Predators Can Learn from Past Games Against McDavid, Draisaitl, and the Red Hot Oilers

On November 4, the Nashville Predators beat Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 5-2 at Rogers Place in a Saturday afternoon game. Today the Predators take on the Oilers at Rogers Place for another afternoon Western Conference game, but much has changed since they last met. 

Going into that November 4 game, the Oilers had lost eight of their last ten games while the Predators had started to surprise themselves and the league as a "resetting" team able to hang around in games against Boston and Tampa Bay and winning against the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Nashville's top line was hot, the Oilers were struggling with goaltending, and oh...there was also a different coach behind the bench for Edmonton. 

Just over a week after the Predators defeated the Oilers on home ice, GM Ken Holland fired head coach Jay Woodcroft and hired Kris Knoblauch. Since Knoblauch took over, the Oilers have gone 25-6-0 and have only lost three in a row in that span once. Edmonton is currently enjoying a record setting fifteen consecutive wins in which they have outscored their opponents 58-23 and haven't lost to a Western Conference team in that stretch. 

The Predators' results have been up and down since November 13 going 21-12-1. Inconsistency has been an issue for Nashville, and secondary scoring has been hard to come by. There was an impressive six game win streak, but recently it's been more challenging for Nashville to string together wins. 

What can the Predators learn from their last game against the Oilers and from the few close games the Oilers have played lately and apply to today's game?

Kevin Lankinen got the start in net on November 4, but Juuse Saros is likely to play this afternoon against the Oilers. After a tough stretch in November, Saros has been solid in his last five starts earning a .930 save percentage and a 2.0 GAA. 

In some of Edmonton's close games, goaltending has been what kept opponents in games. Petr Mrazek made 31 of 33 saves, including plenty of high danger saves to keep the Chicago Blackhawks in a one goal game Thursday night until late in the third period. 

Sam Montembeault earned a .951 save percentage in a January 13 game in which Edmonton needed overtime to get a 2-1 win over the Canadiens. Alex Lyon faced 47 shots in the Detroit Red Wings' overtime loss to the Oilers on January 11 and stopped 44. It's hard to contain Edmonton's offense, so goaltending will need to be exceptional today. 

How Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly, and Gus Nyquist go, so go the Nashville Predators it seems. In the November 4 win in Edmonton, Ryan O'Reilly scored a hat trick while Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists, and Nyquist chipped in an assist as well. It has been tough going for the top line in recent games. Opponents know if they can contain that trio, the Predators' offense struggles. The three have combined for just three goals in the last five games.

The top line played a strong 200 foot game against McDavid, Draisaitl, and the Oilers in the 5-2 win. O'Reilly's net front presence, Forsberg's elite puck handling, and Nyquist's speed and playmaking helped the Predators get that win. Nashville will need more of that today to compete. 

 Nashville will need to put plenty of pucks on net to get an improved Stuart Skinner out of position and create rebounds and net front chances. The Predators recorded 34 shots on goal in the November win over Edmonton. Right now Nashville is averaging 30.75 shots per game, but it may take more than that to generate enough offense against Edmonton. 

This is especially true if the Predators can generate chance off the rush. Andrew Brunette said after the Minnesota game that the team sometimes got "too cute in the offensive zone" with one extra pass or play. This isn't a game to try and out-McDavid McDavid. Edmonton has limited rush chances during this stretch of winning, but if Nashville can create opportunities, they'll need to shoot the puck and play for a rebound. 

Andrew Brunette wants to play a puck possession style of hockey, and that's going to be key against the offensive weapons of the Oilers. Puck protection will matter, too. In the November 4 win, the Predators had only seven giveaways compared to Edmonton's 19. Keeping the puck off the stick of McDavid and the Oilers may be a simple but important factor. 

While there are lessons to be learned from the Predators' earlier win over the Oilers, all that matters today is what happens once the puck drops. The Preds and Oilers face off at Rogers Place at 3:00 pm CT. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports South and 102.5 The Game will have the radio call.