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Preds welcome Oilers to Music City

Feb 7, 2011 - 4:23 PM (Sports Network) - After an impressive showing against a top division rival, the Nashville Predators will aim for a second straight win when they host the lowly Edmonton Oilers tonight at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators had lost four straight before notching a shutout victory Saturday against the visiting Detroit Red Wings. Detroit currently leads the division with 68 points and the Preds are five points back in second.

Pekka Rinne stopped 35 shots for his fourth shutout of the season and Sergei Kostitsyn scored twice as Nashville downed Detroit. It was just the third win in Nashville's last nine meetings with the Red Wings.

Shea Weber also had a goal and Ryan Suter added two assists for the Predators, who killed off all five Detroit power-play opportunities.

"The guys that were out there did a great job in terms of the battle," Nashville head coach Barry Trotz said of his penalty killers.

The Predators have won four of their last five home games and are 12-4-6 as the host this season.

While Nashville still has its eyes on a potential division title, the Oilers are dead last in the NHL with 38 points. Edmonton lost its fourth straight game Saturday in Columbus and is just 1-8-1 over its last 10 outings.

The Oilers lost a 4-3 decision to the Blue Jackets despite taking a 3-2 lead on Magnus Paajarvi's goal at 5:31 of the third period. R.J. Umberger tied it for Columbus at 13:44 of the third and Kristian Huselius scored the game- winner just 2:16 later.

"We handed it back to them. We handed it right over," said Oilers head coach Tom Renney.

Paajarvi scored twice for the Oilers. Dustin Penner also scored and Nikolai Khabibulin finished with 30 saves as Edmonton lost its fourth straight game in regulation.

Tonight marks the end of a three-game road trip for the Oilers, who are just 8-15-4 away from Rexall Place this season. Edmonton will begin a six-game homestand Wednesday night against Chicago.

The Predators recorded a 3-2 shootout win in Edmonton on Jan. 23 in the only meeting between the clubs this season. Nashville has dominated the series recently, claiming four straight, six of seven and 15 of the last 17 encounters overall.

Edmonton has also lost eight of its last nine games in the Music City.