Predators at Oilers
The Nashville Predators continue their five-game road trip when they visit the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Nashville began its trek with a 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday before being outscored by a combined 13-7 margin in losses to the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Pekka Rinne was pulled in each of the setbacks as he allowed a total of six goals on 14 shots.
Edmonton began its long-awaited four-game homestand Friday with a disappointing 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. After completing a franchise-record nine-game road trip with a 3-4-2 record, the Oilers got off to a strong start against Detroit and carried a 2-0 lead into the third period before letting it slip away. Edmonton will look to avenge a 6-0 defeat in Nashville on March 8.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), Rogers Sportsnet West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (11-11-6): Sergei Kostitsyn's lack of production earned him a spot in the press box Friday as he was a healthy scratch. The left wing, who turns 27 on Wednesday, has only two goals and hasn't scored since Feb. 18 at Colorado. Chris Mueller made his season debut in Kostitsyn's place and recorded one shot on goal while winning four of five faceoffs. Mueller still is in search of his first career goal but has registered three assists in 20 NHL contests. After posting his league-leading fifth shutout against Dallas, Rinne surrendered four goals on 12 shots against Vancouver before being replaced. He didn't even make a save on Friday, allowing each of Calgary's first two shots to get past him before landing on the bench.
ABOUT THE OILERS (10-11-6): Defenseman Jeff Petry had a night to forget Friday. After firing a loose puck into his own net with 5:53 remaining in the third period to tie the game, Petry fell for a deke by Pavel Datsyuk in overtime, allowing the star forward to beat Devan Dubnyk with a wrist shot for the winning goal. "It doesn't feel good now, but I can't hang my head," Petry said. According to coach Ralph Krueger, defenseman Mark Fistric is likely to be in the lineup for the first time since suffering an elbow injury against Dallas on Feb. 28. Ryan Jones, however, is questionable as he attempts to recover from the flu.
OVERTIME
1. The Predators have won nine of their last 12 visits to Edmonton.
2. Nashville is 1-7-1 in its last nine road games.
3. The winning team has scored six goals in three of the last four matchups.
PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Predators 2