Edmonton Oilers (18-22-3) (6th, Pacific)

Nashville Predators (24-11-6) (3rd, Central)

6 PM MDT

Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN

TV: Sportsnet One

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: On The Forecheck

BREAKDOWN

Edmonton’s quest for two points in Chicago was thwarted by Anton Forsberg and the rest of the Blackhawks. Four different Blackhawks scored en route to Chicago’s 4-1 victory over the Oilers in Edmonton. Former Oiler Jordan Oesterle added the team’s fourth goal in the third period. The Oilers were able to hang 33 shots on Anton Forsberg, but he and the Blackhawks were able to secure a victory at home.

The Oilers have lost six of their last seven. Can the Oilers find two points in Music City?

Let’s go to the tape.

The Oilers are saying

“I know there’s been clamoring for a change, and I can understand those concerns...There’s an element of continuity and stability that’s required here. I believe in working with our staff.."

Source

That’s Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli during a rare media appearance yesterday.

The results haven’t been there for Chiarelli and Co. this year. The team is sixth place in the Pacific, just one point above Vancouver and then there’s lowly Arizona. It would be a near unspeakable feat to miss the playoffs on the last year of Connor McDavid’s entry level deal, but the Oilers are in grave danger of doing exactly that. 43 games into the season, they’re four games below .500, and I can’t tell you the last time they’ve scored more than one goal in a game.

The Predators are saying

“When we put our minds to it, we’re a tough team to play against, and kudos to them over there. They’re a really good veteran team with a lot of great players, and they’ve been there and done that. They’ve won Stanley Cups. They know how to win hockey games.”

Source

That’s Predators forward Austin Watson after his club’s 4-3 win over the LA Kings on Saturday. Watson had two goals (including the game winner) as Nashville would go on to win their first game in three.

Have some of this

• CHIARELLI: Not a real good media spot for Chiarelli yesterday. He knows that the fans have seen just about enough this year, but he did little to quell critics about how it’s going to turn around. Terms like ‘ongoing process’ (the club was supposed to miss the playoffs this year?) and the belief that trading Jordan Eberle was going to fend off an offer sheet for Leon are egregiously bad examples (stop it, you gave Kris Russell an extension ten minutes after the trade) of how he’s done business. The leash is short.

Fans are feeling confident!

• Cam Talbot is again the likely starter for the Oilers (15-15-2, .902 SV% / 3.12 GAA /1 SO). Pekka Rinne is the likely starter for the Predators (20-8-3, .924 SV% / 2.47 GAA 3 SO)
• Connor McDavid has gone seven games without a goal. Heck, the Oilers have only four goals over their last 5 games.
• SICK BAY: Filip Forsberg (upper body) is out for the Predators. The OIlers have no one on the injury report at this time.