Edmonton @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 10, 2019 ) Carolina 6, Edmonton 3

The Carolina Hurricanes are sitting just outside of the playoff picture as they vie to make consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. The Hurricanes are two points behind Columbus and Philadelphia for the top two wild cards entering Sunday afternoon's matchup against the visiting Edmonton Oilers.

After earning a split of a four-game road trip, Carolina returned home and coasted to a 5-2 victory over New Jersey on Friday to improve to 7-1-1 in its last nine at PNC Arena. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” forward Nino Niederreiter said. “This season we’ve got to do whatever it takes to get there and make the playoffs.” The Oilers have won two of three without superstar captain Connor McDavid, who is expected to miss two more weeks with a quadriceps injury. Edmonton rebounded from a 3-1 loss at white-hot Tampa Bay with a 4-1 victory at Florida on Saturday to close within one point of first-place Vancouver in the Pacific Division.

TIME: 4 p.m. ET. TV: FS Carolina, Sportsnet West

ABOUT THE OILERS (31-21-6): Star forward Leon Draisaitl collected a goal and an assist Saturday to give him four and five, respectively, during a four-game point streak and hike his league-leading point total to 92. Draisaitl, who registered his NHL-best 27th multi-point game, is receiving received ample support from linemates Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and rookie Kailer Yamamoto since McDavid was hurt, with the trio combining for 17 points in the three games. Yamamoto had a career-best three points Saturday, giving him 17 in 17 games this season.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (33-21-3): Niederreiter, a trade-deadline acquisition last season who was key in Carolina's run to the Eastern Conference finals, scored one goal and set up another Friday to match his output from his previous 10 games. “If there’s a guy who probably deserved a goal, it’s him,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said of Niederreiter, who notched his eighth goal after scoring 14 in 36 games with Carolina last season.. “He’s had a tough year that way.” The Hurricanes are 3-for-14 on the power play over the last six games.

OVERTIME

1. Hurricanes F Sebastian Aho has points in eight straight, although his six-game goal streak ended Friday.

2. Oilers F Zack Kassian will serve the second of his seven-game suspension for kicking Lightning D Erik Cernak.

3. Carolina is 10-3-2 against the Pacific Division while Edmonton is 9-2-0 versus the Metropolitan.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 4, Oilers 3