Evangelista gave Nashville a 3-2 lead at 9:18 of the third period on a forehand-backhand shot from the right face-off circle on the rush after deking around Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly.
Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist, Erik Haula and Adam Wilsby each scored, and Brady Skjei had two assists for the Predators (14-16-4), who have won two of their past three. Juuse Saros made 19 saves.
Bobby McMann had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (15-14-5), who have lost four of their past five (1-3-1). Joseph Woll made 29 saves.
Nicolas Roy gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 1:32 of the first period, tipping in a pass to the front of the net from McMann on an odd-man rush.
Erik Haula tied it 1-1 with a power-play goal at 4:56 of the second period. Roman Josi sent a one-timer to the net that Haula tipped blocker side from in front after setting up a screen on Woll.
John Tavares put Toronto up 2-1 at 11:57. Matias Macelli’s long-distance wrist shot deflected off Tavares’ right skate in the slot and then off the left skate of Josi before going in the net.
Wilsby evened the score 2-2 at 19:26. Ryan O’Reilly sent a pass to Wilsby in the high slot, where he beat Woll with a wrist shot. It was his first goal since Dec. 17, 2024.
Stamkos added an empty-net goal at 18:25 of the third period for a 4-2 lead.
McMann scored make it 4-3 at 19:06 on a wrist shot from the top of the right circle.
Cole Smith sent a shot into the empty net at 19:51 for the 5-3 final.