EDMONTON - The last time the Chicago Blackhawks skated into Rexall Place, they were thumped 9-2 by the Edmonton Oilers. But revenge isn’t the sole motivation for the Hawks, who will close out their season series against the Oilers tonight.

Chicago has lost its last three games and tumbled from first place in the Western Conference into sixth.

“We got our teeth kicked in here last time,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “We want to make sure we remember that and be smart about it. But the important thing is we need a win tonight in a bad way.

“We respect the way they play, but we need to make sure we take care of our business. It’s not necessarily about getting even or redemption; it’s about playing a strong game and trying to win. That’s how you get even.”

The Oilers, meanwhile, have gathered five points in their last three games — a modest feat they had not accomplished since late October.

They’ve also won two of the three games they’ve played against Chicago. They were 4-3 winners in Chicago on Jan. 2. The Blackhawks’ lone win came by a 6-3 margin on Nov. 13.

“I do think there’s a fear factor there and fear can be a great motivator,” Oilers head coach Tom Renney said. “It sharpens your senses so you’re right on top of what you need to do and where you need to be to beat a team like this.

“I’m not saying we’re afraid of them. It’s about being afraid of what could happen if we don’t do things properly.”

Oil drops: Edmonton will not make any lineup changes for this one. Centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and defenceman Cam Barker will be held back for another game.

jireland@edmontonjournal.com

Twitter.com/jirelandEJ