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Smyth, Oilers surge to beat Predators

Oct 18, 2011 - 4:57 AM Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - Ryan Smyth scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to help the Edmonton Oilers take a 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators at Rexall Place.

Shawn Horcoff had three assists while Taylor Hall and Ryan Jones also scored in the third period for the Oilers, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Nikolai Khabibulin had 11 saves in the win.

"It was an all-around 60-minute game from everyone tonight," said Smyth. "We played physical and got pucks to the net and when you do that good things will happen."

Sergei Kostitsyin had the lone goal for the Predators, who have dropped three straight. Pekka Rinne stopped 22-of-24 shots.

"It all comes down to effort and work ethic," said Rinne. "It comes down to those simple things and we're not doing them."

After a scoreless opening stanza, the Preds took the lead 1:58 into the second. Kostitsyin came down the right wing and looked as if he was going to pass it over to the left for the cutting winger, but opted to shoot and it trickled past Khabibulin.

Rinne had 18 saves through the first two periods, but Edmonton tied the game 5:29 into the third on the power play as the team cycled the puck with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sending a pass from the left circle to the low right side where Hall had the easy slam.

The Oilers took the lead two minutes later when Horcoff sent a sharp pass from the top of the right circle to the left side where Smyth made a nifty move to the backhand and slid the puck in.

Jones sealed the win with an empty-netter in the final minute of play.

Game Notes

Nashville continues its three-game road trip in Vancouver on Thursday...Edmonton plays in Calgary on Tuesday...These teams split the four- game series last season...Nashville went 0-for-5 on the power play while Edmonton was 1-for-5.