Nashville Predators look to stay in fourth place with win over Edmonton Oilers - NHL Preview
Nashville Predators are in a fight for fourth place against Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. They will be looking to maintain their position in the Western Conference as they take on Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the Bridgestone
Arena.
The Predators have failed to defeat the Oilers in their last two encounters but will be confident of changing things around this time at the Bridgestone Arena.
Nashville are on a good run of form but need to put together wins to increase the gap between themselves and Detroit Red Wings.
Both the Predators and Red Wings are tied on points at 92 and a win is a must for Nashville to secure home ice advantage heading into the playoffs.
Edmonton on the other hand have just a mathematical possibility of making the playoffs. The Oilers though have recently had the better of their Tuesday night opponents and have even beaten them by a huge 6-2 margin early in the season.
That win will give the Oilers confidence heading into this game as they would like to spoil Nashville’s bid for ending the regular season in fourth.
Predators (42-22-8, 92 pts)
Nashville ended a two-game losing run with a 3-1 victory on Sunday on the road to the Anaheim Ducks.
The Predators went down by a goal in the first period and had to wait till the third period to equalise the score as Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller frustrated their offence.
However, Nashville put three goals past Hiller in the third period to win the game in convincing fashion.
Forward Patric Hornqvist was relieved with the victory and said after the game.
"It was a big, big two points for us. We had to climb in the standings and try to catch Detroit and St. Louis. You never know what can happen, and we want to win every game."
Oilers (28-36-8, 64 pts)
Edmonton’s two-game winning run came to an end on Sunday after a tense shootout defeat to Phoenix Coyotes.
The Oilers failed to keep hold of their two goal lead in the final period of the game as the Coyotes fought back and equalised the scores late in the third period.
Ray Whitney beat Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk in the shootout to give the Coyotes the win.
Forward Jordan Eberle was visibly frustrated with the defeat.
"It's very frustrating. It seems to be the story of our season. A couple of mistakes and it costs us the game."
Predictions
Nashville will be favourites for the win.
Sum of goals will be less than six.
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