Chasing the lead for the majority of the game, it was a highlight reel goal by Luke Evangelista in the third period that gave the Nashville Predators a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena. 

The Predators have now won eight of their last 12 and have not lost back-to-back games since Nov. 24. Nashville has also moved out of eighth place in the Central Division, now tied for sixth.

Erik Haula scored his eighth power-play point of the season on his first goal in 11 games. Adam Wilsby netted his first goal of the season, assisted by Ryan O'Reilly, for his 10th point in nine games. 

Evangelista found the back of the net in the third for a 3-2 lead. Steven Stamkos and Cole Smith added empty net goals to seal the victory. 

Juuse Saros picked up his 13th win of the season, making 19 saves on 22 shots. 

"Saturday night in Smashville, and it was a fun game to...be part of," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "I thought the crowd was electric and it was a really fun, entertaining hockey game. It was a big win. We haven't had all that many great feelings this year,  but we're starting to get a few more." 

Here are three takeaways from the Predators win over the Maple Leafs. 

"Oh my god." 

That was the phrase Evangelista shouted a handful of times after scoring a jaw-dropping goal to give the Predators a 3-2 lead. 

"That celly was a little much," Evangelista said. "I blacked out. I probably should behave a little more, but in a moment like that, the adrenaline gets the best of you." 

Evangelista, coming into the zone, made a move to the backhand past Morgan Rielly to open up the lane. Still on his backhand and on his knee, Evagelista got off a backhand shot that beat Joseph Woll's glove-side, high. 

"I had a similar goal like that my rookie year against San Jose, wasn't as big of a goal, but a toedrag to the middle, shovel and backhander," Evangelista said. "It's a move I work on a little bit during practice in the summer." 

It's Evangelista's first goal of the month, but it's another tally on what has been a standout season, with 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 33 games. In addition, the game was against his hometown team, Evangelista being from Toronto, and was broadcast across Canada on Hockey Night in Canada. 

After the game, Evangelista was given a Hockey Night in Canada branded towel. It was clear that this was a special moment. 

"I've always known he'd make those plays, and it was fun to see him doing a big moment," Brunette said. "Obviously, a Canadian Toronto boy and Hockey Night In Canada, I don't think it gets any better than that." 

Michael Bunting poked fun at Evangelista in the locker room, chanting "oh my god" at him over and over again, but was complimentary of the forwards' scoring efforts. 

"That was one of the nicer goals I've ever seen, but don't tell him that," Bunting said jokingly.
"He's so gifted, skilled, wise, and he sees the ice so well. He's really good at slowing the puck down and making plays." 

Haula, Wilsby break scoring droughts

The Predators saw a bit of a depth boost in scoring tonight as Haula and Wilsby found the back of the net. 

It was Haula's first goal in 11 games and just his fifth of the season. It's just the second time in a month that he's found the back of the net. Despite the woes, he is still the team's leader in power-play points with eight. 

He tipped in a slap shot from Roman Josi at the top of the circles to tie the game for the Predators in the first period, 1-1. 

"I'm just trying to get out there, having battles and trying to make the right plays at the right times," Haula said. "We've got a job to do out there, and I'm just trying to do the best to my ability." 

Wilsby scored a massive goal in the final minute of the second period to tie the game, coming down to fill a gap in the slot and putting away a feed from O'Reilly. 

It was his second career goal, and it ended a 368-day drought. His last goal was against the New York Rangers on Dec. 17, 202,4, in a 2-0 victory. 

"I just saw the land opening up and tried to fill it," Wilsby said. "I just tried to shoot as hard as I could and it went in. It was fun." 

Getting results 

Brunette went so far as to say the team thought he was "crazy" when the Predators weren't winning games, and he didn't want to change their game plan. 

Over the last 24 games, the Predators have gone 8-4-0, previously sitting at 6-12-4 before the victory over the Red Wings on Nov. 26. In less than a month, the Predators have won more games than in the first month and a half of the season. 

"We're sticking with it and now we're getting the results," Brunette said. "They (the players) probably thought I was crazy for the first 25 games or 20 games where we weren't getting the results. I give them credit, I give our leadership group credit. 
They stayed with it all. We're starting to get some results, but not where we want to be yet." 

The attitude from the beginning of the year has not changed. Trust and belief have grown as the Predators are starting to see their effort come to fruition. 

"We're just starting to have a lot of trust in a team and it's fun," Wilsby said. "We've been through a lot of rough waters here, and we're starting to find trust in our team here." 

Up next: New York Rangers (18-15-4, 6th in Metropolitan) at Nashville Predators (14-16-4, 6th in Central) on Sunday at 6 p.m. CST at Bridgestone Arena.