Final
  for this game

Predators-Oilers Preview

Dec 16, 2009 - 6:49 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Nashville (20-11-3) at Edmonton (15-14-4), 9:30 p.m. EDT

A favorable schedule since mid-November has helped the Nashville Predators. Now they'll see how they fare during a heavy stretch of road games over the next two weeks.

The Predators, coming off their highest-scoring game of the season, begin a three-game trip Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

Nashville has gone 12-3-2 since Nov. 13, winning nine of 13 at home during that stretch. The Predators (20-11-3) now have to go on the road for six of seven, beginning with this trip through Western Canada.

Nashville should come in with some momentum after another balanced offensive attack in a 7-4 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

After a 5-3 win at Columbus the night before, the Predators had 14 players record at least one point. They were outshot 13-6 in the opening period but scored five goals in the second.

David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist each had a goal and an assist as Nashville scored four or more goals for the sixth time in eight games.

"Everyone is a lot more upbeat," said Joel Ward, who had two assists Tuesday. "We have more jump. We are getting more goals from different guys each night. We have to keep that ball rolling."

Over the last 17 games, 14 players have scored, with four notching more than four goals. Martin Erat has 10 goals and six assists over the stretch, and he scored his seventh goal in seven games Tuesday.

Erat has a four-game point streak in Edmonton, recording five goals and two assists.

Nashville, which is 4-0-1 in its last five on the road, split two games at Rexall Place last season after winning the previous four there. The Predators may be looking for a measure of revenge after the Oilers beat them 6-1 in Nashville on Oct. 12.

Edmonton (15-14-4) is trying to bounce back after having its five-game winning streak snapped with a 3-2 loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday in the opener of a four-game homestand.

The Oilers are in last place in the Northwest Division but have improved recently thanks to their goaltending. They have not allowed more than three goals in six games since falling 7-3 at Vancouver on Nov. 28.

Against the Kings, Jeff Deslauriers gave up the winning goal with 4:33 left in the third period after Sheldon Souray and Ryan Potulny scored to rally Edmonton from a 2-0 deficit. Despite the comeback, coach Pat Quinn was upset by a lackluster effort in his team's first game since Friday.

"I haven't felt angry this year yet, but I am angry now about how we played," Quinn said. "How could you like the result? We were the team that was supposed to be rested and fresh. I don't know if there is any excuse for being dumb.

"We don't shoot the puck, we stay out too long, we make bad changes, we do things that beat ourselves. It's hard not to be upset."

Slow starts have been a problem for the Oilers, who have one first-period goal in their last five games.

Edmonton has lost a season-high three straight at home.








  • -------------------------------------------
    Nashville
    3 2 1 --6
    Edmonton 2 1 0 --3
    -------------------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Edmonton, Robert Nilsson 3 (power play)
    (Lubomir Visnovsky, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers), 03:05. 2, Edmonton,
    Lubomir Visnovsky 8 (Gilbert Brule, Dustin Penner), 05:01. 3,
    Nashville, Ryan Jones 4 (Unassisted), 12:13

    Dec 18 12:02 AM


  • -------------------------------------------
    Nashville
    3 2 1 --6
    Edmonton 2 1 0 --3
    -------------------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Edmonton, Robert Nilsson 3 (power play)
    (Lubomir Visnovsky, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers), 03:05. 2, Edmonton,
    Lubomir Visnovsky 8 (Gilbert Brule, Dustin Penner), 05:01. 3,
    Nashville, Ryan Jones 4 (Unassisted), 12:13

    Dec 18 12:02 AM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 6
    EDMONTON 3 00:44 LEFT, 3RD PRD

    Predators 6, Oilers 3  3rd - 0:44Dec 18 12:01 AM


  • --------------------------------------
    Nashville
    3 2 --5
    Edmonton 2 1 --3
    --------------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Edmonton, Robert Nilsson 3 (power play)
    (Lubomir Visnovsky, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers), 03:05. 2, Edmonton,
    Lubomir Visnovsky 8 (Gilbert Brule, Dustin Penner), 05:01. 3,
    Nashville, Ryan Jones 4 (Unassisted), 12:13. 4, Nashville, Joel

    Dec 17 11:11 PM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 5
    EDMONTON 3 00:04 LEFT, 2ND PRD

    Predators 5, Oilers 3  2nd - 0:04Dec 17 11:11 PM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 4
    EDMONTON 3 05:50 LEFT, 2ND PRD

    Predators 4, Oilers 3  2nd - 5:50Dec 17 10:59 PM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 4
    EDMONTON 2 11:42 LEFT, 2ND PRD

    Predators 4, Oilers 2  2nd - 11:42Dec 17 10:48 PM


  • ---------------------------------
    Nashville
    3 --3
    Edmonton 2 --2
    ---------------------------------

    FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Edmonton, Robert Nilsson 3 (power play)
    (Lubomir Visnovsky, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers), 03:05. 2, Edmonton,
    Lubomir Visnovsky 8 (Gilbert Brule, Dustin Penner), 05:01. 3,
    Nashville, Ryan Jones 4 (Unassisted), 12:13. 4, Nashville, Joel Ward
    6 (David Legwa

    Dec 17 10:19 PM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 3
    EDMONTON 2 03:01 LEFT, 1ST PRD

    Predators 3, Oilers 2  1st - 3:01Dec 17 10:15 PM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 2
    EDMONTON 2 03:51 LEFT, 1ST PRD

    Predators 2, Oilers 2  1st - 3:51Dec 17 10:11 PM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 1
    EDMONTON 2 07:47 LEFT, 1ST PRD

    Predators 1, Oilers 2  1st - 7:47Dec 17 10:04 PM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 0
    EDMONTON 2 14:59 LEFT, 1ST PRD

    Predators 0, Oilers 2  1st - 14:59Dec 17 9:47 PM


  • NHL
    NASHVILLE 0
    EDMONTON 1 16:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD

    Predators 0, Oilers 1  1st - 16:55Dec 17 9:43 PM