The Nashville Predators are looking more legit game by game. With a 4-3 comeback win against the Calgary Flames, the Preds are only one win out of the second wildcard spot in the West. Since late November, Nashville has turned a page and are finding themselves in the playoff race in the Central. 7-3 in their last 10 games, the Predators could very well be back in business.
Staying in Alberta to wrap up the road trip, Nashville now turns their attention to their next opponent in the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton (20-16-6) is atop the Pacific Division, led by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. If the Predators want to prove to the league that they're indeed what they appear to be, snagging two points from the Oilers is a must.
Nashville Predators Vs. Edmonton Oilers Previous Matchups
In 92 appearances all time, Nashville takes the edge over Edmonton with a 46-35-8 (OTL/T) record. Recently however, the Oilers gained control and have beat the Predators in nearly every game. In the past five seasons and over a span of 15 games, Nashville has only managed to win two games and get the loser point twice in OT.
Filip Forsberg has 26 points against the Oilers, 14 of which were goals. As the heart and soul of the Predators offense, adding to that tally is important. Roman Josi has 23 points and a -2 +/-. However, in the last five seasons, Josi has racked a +/- of -10. Constantly battling against some of the best players in the world has taken a toll on his stats, a bounce back would be nice.
For Edmonton, McDavid has 43 points against Nashville. Some of his best goals of his career have been scored against the Preds so our squad must prepare to stop another. Draisaitl has a strong distaste for the Nashville organization as he has 48 points, 27 of which are goals. It's almost a given that he'll score at some point throughout the game. If the Predators want to take the game, stopping him is a priority for the defense.
Both rosters have shifted drastically overtime so it's important not to dwell too much on past matchups. Let's take a look at the standout players from both squads for Tuesday night's game.