Golden Knights at Predators
While the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights each boast sterling records at home, a game within Friday's game at Bridgestone Arena likely will hit close to home as well. Predators defenseman P.K. Subban could be in line to test his mettle against his brother, Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban, when the clubs face off in Music City.
"I'll take it one step at a time. I don't know if he's playing or not," P.K. Subban said after Thursday's practice. "If he's playing, obviously it'll be a special night. If not, I'm sure I'll have another opportunity some time to do it." The 28-year-old logged a game-high 23:53 of ice time in a 5-2 victory at Dallas on Tuesday, marking Nashville's third straight win and 13th in 16 outings (13-2-1). Extending his older brother's season-high point drought to seven games will be the goal of Malcolm Subban, who returned from a monthlong absence due to a lower-body injury by winning four of his last six starts - highlighted by a 26-save performance in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win against Anaheim. "I thought he played really well and strong,” Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said of the 23-year-old netminder. "It just shows the kid is getting better and more confident."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&TSN-Rocky Mountains (Vegas), FSN Tennessee (Nashville)
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (17-9-1): James Neal is preparing himself for the funny feeling he'll experience when he opens the doors to Bridgestone Arena, marking his official return to the place he called home for three seasons prior to being selected by Vegas in the expansion draft. "I really enjoyed my time in Nashville," the 30-year-old Neal said. "It's always weird going back to play the team you once played for. You have those mixed emotions and you don't know how you’ll feel. I'll just try to focus on the game." Neal, who scored his 13th goal of the season and added his eighth assist on Tuesday, is on pace for his 10th consecutive 20-goal season of his career.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (18-7-3): Kyle Turris has made the most of a change of scenery, scoring a goal and setting up another versus the Stars to increase his point total to 12 (three goals, nine assists) in 13 games since coming over in a trade from Ottawa. Both points against Dallas came on the power play to run that total to eight since the swap, and that number could rise as Turris and the Predators face the Golden Knights' 27th-ranked penalty kill (76.5 percent). Speaking of impressive numbers, Pekka Rinne has won seven of his last eight starts and owns an 11-2-1 mark at Bridgestone Arena.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas LW Erik Haula has three goals and as many assists in his last seven games.
2. Nashville has scored 16 power-play goals in its last 13 contests.
3. Karl Subban, P.K. and Malcolm's dad, will be in attendance as part of the Golden Knights' father's trip.