Predators at Oilers
The Nashville Predators can do no wrong of late with wins in five straight games to bolster their lead atop the Central Division while matching upstart Vegas with the most points in the Western Conference. The surging Predators look to continue their good fortune on Thursday as they visit Edmonton bidding for their 12th consecutive victory over the Oilers.
Captain Roman Josi scored in Nashville's 4-0 romp over Edmonton on Dec. 14, had an assist in a 2-1 victory versus the Oilers on Jan. 9 and set up a career-best and franchise high-tying five tallies in the Predators' 6-5 triumph over Winnipeg on Tuesday. Josi has one goal and 11 assists during his five-game point streak for Nashville, which moved four points ahead of the Jets in the Central. Edmonton answered a six-game losing skid by winning four of five before dropping a 5-2 decision at San Jose to conclude a three-game road trip. The Oilers will begin a five-game homestand vying for their first win over the Predators since October 2014.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), Sportsnet West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (39-14-9): Pekka Rinne overcame a five-goal performance to emerge victorious in his fourth straight start on Tuesday, but that winning streak pales in comparison to the 10-game stretch he owns with a scintillating .955 save percentage against Edmonton. The 35-year-old Finn hasn't allowed more than one goal in six of those contests, with Rinne admitting after last month's 25-save effort versus the Oilers that he was surprised by his run of dominance. "I didn't know that, but that's an impressive record," Rinne said at the time. "There's something about some teams that you seem to find success. I guess the Oilers are just one of those teams, but it's not because they're not a good team."
ABOUT THE OILERS (27-32-4): Reigning Hart Trophy recipient Connor McDavid continued his torrid stretch early in the first period on Tuesday by converting a 2-on-1 rush for his 13th goal in 14 games. The 21-year-old, who also has eight assists in that run, leads the struggling team in goals (28), assists (47) and points (75) and has his club's lone tally this season versus the Predators. Leon Draisaitl, who assisted on that goal, tallied in three straight games and also had two assists before being held off the scoresheet with a minus-3 rating against the Sharks.
OVERTIME
1. Nashville C Craig Smith scored twice on Tuesday to extend his career-high point streak to eight games (four goals, five assists) while RW Viktor Arvidsson set up a pair of tallies to give him 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in his past 19 contests.
2. The Oilers 31st-ranked power play is 0-for-19 in its last 11 games overall and 0-for-4 versus the Predators this season.
3. Nashville's David Poile (1,319) is tied with Glen Sather for the most wins all-time for an NHL general manager.