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Nashville Predators: Three Keys to Getting Critical Win Over Oilers

By Clayton Garnier

Jan 27, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) knocks a loose puck away from Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto (56) during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) knocks a loose puck away from Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto (56) during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mark Borowiecki, Nashville Predators
Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Shots, Shots, Shots

Edmonton has had goaltending issues all season, coming from both of their NHL netminders.

The Oilers 2.62 goals against per game is the 13th-worst in the league, but their goaltenders save percentages are .903 (Mike Smith) and .902 (Mikko Koskinen), which puts them at 38th and 40th among NHL goalies with more than 20 games played this season.

However, Smith has been good in his last five starts, going 4-1-0 with a 2.60 GAA and a .918 save percentage, which means he is bound to have a poor performance soon. This is why piling up the shots on goal is essential to success on Thursday night.

Next. Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg Should Be on Same Line. dark

The Oilers have dropped their recent two games, letting up five goals against Minnesota, and dropping a 2-1 shootout result versus Colorado, so the goaltending could really go either way.

Both of those games were played by goaltender Mikko Koskinen who has let up five goals in two of his last five outings.

Whichever of the two netminders gets the nod, the Predators game plan needs to stay consistent, and that is to put plenty of pucks on net against the mediocre goaltending Edmonton has.

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