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Spaling, Predators edge Oilers

Nov 29, 2011 - 6:14 AM Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - Nick Spaling netted the game-winning goal in the third period as the Nashville Predators slipped past the Edmonton Oilers, 2-1, at Rexall Place.

Predators captain Shea Weber scored the other goal and Anders Lindback stopped 17 shots to earn his first win of the year for Nashville, which snapped a four-game losing streak.

"It's nice to be able to contribute," Spaling said. "I think we are a team that scores by committee so when we can help out that's great. We want to continue to do that, that's our game to do, put pucks to the net and be able to contribute offensively."

Jordan Eberle scored the lone goal and Nikolai Khabibulin turned aside 29 shots in defeat for the Oilers, who have dropped three of their last five games.

Nashville took the lead for good with 7:39 remaining in the final period when Jordin Tootoo retrieved a puck behind the net, outworked two Edmonton defenders, and backhanded a pass out front to Spaling, who fired it high over the shoulder of Khabibulin from the high slot for the 2-1 edge.

Edmonton pulled Khabibulin in favor of the extra attacker with 1:25 remaining in regulation. The Oilers maintained excellent pressure in the offensive zone for much of the final minute of play, but Lindback stood tall to preserve the win.

The Oilers grabbed the lead at 7:07 of the opening period when Ryan Nugent- Hopkins started the play by dumping the puck behind the net for Eberle. The crafty forward came out front and fired a shot that was stopped by Lindback, but Eberle pounced on his own rebound and chipped the puck over the left shoulder of the Nashville netminder.

Nashville answered with a power-play goal at 11:34 of the second stanza when Weber got a pass from Ryan Suter on the right wing and raced into the offensive zone with speed before he fired a quick wrister through the legs of Khabibulin from the right circle to tie the game at one.

"I think I totally miscalculated it," Khabibulin said. "That was the last thing I expected him to do, shoot from that low on the ice and I didn't go down quick enough. I thought if he'd shoot he'd go high or pass into the middle, but he did the last option that I expected but that shouldn't go in from there."

Game Notes

Predators forward Blake Geoffrion left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury...Oilers forward Magnus Paajarvi played in his 100th career NHL game...Nashville improved to 1-5-1 when trailing after the first period...Oilers forward Ryan Jones played in his 200th career NHL game...Edmonton failed to convert on three power play opportunities, while Nashville was 1-for-4 with the man advantage...The Predators will continue their trek through Western Canada with a date with the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, while Edmonton will host the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.