Why Scott Wedgewood's performance in OT loss is encouraging sign for Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators received an encouraging performance by their backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood in a 3-2 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.

The Predators, who have a lot of catching up to do , were beaten in overtime on a goal by Darnell Nurse.

"Great game by (Wedgewood)," forward Cole Smith said. "We should have gotten (a win) for him tonight."

Wedgewood made 31 saves, including 13 in the second period during a stretch when Edmonton took control of the game.

"In the second, we left him out to dry a couple times and he bailed us out," Smith added.

Not only did Wedgewood play well enough to earn the Predators (5-9-3, 13 points) a point, his performance is a sign that better days are coming for the goaltender.

Scott Wedgewood's encouraging performance for the Nashville Predators According to Money Puck , the Oilers generated 3.205 expected goals in the game. For the first time all season, Wedgewood allowed fewer actual goals (three) than the expected goals metric would suggest.

Signed in the offseason to backup Juuse Saros, Wedgewood has not had a great start to the season. He was forced to start the season opener against the Dallas Stars while Saros dealt with a lower-body injury and allowed four goals on just 20 shots. Two starts later, he allowed a season high six goals against the Florida Panthers.

Entering Thursday, Wedgewood had a 1-2-0 record with an .841 save percentage and a 4.33 goals against average.

But against the Oilers, Wedgewood was strong in net. He was particularly sharp moving side to side − tracking pucks as the Oilers used their speed to generate quality looks.

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During one sequence in the second period, he stopped a wide open Connor McDavid shot from the left circle, then a minute later had to keep Zach Hyman from collecting a rebound in front. His work held Edmonton's lead at 2-1, and eventually allowed Smith to tie the game with 2:33 left in regulation.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at . Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, . Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page .