Taylor Hall
Oilers-Bruins Preview
Taylor Hall

Oilers-Bruins Preview

Published Dec. 13, 2015 4:11 p.m. ET

The Edmonton Oilers haven't lost since their latest meeting with the Boston Bruins and can match their longest win streak in the past 14 seasons in the next one.

To accomplish that feat by winning their sixth in a row, the Oilers will have to end a lengthy skid in Boston while earning just their second win in eight road games Monday night.

Edmonton refocused after Zdeno Chara's tying goal with 3:21 left in regulation Dec. 2 and came away with a 3-2 shootout victory. The Oilers (13-15-2) now head to Boston after sweeping a five-game homestand with a 7-5 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday.

Taylor Hall allowed his team to win after it blew a pair of two-goal leads by scoring with 1:34 to go, 12 seconds after the Rangers tied the game.

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"We were used to giving up a lot of goals last year so maybe we're finally growing from it," forward Teddy Purcell said. "(Coach Todd McLellan) has come in and preached an even-keel attitude, not to get too high when you're scoring and not to change your plan when you get down.

"Tonight was another good example of us showing resiliency."

Hall had two goals and two assists, giving him nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last four games. Lauri Korpikoski finished off the scoring by completing his first career hat trick to give Edmonton 15 goals in its last three contests.

The Oilers, though, have totaled 10 non-shootout goals while going 1-5-1 in their past seven on the road. They went to a shootout with Pittsburgh to earn that lone win Nov. 28.

Edmonton has fared even worse in Boston dating to the start of the 1997-98 season, going 0-8-1 with one tie. The Oilers have been outscored 20-5 in their past five games there and lost 5-2 in the latest Nov. 6, 2014.

However, they've won the past two matchups in the series in shootouts following 13 consecutive losses. Another victory would give Edmonton its first six-game winning streak since Oct. 22-Nov. 3, 2011.

The Bruins (16-9-3) have earned back-to-back 3-1 wins after opening a three-game homestand by beating Florida on Saturday. Ryan Spooner scored a pair of goals and Tuukka Rask came within 6:04 of a shutout while making 26 saves.

Rask has posted a 0.67 goals-against average in three consecutive wins.

"Tuukka's been like we're used to seeing," coach Claude Julien said. "He had a rough start to the season, but he's regained his game and he's been confident and certainly given us a chance to win every time he's been in the net."

Anders Nilsson stopped 38 shots and all three Boston shootout attempts while outdueling Rask in his only start against the Bruins. He has made seven straight starts but McLellan has indicated that Cam Talbot would see some action during a four-game trip, possibly Monday.

Mark Letestu and Matt Hendricks each had a goal and an assist in the latest meeting with the Bruins, but the third-line players have combined for two assists in four subsequent games. Hall has one assist in five career matchups.

Edmonton earned its last win in Boston on Nov. 7, 1996.

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