Predators at Kings
The Nashville Predators have seen the tide turn in a hurry, answering a blistering 16-2-2 stretch with losses in six of their last eight contests. The Music City residents aim to put an end to recent stretch of sour notes on Saturday when they conclude their three-game trek against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Predators' freefall continued on Thursday as they let a third-period lead go by the boards en route to a 3-2 overtime loss at Arizona, much to the chagrin of forward Ryan Johansen. "We lost to the worst team in the League right now, and that's obviously not good," Johansen said. "... We can definitely use this one moving forward, especially in that game Saturday. It will light a fire under our butts." Los Angeles could use a spark of its own right after answering a season-high eight-game win streak with losses in six of its last 10. Tanner Pearson scored two goals and set up another in Thursday's 4-3 loss at Calgary and had an assist in the Kings' three-goal third period in a 4-3 overtime setback to the Predators on Nov. 4.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), FS West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (23-11-6): Viktor Arvidsson scored on a breakaway 4:40 into overtime to win the season's first encounter with the Kings, but has just two points (one goal, one assist) in his last eight games. Fellow forward Craig Smith tallied in the first meeting with Los Angeles and also scored against Arizona to increase his goal total to 14 to reside one shy of team leader Filip Forsberg, who is sidelined four to six weeks with an upper-body malady. Pekka Rinne missed the first encounter with Los Angeles but will bid to post just his second win in six outings overall on Saturday against the Kings, versus whom he owns an 11-7-5 career mark despite a 2.84 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage.
ABOUT THE KINGS (24-12-5): Captain Anze Kopitar had a pair of assists to key the third-period comeback versus the Predators in the first encounter and has set up three goals in his last two games overall. The 30-year-old Slovene, who leads the team in assists (26) and points (43), shares club-best honors in goals (17) with Tyler Toffoli. The 25-year-old Toffoli is also enjoying a career season, surpassing last season's goal total with his 17th on Dec. 30 while his 29 points are fourth-best on the club.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles is 4-for-11 on the power play over the last four games and thwarted all 13 short-handed opportunities in that stretch.
2. Nashville F Kevin Fiala has been held off the scoresheet in each of the past six contests after recording eight goals and four assists during a nine-game point streak.
3. The Kings will have a week off after Saturday's game before hosting Anaheim on Jan. 13.