NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nashville Predators added a scorer for their push toward the playoffs Monday, acquiring forward Oleg Petrov in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens.

	Oleg Petrov Right Wing Nashville Predators Profile
	2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM G A PTS +/- PIM 53 7 16 23 -2 16

Nashville, sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference and fighting for the first playoff berth in the expansion team's five-year history, gave Montreal a fourth-round choice in the entry draft this year.

The 31-year-old Petrov has seven goals and 16 assists in 53 games this season. He scored a career-high 24 goals last season, and in 2000-01 he had career highs in assists (30) and points (47).

''Petrov is a fast and skilled winger who will be able to contribute offensively,'' Nashville general manager David Poile said in a statement. ''He is also a veteran player who has been involved in the playoff hunt before, and his presence gives the team greater depth and gives the coaches more flexibility with the lineup.''

Petrov was expected to join the Predators for the game Tuesday night at St. Louis.

The Predators found themselves in need of a scoring threat after points leader David Legwand broke his right collarbone in an overtime victory Saturday against Chicago. He's expected to miss four to six weeks.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Petrov, in his eighth NHL season, had 70 goals and 113 assists in 365 games with Montreal. He was named to the all-rookie team in 1994.