Ottawa @ Edmonton preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 28, 2019 ) Edmonton 4, Ottawa 2

The Edmonton Oilers have repeatedly been on the verge of seeing their playoff hopes KO'd, but a favorable portion of the schedule has them poised to make a final run at a wild-card spot. The Oilers resume a five-game homestand with the first of two straight against last-place clubs when they host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.

Edmonton suffered back-to-back lopsided defeats to wrap up a three-game road trip, but opened the homestand with a 4-1 victory over Columbus to move within six points of the second wild card. "We know what's at stake," Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. "We're still in the race and we want to keep that challenge for us and we want to keep pushing for it." While there has been off-ice turmoil in Edmonton after team CEO Bob Nicholson's public criticism of forward Tobias Rieder, it pales in comparison to the woes of Ottawa, which has dropped 13 of 16 (3-12-1). "It's a long year," rookie forward Brady Tkachuk said after Thursday's 5-1 drubbing in Calgary. "This last stretch is all about sticking together and working as hard as we can to win as many games as we can."

TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN5 (Ottawa), TVAS, Sportsnet West (Edmonton)

ABOUT THE SENATORS (25-43-6): Ottawa will be in much better shape from a manpower standpoint with the expected returns of All-Star defenseman Thomas Chabot and center Colin White from injuries and center Jean-Gabriel Pageau from a one-game suspension. Chabot, who leads the team in scoring with 49 points, was sidelined for the past four games due to a broken toe. “There’s always going to be a chance of further damage whether your toe is fully recovered or not, but in the skate I have no pain with anything," Chabot said Friday.

ABOUT THE OILERS (33-34-7): Edmonton's marquee players came up big in what was considered a must win against Columbus as captain Connor McDavid scored one goal and set up another and Draisaitl collected three assists. McDavid, who has multiple points in nine of his last 10 games, needs one to match his career high of 108 while Draisaitl eclipsed 50 assists for the season and 300 points for his career. Forward Zack Kassian has scored in back-to-back games, giving him six goals in his last 11 and a career high-tying 14 for the season.

OVERTIME

1. McDavid has three goals and 11 points in eight meetings against Ottawa.

2. Senators G Craig Anderson, winless in 14 starts (0-13-1), is expected to get the nod Saturday.

3. The Oilers won the past two meetings but Ottawa has prevailed in the last four visits to Edmonton.

PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Senators 2