Edmonton @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 19, 2019 ) Arizona 3, Edmonton 2

The Arizona Coyotes are relishing in the role of the underdog, even while riding a torrid stretch that has propelled them into the second wild card in the Western Conference. The surging Coyotes will go for their 11th victory in 13 games when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night in a matchup of Pacific Division rivals.

Arizona started its 10-2-0 tear with a 3-2 shootout win at Edmonton on Feb. 19 and stayed on a roll with a 6-1 drubbing of Anaheim on Thursday. "No one still expects us to be here and no one still expects us to get in (to the playoffs)," defenseman Jason Demers said. "That's the kind of mentality we have to have." The Oilers enter a three-game road trip having lost two of three, including an embarrassing 6-3 home setback to New Jersey on Wednesday night. "All I look at is it's three opponents ahead of us in the standings, one is stumbling a little bit, and we have to take advantage of it," coach Ken Hitchcock said.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, CBC, Sportsnet, Sportsnet1, CITY (Edmonton), FS Arizona

ABOUT THE OILERS (31-32-7): Captain Connor McDavid reached 100 points for the third consecutive season by collecting a pair of assists against the Devils, which has given him points in the last 10 games he's played and multiple points in six straight contests. McDavid has three goals and an assist in two meetings versus the Coyotes this season after scoring only once in his first 11 matchups against them. Hitchcock changed his lines at Friday's practice and elevated Milan Lucic to the No. 1 line alongside McDavid and Zack Kassian.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (36-30-5): After scoring twice in 16 games, Vinnie Hinostroza has four goals in the past two, including his first career hat trick Thursday to push his season total to 15. "That's something you don't think about happening, but when it does, it's something special," Hinostroza said. "It's nice that it comes in a win and at a special time when we're trying to hold a playoff spot here." Captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored Arizona's 15th short-handed goal, tying the franchise record set when the team was based in Winnipeg (1988-89).

OVERTIME

1. Coyotes G Darcy Kuemper won both starts versus Edmonton this season and has allowed eight goals during his last five starts (4-1-0).

2. Oilers C Leon Draisaitl, whose 14-game point streak ended Wednesday, has a goal and three assists in three meetings versus the Coyotes this season.

3. Arizona has the league's No. 2-ranked penalty kill with a success rate of 85.1 percent.

OVERTIME: Coyotes 4, Oilers 3