Senators at Oilers preview

SENATORS (11-16-1) at OILERS (17-9-3)
9:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, SNOL, TSN5, NHL.TV

The Senators have been outscored 18-6 during the skid after going 5-1-0 in their previous six games. They will play the fourth of a five-game road trip and second half of a back-to-back following a 5-2 loss at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.
Goalie Marcus Hogberg is expected to make his second start of the season; he made 24 saves in a 3-1 loss at the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
The Oilers, 7-4-1 in their past 12 games, hold a one-point lead over the Arizona Coyotes for first place in the Pacific Division.
Goalie Mikko Koskinen will make his second straight start; he's 5-1-1 with a 2.58 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and one shutout in his past eight games (seven starts).

Players to watch

Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau has scored a goal in each of his past two games and leads Ottawa with 21 points (15 goals, six assists).
Oilers center Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL with 51 points (19 goals, 32 assists), has 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in his past 14 games.

They said it

"We have to have a good start … and we have to take care of McDavid and [forward Leon] Draisaitl. We have to make sure we're above them and know where they are on the ice at all times." -- Senators forward Tyler Ennis
"You can lose every given night, that's what makes this league so special. This is a team that offensively, they can make you pay. They have great offensive weapons." -- Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse on the Senators

Senators projected lineup

Brady Tkachuk -- Logan Brown -- Anthony Duclair
Nicholas Paul -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Connor Brown
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Artem Anisimov -- Colin White
Filip Chlapik -- Chris Tierney -- Tyler Ennis
Thomas Chabot -- Ron Hainsey
Mark Borowiecki -- Nikita Zaitsev
Erik Brannstrom -- Dylan DeMelo
Marcus Hogberg
Anders Nilsson
Scratched: Max Lajoie, J.C. Beaudin, Mikkel Boedker
Injured: Cody Goloubef (undisclosed), Scott Sabourin (head), Christian Wolanin (upper body), Craig Anderson (lower body)

Oilers projected lineup

James Neal -- Connor McDavid -- Josh Archibald
Jujhar Khaira -- Leon Draisaitl -- Sam Gagner
Joakim Nygard -- Riley Sheahan -- Alex Chiasson
Markus Granlund -- Gaetan Haas - Patrick Russell
Oscar Klefbom -- Adam Larsson
Darnell Nurse -- Ethan Bear
Kris Russell -- Joel Persson
Mikko Koskinen
Mike Smith
Scratched: Brandon Manning
Injured: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (hand), Zack Kassian (back), Matt Benning (head)

Status report

Ottawa did not hold a morning skate Wednesday. … Anderson is close to returning to the lineup, but it is not certain if he will be ready to play Wednesday. … Smith will back up Koskinen after missing the game Tuesday because of a leg injury. … Persson was recalled from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.

Stat pack

Tkachuk will play in his 100th NHL game. … Draisaitl has two goals in his past three games after having 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in his previous 16 games.