The Nashville Predators delivered an electrifying performance on home ice, rallying in the third period to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 at Bridgestone Arena on December 20, 2025. In a matchup that featured momentum swings, highlight-reel goals, and a raucous crowd, it was Luke Evangelista’s go-ahead tally midway through the third that ultimately tipped the scales in Nashville’s favor.
Fans tuning in on FanDuel Sports Network, or streaming via FUBO and ESPN+, were treated to a contest that had just about everything hockey aficionados could hope for—early drama, clutch saves, and a dash of late-game insurance that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. The Predators, who had struggled with slow starts all season, once again found themselves behind early, but this time, they summoned the resilience to claw their way back and secure two crucial points in the standings.
The scoring opened just minutes into the first period, as Toronto’s Nicolas Roy tipped in a pass from Bobby McCann, giving the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at the 18:25 mark. It was a familiar script for Nashville, who have made a habit of allowing early goals this season. The Predators looked out of sync offensively and struggled to generate quality chances, while Toronto pressed their advantage and threatened to extend the lead. Juuse Saros, Nashville’s stalwart goaltender, had his work cut out for him from the opening puck drop, but managed to keep the deficit at one heading into the first intermission.
The second period saw the Predators begin to find their footing, though not without some adversity. After killing off a penalty to Cole Smith, Nashville started to push back. Their persistence paid off when Roman Josi fired a long-range shot that was expertly tipped by Erik Haula past Toronto netminder Joseph Woll, knotting the game at 1-1 on the power play. That goal seemed to inject some life into the Predators, who began to tilt the ice in their favor. However, the Maple Leafs responded quickly; John Tavares, ever the reliable captain, deflected a shot from Matias Maccelli to restore Toronto’s lead at 2-1.
But the second period drama wasn’t over yet. With time winding down, Adam Wilsby—playing with confidence and poise—joined the rush and received a brilliant feed from Ryan O’Reilly, who had been set up by a strong play from Filip Forsberg to hold off Auston Matthews. Wilsby wasted no time, unleashing a wrister that beat Woll over the shoulder for his first goal of the season. Suddenly, it was 2-2, and the momentum had swung back to the home team as the period came to a close.
“It felt amazing to get that first one,” Wilsby said postgame, according to ESPN. “The guys have been telling me to jump up in the play, and tonight it paid off.”
The third period began with both teams trading chances, but it was Nashville that seized the moment. With 10:42 left on the clock, Luke Evangelista deked around Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly and slipped a gorgeous backhand shot over Woll to give the Predators their first lead of the night. The crowd erupted as Evangelista, who had been sandwiched between two Leafs earlier in the shift to draw a penalty, celebrated what would stand as the game-winning goal. “I just saw a bit of space and went for it,” Evangelista told The Athletic. “You dream of scoring goals like that in big games.”
Toronto pressed hard to equalize, but Saros stood tall, making key stops to preserve the lead. The Maple Leafs, who have now dropped four of their last five games, pulled Woll for an extra attacker in the final minutes. That gamble backfired, as Steven Stamkos pounced on a loose puck and fired it into the empty net, extending the Predators’ lead to 4-2. Not content to leave it there, Cole Smith added another empty netter for Nashville, all but sealing the result. Leafs forward Bobby McCann managed a consolation goal late, but it was too little, too late, as the final horn sounded with Nashville on top 5-3.
Stamkos, who finished with a goal and an assist, was quick to credit his teammates for the hard-fought win. “Everyone contributed tonight,” he said in a postgame scrum, as reported by USA TODAY. “We stuck with it after a tough start and found a way.”
Juuse Saros, who turned aside 19 shots to notch his 13th win of the campaign, was a steadying force in net. On the other side, Joseph Woll was busy all night, making 29 saves in a losing effort for Toronto. The Predators’ defensive corps, led by captain Roman Josi and featuring contributions from Nick Perbix, Brady Skjei, and the goal-scoring Wilsby, helped limit Toronto’s high-octane attack, particularly in the final frame.
With the win, Nashville improved to 14-16-4 on the season, good for 32 points as they look to climb back into playoff contention. The Maple Leafs, now 15-14-5 with 35 points, will have to regroup quickly as they prepare for a tough road matchup against the Dallas Stars on December 21. The Predators, meanwhile, will look to build on their momentum when they host the New York Rangers the same night.
The game’s odds, according to BetMGM prior to puck drop, had the Predators at +1.5 (-250) and the Maple Leafs at -1.5 (+200), with an over/under set at six goals. Bettors who took the over were rewarded, as the teams combined for eight goals in a fast-paced affair.
Looking back at Nashville’s season so far, inconsistency has plagued the team, with several games slipping away in the closing moments. However, Thursday’s win over Toronto showcased the Predators’ potential when they play with urgency and discipline. The offensive contributions from up and down the lineup, including timely scoring from both veterans and emerging talents, suggest that Nashville may be turning a corner as the season approaches its midpoint.
For Toronto, the loss is another frustrating chapter in a campaign that has seen flashes of brilliance but not enough sustained success. With key players like Tavares and Matthews continuing to produce, the Maple Leafs will need to tighten up defensively and find ways to close out games if they hope to keep pace in the ultra-competitive Eastern Conference.
As the Predators and Maple Leafs look ahead to their next contests, fans can only wonder if this dramatic clash will serve as a turning point for either club. One thing’s for sure: Nashville’s thrilling win on home ice has given their supporters plenty to cheer about heading into the holiday stretch.
