Tonight’s game will have more juice for Spencer Stastney.

As the Edmonton Oilers host the Nashville Predators, Stastney is expected to suit up against his former team for the first time since the Oilers acquired him on December 12.

“This will be a special one,” said Stastney on Monday after practice. “Definitely seeing a lot of guys, coaches, staff, I’m sure I’ll run into them. Gosh, it’s not even that long ago… So it’s gonna be a special one, but hopefully we get the win here.”

Stastney was acquired for a third-round pick the same day the Oilers shipped out Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a second-round pick to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry.

Filling the spot left behind by Kulak, Stastney is averaging 17:23 in time-on-ice this season. Twice in the last five games, Stastney’s played more than 20 minutes.

He expects a couple of verbal jabs from his former teammates, as it’s a scenario he’s never gone through before.

“I was real close to guys in the back end, but I’m sure [Luke] Evangelista will have something to say to me,” said Stastney. “I’m still tight with all those guys, so it’s going to be a fun game every shift, just going out there with guys I know and guys I love.

“I don’t know, I’ve never experienced it before, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Stastney admitted he wasn’t very happy with his game against the Flyers, a 4-2 home loss in which Stastney finished -3. The Oilers have lost three of four games coming out of the Christmas break, and there’s a focus on team defence to stop leaking chances.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch said he likes how Stastney wants to continue growing into a better player.

“He wants to build on that. Did he play bad? I don’t necessarily see it that way,” said Knoblauch on Monday. “Are there some plays he could’ve made better? Yeah. But I think we’re very optimistic.

“We’ve got a young player who’s a good worker, wants the extra details to be a better player, and it’s nice to know that he does put some pressure on himself to be better. But for me to say that last game he was terrible, I didn’t see it that way.”

Stastney played 81 regular season games for the Predators, and three playoff games, dating back to 2022-23.

Connor Ingram is trending to start tonight, and indications are positive Kasperi Kapanen will return to the lineup. Mattias Janmark has been sick multiple days.

Final lineup decisions haven’t been made yet.