Predators bring momentum into battle with struggling Oilers

The Nashville Predators skate into Edmonton to face the Oilers on Tuesday night with a lot of momentum.

The Nashville Predators skate into Edmonton to face the Oilers on Tuesday night with a lot of momentum.

The Predators have won six of their last eight, including Saturday night's 4-3 road victory over the Calgary Flames, in which defenseman Nicolas Hague broke a 3-3 tie with 29 seconds left.

Nashville has clawed its way into playoff contention after a slow start that gave the Predators one of the league's worst records.

"We've gone through stuff together," Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. "We've stayed together. We've never been tighter. This group continues to grow. We're growing every day. We're getting better, but we also believe in each other. We're as tight as a group as I've been around."

Michael Bunting had a goal and three assists Saturday, and Erik Haula, playing in his 800th career game, scored twice. He barely missed a hat trick when he hit the goal post on another shot.

"It's never going to be easy for us," Hague said after the game. "It hasn't been all year. I think tonight is another example of that. I'm really proud of the group, the way that we just stick together and keep pushing for that next goal."

Steven Stamkos had two assists to give him 17 points (10 goals and seven assists) in his last 12 games.

But the 35-year-old limped badly off the ice after the final horn after blocking a shot in the closing seconds.

"It's pretty evident with (Stamkos) blocking a shot late in the game," Brunette said. "For a 600-goal scorer to lay his body on the line in a game in January just speaks volumes of his leadership and his character. We're in it together."

Edmonton has lost three of its last four but could get winger Kasperi Kapanen back for Tuesday's game.

He missed 36 games the past two-and-a-half months because of a knee injury. Kapanen has not played since Oct. 19.

"This feels like I've been out three years," Kapanen said.

Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch talked about how Kapanen's return could help the Oilers.

"We know he can help us with some energy, a bit of offense, his physicality and, eventually, some penalty-killing," Knoblauch said.

Edmonton lost 5-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers at home Saturday.

Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist to run his point streak to 15 games. He's recorded 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) during the run.

It is the sixth time in McDavid's career that he has had a point streak of at least 15 games. Only Wayne Gretzky (19) and Mario Lemieux (seven) have more.

"Connor is impossible to check. He's going to get his chances, and you try to limit him as best we can," Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. "You need five guys, and the defense has to help out on that."

McDavid, who has 25 goals and 72 points in 42 games for the season, has been the lone Oilers bright spot recently.

"We've got to find a way to just be consistent in our best game, and being able to put that on the ice for 60 minutes," center Adam Henrique said.

Andrew Mangiapane, the subject of trade rumors, was a healthy scratch Saturday and is expected to be again Tuesday.

--Field Level Media