Edmonton Oilers Ready for Battle With Predators

The Edmonton Oilers haven’t had the most success against Nashville, but they will look for a victory Sunday against the Predators. The team has a lot on the line in its final 20 games of the season.

Edmonton is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, a game full of turnovers. Sunday, the Oilers will look to be a bit more careful with the puck, and will also get back the services of Adam Larsson.

Edmonton Oilers

Projected Lines

Forwards:

Patrick Maroon-Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl

Milan Lucic-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Jordan Eberle

Drake Caggiula-Mark Letestu-Zack Kassian

Jujhar Khaira-Matt Hendricks-Iiro Pakarinen

Defence:

Oscar Klefbom-Adam Larsson

Andrej Sekera-Kris Russell

Brandon Davidson-Matthew Benning

Goaltender:

Cam Talbot

Game Notes

– Cam Talbot is coming off an amazing performance against Washington. He made key saves and stood on his head, and was a huge part of why the game was so close. The 29-year-old netminder made 23 saves on 25 shots and kept the Oilers in the competition.

– Darnell Nurse will return to the lineup after he was out with an ankle injury for 35 days. Adam Larsson is a game-time decision. Eric Gryba, who had six hits and three blocks against Washington, will slot out. Gryba also took a poor holding penalty that cost his team in the third period of Friday’s contest.

– Leon Draisaitl scored his team-high 23rd goal of the season Friday, and will remain on the top line as a winger. Mark Letestu and Matt Hendricks are the centres finishing out the bottom-six.

– Jujhar Khaira and Iiro Pakarinen will continue to combine their versatility and physicality, and should be players to watch on the Oilers’ fourth line. They were putting on tremendous pressure with Hendricks Friday against Washington.

– Edmonton is tied for second in the Pacific with the Anaheim Ducks and is sitting fourth in the West. They are in a comfortbale position and hold a seven-point lead over eighth-seed St. Louis.