Goalie Mikko Koskinen will start for the Oilers, who are 6-2-1 in their past nine games, are seven points behind the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card into the playoffs from Western Conference; Minnesota hosts the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

Goalie Alexandar Georgiev will start for the Rangers, who begin a four-game road trip. They are 1-2-4 in their past seven games and 11 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Players to watch

Rangers forward Ryan Strome will play at Edmonton for the first time since he was traded for forward Ryan Spooner on Nov. 16. Strome has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his past 14 games, including two goals and an assist in a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. 

Oilers center Leon Draisaitl has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in a 13-game point streak, the longest active streak in the NHL. He has 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in his past 20 games.

They said it

"We need to put the right foot in front of us these last 14 games. They're going to be huge going into next year for building confidence and to see what kind of players can play where and who can play and who can't. You're always being evaluated in this business." -- Rangers forward Brendan Lemieux

"We feel like we have a chance, there is belief in here. We're happy with the way we're playing for the most part and it's just a matter of stringing wins together." -- Oilers forward Sam Gagner

Rangers projected lineup

Vladislav Namestnikov -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jimmy Vesey

Chris Kreider -- Ryan Strome -- Jesper Fast

Brendan Lemieux -- Brett Howden -- Pavel Buchnevich

Boo Nieves -- Lias Andersson -- Filip Chytil

Kevin Shattenkirk -- Tony DeAngelo

Brady Skjei -- Brendan Smith

Marc Staal -- Neal Pionk

Alexandar Georgiev

Henrik Lundqvist

Scratched: Connor Brickley, Fredrik Claesson

Injured: Libor Hajek (shoulder)

Oilers projected lineup

Leon Draisaitl -- Connor McDavid -- Zack Kassian

Jujhar Khaira -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Sam Gagner

Tobias Rieder -- Colby Cave -- Alex Chiasson

Brad Malone -- Kyle Brodziak -- Josh Currie

Oscar Klefbom -- Adam Larsson

Darnell Nurse -- Kris Russell

Andrej Sekera -- Matt Benning

Mikko Koskinen

Anthony Stolarz

Scratched: Kevin Gravel, Ty Rattie, Alexander Petrovic

Injured: Jesse Puljujarvi (lower body), Milan Lucic (undisclosed)

Status report

The Rangers held an optional morning skate. … Lucic will miss his second straight game.

Stat pack

Zibanejad has two assists in his past five games after 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in his previous 14.

Buchnevich has three goals in his past four games.

McDavid has 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in a personal eight-game point streak.