Edmonton @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 18, 2018 ) Boston 2, Edmonton 3

The Boston Bruins have gone three weeks without failing to earn a point, but they are still in a slump of sorts due mainly to their inability to win when a game stretches beyond regulation. Boston has lost only once in regulation at home and is riding a nine-game point streak into Saturday afternoon's matchup against the visiting Edmonton Oilers.

Although the Bruins are on a 4-0-5 run, they wound up on the wrong end of a familiar result, falling to Columbus 2-1 in overtime on Thursday to dip to 4-4-6 in their last 14 overall and 2-11 in OT and shootouts combined. "It’s frustrating obviously. There’s been plenty of them this year,” forward David Pastrnak said of the extra-session struggles. “It’s probably getting in our heads that we want to win one and we’re obviously missing a little confidence there.” The Oilers have as many wins as Boston over the past month, winning four of their last 14 (4-8-2) after opening a five-game road trip with a 3-2 overtime setback at Buffalo on Thursday. "It's kind of the same story," captain Connor McDavid said after Edmonton was unable to protect a two-goal lead over the Sabres. "We've got to find a way to defend a lead better. It's frustrating."

TIME: 1 p.m. ET. TV: Sportsnet (Edmonton), NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE OILERS (21-17-5): Edmonton features the best offensive tandem in the NHL in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who are 1-2 in scoring with 64 and 63 points, respectively, but the supporting cast has been lacking. Former No. 1 overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who netted a career-high 28 goals last season, appears to be emerging from a slump with three tallies in the past four games, including one in each of the last two. McDavid has been held to one goal in six games versus Boston, although he has nine assists.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (24-7-11): Pastrnak became the first player to score 30 goals this season and the fastest Boston player to reach that mark since Cam Neely in 1993-94 with his NHL-leading 14th power-play tally. Pastrnak also extended his point streak to nine games, giving him 60 for the season to rank fourth in the league -- one spot ahead of linemate Brad Marchand. Bruce Cassidy, named one of four coaches for the All-Star Game, called it "a reflection of the players and what they've been able to do this year on the ice."

OVERTIME

1. Draisaitl has three goals and seven points in nine meetings against the Bruins.

2. Pastrnak has five goals and six points in seven matchups versus the Oilers.

3. Edmonton has won seven of the last nine in the series following a 13-game slide versus Boston.

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Oilers 3