The set-up:The 23-23-6 Florida Panthers have just 52 poitst (nine points behind the final wild card spot in the East) and have four teams between them and that eighth playoff berth with 30 games remaining. Simply put, the team has a tall task ahead of them if it hopes to qualify for the postseason. The Panthers will open a five-game trip through Canada beginning with this stop in Edmonton to take on the 23-27-4 Oilers. Edmonton is making a brief stop at home following an 0-3-0 California trip and heads back out for another three-game trek after Monday's matchup. The Oilers have just points 50 points and are further back in the West's playoff standings (16 points behind the eighth-place team) than the Panthers are in the East.

Florida: The Panthers' four-game winning streak was snapped with a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday and they head out on the road just 10-14-3 away from home this season. Jonathan Huberdeau leads the team with 51 points plus along with Vincent Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov, shares the team lead of 18 goals. James Reimer could get the start in net against Edmonton after dressing on Friday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Jan. 23 versus Dallas. Florida has engaged in a league-leading 31 fights this season, its highest total since 2011-12, with Micheal Haley dropping the gloves an NHL-most 14 times.

Edmonton: Connor McDavid failed to notch a point in Saturday's 6-4 setback in San Jose after collecting seven goals and four assists during a five-game streak. McDavid, who tops the club in both goals (22) and points (64), has not been blanked in consecutive contests since a season-high three-game stretch from Dec. 29-Jan. 2. He is the reigning Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner and has registered eight goals and 11 assists over his last 14 contests. The Oilers came within a game of the conference finals last season but have already surpassed their loss total from 2016-17 and are 13th in the West. With only 28 games to play in the regular season, it may be too late.

The pick: Both teams are headed for an "early summer" but Edmonton has won three straight from Florida and will likely turn to goaltender Cam Talbot to extend that streak. Talbot sat out Saturday while Al Montoya stopped 24 of 29 shots but would be going for his fourth consecutive win over the Panthers. Talbot is 4-1-0 with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in his career against Florida. Meanwhile, F lorida is dealing with groin injuries to goaltenders Roberto Luongo and James Reimer. Luongo has been out since Dec. 4, but recently resumed skating with the team. Reimer has been sidelined since Jan. 23 and could make his return during the trip. Make the Oilers a 10* play.