Predators at Oilers preview

PREDATORS (19-7-4) at OILERS (13-16-2)
9 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, SNW, FS-TN, NHL.TV

The Predators, who defeated the Vancouver Canucks 7-1 on Wednesday, are 9-1-2 in their past 12 games. The Oilers have lost two straight at home but are coming off a 7-2 road win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

Players to watch

Predators forward Kevin Fiala is on a five-game point streak (four goals, three assists). He had a goal and assist against Vancouver and has scored in four of his past five games.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and three assists against Columbus. He has 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in his past 12 games.

They said it

"Even on that three-game road trip we were 2-1, but we were still win one, lose one. We have to put a lot of games together because we're still looking up [in the standings] and have to jump a bunch of teams."-- Oilers forward Mark Letestu
"We're going to have to park this game. We liked the way we played, but going into Edmonton, just personally, I don't watch much hockey during the season, but I have seen the past couple of their games and they are playing really good hockey right now." -- Predators defenseman P.K. Subban after the win at Vancouver

Predators projected lineup

Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Filip Forsberg -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Pontus Aberg
Nick Bonino -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Scott Hartnell -- Colton Sissons -- Austin Watson
Roman Josi -- Mattias Ekholm
Alexei Emelin -- P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin -- Yannick Weber
Juuse Saros
Pekka Rinne
Scratched:Anthony Bitetto, Miikka Salomaki, Cody McLeod
Injured: Ryan Ellis (knee)

Oilers projected lineup

Milan Lucic -- Connor McDavid -- Jesse Puljujarvi
Patrick Maroon -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Michael Cammalleri
Jujhar Khaira -- Leon Draisaitl -- Ryan Strome
Anton Slepyshev -- Mark Letestu -- Zack Kassian
Darnell Nurse -- Kris Russell
Oscar Klefbom -- Matt Benning
Brandon Davidson -- Yohann Auvitu
Laurent Brossoit
Nick Ellis
Scratched:Eric Gryba, Nathan Walker, Drake Caggiula
Injured: Andrej Sekera (knee), Cam Talbot (undisclosed), Adam Larsson (upper body)

Status report

Nashville did not have a morning skate. Saros is expected to start in the second game of a back-to-back, although Rinne is 9-0-0 with three shutouts in his past nine starts against Edmonton. … Talbot practiced and could return Saturday at the Minnesota Wild.

Stat pack

Jarnkrok has scored in each of his past three games and has five points (four goals, one assist) in that span. ... Lucic has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five games.