NASHVILLE -- Luke Evangelista scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Nashville Predators defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

The Nashville Predators host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 20. Follow for live updates.

Luke Evangelista broke a tie at 9:18 of the third period to help the Nashville Predators beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 on Saturday night

After a deflating 5-3 loss to Nashville, it seemed more difficult than ever for Toronto to keep the darkness at bay.

Luke Evangelista scored the go-ahead goal for the Predators against the Maple Leafs on Dec. 20. Here's what he said during his emotional celebration.

The Nashville winger recorded one of the more impressive goals in recent memory as he helped his club to a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bridgestone Arena. The result gets the Preds back in the win column and gives them a split of the season series against the Leafs.

The Leafs acquired Maccelli for a conditional third-round draft pick this summer. The hope was that he could provide some offense in the top-six forward group but that really hasn’t panned out. He has four goals and five assists in 22 games this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. ET. The game airs on ESPN+. Toronto fell in a 4-0 loss on the road its last time out on Dec. 18 against the Washington Capitals. Nashville's last game was a home loss, 4-1, to the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 17.