Preview: Oilers at Predators

OILERS (33-21-8) at PREDATORS (30-22-9)
5 p.m. ET; SN360, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Oilers team scope

Edmonton Oilers defensemen Darnell Nurse (lower body) and Adam Larsson (lower body) each skated Saturday and are game-time decisions. Larsson has missed two games and Nurse has been sidelined since Dec. 1, 2016. "We've got to remember, he's been out for a long, long time so when he does get to play we'll have to manage him a little bit maybe minute-wise and his matchups, but also allow him to get back into it," coach Todd McLellan said of Nurse. "There may be some mistakes he typically doesn't make but that happens with any player after being out for a few months." The Oilers are 2-2-0 on their six-game road trip and tied with the Anaheim Ducks for second place in the Pacific Division following a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday. "We've done some good stuff, but some things we need to clean up as well," captain Connor McDavid said. "[Friday], although it was a loss, it was still a good game for us. We played well, and hung in there with the NHL's best so we can't hang our head about that one."

Predators team scope

Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg is the first NHL player with seven goals in a three-game span since Michael Grabner did it for the New York Islanders from Feb. 10-13, 2011. "It's always fun to score goals, especially when we win games," Forsberg said. "It definitely feels good. Just [have] to try to keep working hard." The Predators are 2-0-1 on their four-game homestand and moved into third place in the Central Division with a 5-2 win against the Capitals on Saturday. "It's an important time right now," defenseman Roman Josi said. "With the goals, sometimes you're playing really well and you don't get any goals, sometimes you're playing not as well and you get goals. It's a weird thing sometimes, but I think everybody's doing a great job. Everybody's stepping up. I thought we played pretty well in the last couple games." The Predators are 18-7-7 at Bridgestone Arena and 8-2-2 in their past 12 home games.

Oilers projected lineup

Pat Maroon -- Connor McDavid -- Leon Draisaitl
Milan Lucic -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Jordan Eberle
Drake Caggiula -- Mark Letestu -- Zack Kassian
Matt Hendricks -- Jujhar Khaira -- Iiro Pakarinen
Andrej Sekera -- Kris Russell
Oscar Klefbom -- Matt Benning
Brandon Davidson -- Eric Gryba
Cam Talbot
Laurent Brossoit
Scratched:Anton Slepyshev
Injured: Adam Larsson (lower body), Benoit Pouliot (undisclosed), Darnell Nurse (lower body), Tyler Pitlick (torn ACL)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Mike Fisher -- Craig Smith
Colin Wilson -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Austin Watson
Harry Zolnierczyk -- Vernon Fiddler -- James Neal
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Anthony Bitetto, Brad Hunt, Colton Sissons
Injured: Cody McLeod (lower body), Miikka Salomaki (lower body)

Status report

McLellan said that it's unlikely Pouliot will play. … Saros started for the Predators against the Capitals, making Rinne the likely starter against the Oilers.

Who's hot

Draisaitl has three goals and four assists in his past six games. … Klefbom has three goals and three assists in his past six games. … Josi has six goals in his past eight games. … Arvidsson has eight goals and five assists in his past 11 games.