Senators @ Oilers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Ottawa Senators (9-18-1)

@ Edmonton Oilers (16-11-0)

Starting Goalies:

Matt Murray (OTT): Unconfirmed

Mike Smith (EDM): Confirmed

Current odds:

Ottawa Senators: (+195)

Edmonton Oilers: (-235)

• After enduring another narrow defeat, the Ottawa Senators will look to finally break through against the Edmonton Oilers when the teams meet on Wednesday in Edmonton. The Senators dropped a 3-2 result to the Oilers on Monday, falling to 0-5-0 against Edmonton this season. Apart from the Oilers’ 8-5 rout on Jan. 31, however, the two teams have played each other fairly evenly. The other four games were decided by either one or two goals, and Ottawa has outshot Edmonton by a 161-150 margin over the five games.

• Monday’s game saw the Oilers hold an 37-28 shots edge, although the game was ultimately decided by a pair of costly Ottawa mistakes in the second period. Edmonton twice took advantage during Senators line changes, swiftly advancing the puck up the ice first for an Alex Chiasson power-play goal, and then Leon Draisaitl’s eventual game-winning tally.

• Tim Stutzle scored later in the period to narrow the Oilers’ lead. It was Stutzle’s first goal in nine games, and the rookie’s third score in five games against Edmonton. Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot has 12 points (all assists) over his last 10 games.

• The Oilers have won consecutive games since the line of Draisaitl, captain Connor McDavid and Kailer Yamamoto was put together partway through Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames. Over the last two games, McDavid has five points (one goal, four assists), Yamamoto has two goals and an assist, and Draisaitl has a goal and an assist.

• It remains to be seen how long Edmonton will continue to play superstars McDavid and Draisaitl on the same line, although the third man in the mix is naturally fond of the situation. Draisaitl’s goal on Monday snapped an eight-game scoring drought for the forward, although he still had eight assists over those eight contests.

• Josh Archibald is questionable for Wednesday’s lineup after missing Edmonton’s last two games due to an undisclosed injury.

• Ottawa forward Artem Anisimov missed Monday’s game and is day-to-day with an unspecified injury.

• After backups Mikko Koskinen and Joey Daccord started Monday’s game, both teams are expected to play their regular starting goaltenders on Wednesday. Edmonton’s Mike Smith is off to a very strong start in his 15th NHL season. Smith is 7-2-0 with a .925 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average this season. Matt Murray is 0-1-0 with a .904 save percentage and 2.99 GAA in three appearances against the Oilers this season.

• The Senators and Oilers will conclude this three-game mini-series with one more contest in Edmonton on Friday.