NHL Preview from The Sports Network
Monday, November 28th
(All times Eastern)
Nashville Predators (10-8-4) at Edmonton Oilers (12-9-2), 9:30 p.m.
(Sports Network) - The Nashville Predators will attempt to snap a season high-
tying losing streak this evening in a matchup with the hosting Edmonton Oilers
at Rexall Place.
The Predators are on their second four-game losing streak, having also lost
four in a row from Oct. 13-20. Nashville's skid was extended on Saturday with
a 4-1 setback in Detroit.
Pekka Rinne has been in net for all four of the recent losses, making 33 saves
on Saturday. Jack Hillen ended Detroit's shutout bid when he scored with 5:34
to go.
"They dominated us the whole game," said Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter.
"Maybe they felt bad for us late, sat back and let us get that goal."
Nashville, which is 0-5-1 when trailing after the first period, is looking to
avoid its first five-game slide since Dec. 18-28 of last year.
The Predators have lost the first two of a five-game road trip and visit an
Oilers club that sports a 7-2-1 home record on the year. Edmonton will be
thankful to return to Rexall Place tonight for a six-game homestand after
losing for the sixth time in nine games on Saturday. Seven of those contests
took place on the road.
Edmonton was handed a 5-2 setback by Colorado on Saturday. Devan Dubnyk made
24 saves for the Oilers, who lost Taylor Hall to a left shoulder injury in the
first period, though he returned. Edmonton also saw Colorado score four goals
in the period to rally for the win.
"We took some penalties. That didn't help obviously," said Oilers head coach
Tom Renney. "We were down to pretty much three lines and some extra skaters,
so we were a little bit of short bench. I think maybe fatigue caught up to us
and probably cost us the game at the end of the night."
Ryan Jones had a goal in the loss and Ladislav Smid tallied his first marker
since Dec. 5, 2009, banging a feed from Sam Gagner into an open net.
"It was a great pass by [Gagner]. He really did all the work. I just happened
to finish it," Smid said.
Edmonton has won five of its last six at home and has outscored Nashville 9-3
in taking a pair of meetings so far this year. The Oilers have won four of the
past five encounters overall, but the Predators have still won eight of their
last 11 trips to Rexall Place.
11/28 10:40:07 ET
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