Predators make more line changes vs Oilers with Nashville still seeking first win
The Nashville Predators are seeking their first win of the season on Thursday night facing the Edmonton Oilers at Bridgestone Arena.
The Oilers roll in to Nashville having just one win in their first four games, but over the last few years, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton has been a tough out for Nashville. The Predators have lost 10 of their last 12 games against the Oilers, most recently a 4-1 loss on Jan. 27.
Meanwhile, the Predators are winless in three games, including an ugly 7-3 loss at home to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.
In looking for an offensive spark, coach Andrew Brunette made yet another change to the lineup, moving center Tommy Novak back with Steven Stamkos . Winger Luke Evangelista will join that line, bumping Jonathan Marchessault down to the third line with Colton Sissons and Mark Jankowski.
"I thought (Novak) and (Evangelista) had their best game two nights ago," Brunette said. "With their hockey IQ and offensive abilities, it could be a really good fit with (Stamkos)."
Stamkos, who signed a four-year, $32 million deal with the Predators over the summer, goes into tonight having different line partners in each game.
"It's a work in progress," Brunette said. "I don't know how or where it's going to fit, but we're trying different things."
On Wednesday, the Predators held team meetings aimed at trying to unify the team's direction early in the season. Players say the locker room is focused on trying to play together to find wins where they can.
"We're just trying to get connected, that's the word of the hour," Stamkos said at morning skate. "As much as we'd love everything to just connect and happen right away, sometimes it doesn't."
Nashville Predators expected lines vs Edmonton Oilers
The newest line combinations see only one forward unit, the top line with Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly, and Gustav Nyquist, still intact. Here's how the Predators will line up against the Oilers tonight:
Filip Forsberg - Ryan O'Reilly - Gustav Nyquist
Steven Stamkos - Tommy Novak - Luke Evangelista
Mark Jankowski - Coltons Sissons - Jonathan Marchessault
Cole Smith - Michael McCarron - Philip Tomasino
Roman Josi - Dante Fabbro
Brady Skjei - Luke Schenn
Jeremy Lauzon - Alex Carrier
Juuse Saros
Scott Wedgewood
Nashville Predators morning skate quotes
"You can either sulk about it or you can go out and work hard." - Steven Stamkos on going winless in the team's first three games.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at . Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, . Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page .
