PREDATORS 3, OILERS 2

NASHVILLE — Playing hours after the NHL trade deadline isn’t easy, and a pair of late deals left the Nashville Predators short a couple of forwards.

Then the Predators went out and hit at least six posts, including two in the shootout.

Brian Boyle scored in the fourth round, though, and Nashville edged the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Monday night. P.K. Subban had a goal and an assist after missing the morning skate due to an illness. Colton Sissons also scored as the Predators won for the third time in four games to pass Winnipeg for first place in the Central Division. The Jets have three games in hand.

Pekka Rinne made a pad save on Ty Rattie when the Oilers forward tried to extend the shootout.

Leon Draisaitl scored twice for Edmonton, which won its previous two games.

Kyle Turris and Ryan Ellis each hit the post as the first two shooters for Nashville in the tiebreaker. After Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators, Sam Gagner forced the shootout to sudden death.

The Predators were shorthanded because of a pair of deals that sent Kevin Fiala to Minnesota for Mikael Granlund, and Ryan Hartman to Philadelphia for Wayne Simmonds. Granlund’s fiancee was in labour Monday, while Simmonds is expected to join Nashville in time for tonight’s game in St. Louis.

The Oilers played without star centre Connor McDavid, who sat out the second and last game of his NHL suspension for an illegal hit to the head.

“It wouldn’t matter if Connor was in or not,” Edmonton coach Ken Hitchcock said of Draisaitl. “He’s taking his game to another level. He’s embraced the details of being a really good player. And it’s made him more effective on a daily basis.”