. McCarron emerged victorious in the brawl, setting a competitive tone for the game that energized his teammates.
Cole Smith soon followed with a near goal, before Stamkos capitalized and scored in the high slot, marking the first time in 11 games that the Predators didn’t concede the first goal.
Coaching Insights
Predators’ head coach Andrew Brunette praised McCarron’s contribution, suggesting that the fight sparked a motivational shift in the team.
“He (McCarron) got our guys going, and we fed off him to take the lead,”
Brunette remarked. Josi, a pivotal player for Nashville, kept the momentum flowing when he tied the game in the third period with a well-placed slap shot—an effort suggested by Brunette to be even more crucial than his overtime goal.
Decisive Moments
The thrilling conclusion saw Josi benefit from a smart play by teammate Brady Skjei, after a miscommunication allowed Josi to capitalize and secure the win. Expressing relief and determination, Josi shared,
“I was a little nervous with the tight window, but I’m glad it went in.”
Challenges from the Oilers
Despite their overall strong defense, the Predators could not completely neutralize the Oilers’ superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Draisaitl collected one goal and two assists, while McDavid added two assists to extend his impressive point streak to 20 games. Both players continued to challenge the Predators, with Edmonton converting two of four power-play opportunities during the contest.
However, Nashville’s performance, particularly in 3-on-3 overtime with a defensive strategy, proved effective in limiting their impact at critical moments.
“We managed to keep McDavid’s production to just two points, which was a good night for us,”
Josi commented.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Predators, now at 22-20-4 and sitting in fifth place in the Central Division, are set to face the top-ranked Colorado Avalanche, boasting a record of 33-4-8, on Friday, January 16 at 8 p.m. CST.
