Stortini’s two goals in first period lifts Oilers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Zack Stortini scored two of Edmonton’s four first period goals to lead the Oilers to a 6-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Monday night.

It was Edmonton’s first win in Nashville since Oct. 29, 2005 as the Oilers had lost seven straight games there.

After starting the season with two consecutive wins, the Predators have dropped back-to-back games.

Seeing his first action of the season, Edmonton goaltender Jeff Deslauriers turned aside 40 Nashville shots to record the victory for the Oilers.

Stortini first struck at 13:58 of the first period on a power-play goal. With the Oilers already leading 2-0 after goals by Shawn Horcoff and Gilbert Brule, Mike Comrie found Stortini all alone in front of Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne. Stortini stuffed the puck past Rinne for his first goal of the season.

Stortini struck again with 28.2 seconds remaining in the opening period when he carried the puck in from the left side and made a smooth forehand to backhand transition before sneaking a shot inside of Rinne’s near post.

Entering Monday, Stortini had never recorded a multi-goal game in his previous 151 NHL games. Stortini had an active first period, as he engaged in a prolonged fight with Nashville’s Triston Grant just 1:38 into the contest.

Nashville entered Monday as one of three teams who had not allowed a first period goal all season.

After stopping 41 of 42 shots against in a losing effort against Buffalo Saturday, Rinne allowed the four first period goals on just nine Edmonton shots. Dan Ellis replaced Rinne at the start of the second period.

Andrew Cogliano and Denis Grebeshkov also scored for Edmonton, and Dustin Penner had two assists.

Former Oiler Jason Arnott scored Nashville’s lone goal in the final minute of the second period. The goal ended a 104:23 goalless stretch for the Predators. Arnott has three of Nashville’s six goals on the season.

Notes: Edmonton D Taylor Chorney recorded his first-career NHL point when he assisted on Stortini’s first goal of the game Edmonton C Mike Comrie has recorded a point in each of the Oilers five games this season Nashville rookie C Colin Wilson made his NHL debut Monday. He had been sidelined since training camp with a groin injury.