Predators hunting for new streak vs. Oilers
Edmonton to start with Brossoit in goal
The Predators' record 14-game point streak (9-0-5) ended Saturday with a 4-2 loss at the Vancouver Canucks. It was their first regulation loss since Feb. 9.
"We're 0-2 in our last two games so I don't want to paint this real pretty picture," said Predators coach Peter Laviolette. The Predators had lost 3-2 in overtime to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. "There are things that have been loose and we've given up too much. In the first period [in Vancouver] we didn't play well at all. Even in the second and third period, when we turned on the gas and really started cranking it out offensively, we still left our defensive situation vulnerable at times and there are lot of things we can do better and we're working at it."
The Predators are seven points ahead of the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and seven points behind the Chicago Blackhawks for third place in the Central Division.
"I think right now we're focusing on playing good hockey. And I think for the most part we're doing that right now," Predators defenseman Shea Weber said. "I think looking back at last year, we were in a good position early on in the season and then we hit a little bit of a wall. We're hoping we're really hitting our stride now rather than early on where we couldn't string anything together. Hopefully that will help us down the road."
Predators forward Filip Forsberg was a catalyst offensively for Nashville during its point streak, with 11 goals, including two hat tricks, and six assists.
"Our line has been playing really well," Forsberg said. "We've maybe picked up our game a little bit more. At the same time we've been working really hard and we've been scoring a lot of goals and that's what we're here for."
Pekka Rinne will start in goal for the Predators. He is 7-1-2 in his past 10 games.
Goaltender Laurent Brossoit will start for the Oilers, who have been shut out in two of their past three games.
Brossoit gave up six goals on 27 shots in a 6-3 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 4, his last start. Brossoit, who was recalled Feb. 27 from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League to backup Cam Talbot, is looking for his first NHL win (0-2-1).
"This is a little bit of a redemption shot and I'll be sure to be prepared," Brossoit said. "I have no choice but to shake it off [his last start] and I have to take it day-by-day. That's in the past and I'm past it."
The Oilers have one win in their past eight home games (1-6-1) and likely will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.
"Obviously we're not in that position [battling for a playoff spot] so it becomes a mental battle night in and night out," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "The cliché is that we're professionals and we should be able to show up and play hard, but it does become taxing mentally. But I think there is too many guys in that room that have way too much to play for to decide to take a few nights off."
Here are the projected lineups:
PREDATORS
Calle Jarnkrok - Ryan Johansen - James Neal
Filip Forsberg - Mike Ribeiro - Craig Smith
Miikka Salomaki - Mike Fisher - Viktor Arvidsson
Colin Wilson - Colton Sissons - Austin Watson
Roman Josi - Shea Weber
Anthony Bitetto - Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm - Petter Granberg
Pekka Rinne
Carter Hutton
Injured: Gabriel Bourque (upper body), Paul Gaustad (upper body), Eric Nystrom (broken foot)
Scratched: Barret Jackman
OILERS
Pat Maroon - Connor McDavid - Jordan Eberle
Taylor Hall - Leon Draisaitl - Iiro Pakarinen
Lauri Korpikoski - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Nail Yakupov
Matt Hendricks - Mark Letestu - Zack Kassian
Andrej Sekera - Mark Fayne
Griffin Reinhart - Adam Clendening
Nikita Nikitin - Jordan Oesterle
Laurent Brossoit
Cam Talbot
Injured: Oscar Klefbom (foot), Andrew Ference (hip), Brandon Davidson (knee), Benoit Pouliot (shoulder), Eric Gryba (knee), Adam Pardy (undisclosed)
Scratched: Luke Gazdic, Anton Lander, Adam Cracknell
Suspended: Darnell Nurse
Status report:Nurse has one game remaining on his three-game suspension for being the aggressor of an altercation with San Jose Sharks defenseman Roman Polak on March 8.
Who's hot:Forsberg has eight goals and five assists in his past nine games. … Sissons has two goals and one assist in his past three games. … Fisher has three goals and one assist in his past four games. … Korpikoski has two goals in his past four games.
