EDMONTON, Alberta, March 1 (UPI) -- Vitali Yachmenev beat Tommy Salo from beyond the blue line in the opening minute of the third period and Martin Erat scored with 1:56 remaining Thursday night as the Nashville Predators rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
Yachmenev was a good stride beyond the blue line when he ripped a slap shot that handcuffed Salo. It was a goal eerily similar to the one Salo surrendered to Vladimir Kopat as Belarus stunned Sweden in the quarterfinals of the Olympic hockey tournament.
Erat's game-winner was a little more conventional. He tracked down a loose puck at the top of the left faceoff circle and whipped a shot over Salo, who had collided with teammate Eric Brewer and could not get his glove up in time.
Mike Dunham stoppped just 22 shots but made 11 saves in the opening five minutes for the Predators, who are unbeaten in six of the last seven games (5-1-1).
Todd Marchant scored a shorthanded goal and Mike Comrie had a power-play tally for Edmonton, which has just one win in its last eight games (1-4-3).
