Predators at Islanders
After ending January with a rare regulation loss, the Nashville Predators have begun the new month with a pair of impressive victories. Nashville looks to make it three in a row - but will have to do so without Filip Forsberg - when it kicks off a four-game, six-day road trip Monday against the New York Islanders.
Forsberg recently returned from injury but received a three-game suspension for delivering a late, high hit last time out for the Predators, who had their eight-game point streak (6-0-2) snapped by Chicago on Jan. 30 but have opened February with home wins over Los Angeles and the New York Rangers, outscoring them by a 10-2 margin. Pekka Rinne made 20 saves against the Rangers on Saturday en route to his seventh consecutive victory as he hasn't lost since Jan. 2 at Vegas. The Islanders avoided a third straight loss on Saturday as they rallied in the third period to post a 4-3 win over Columbus. Brock Nelson snapped a 3-3 tie just 5:14 into the third period with his second goal in 23 contests as the Islanders continue to close in on a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA, FS Tennessee (Nashville), MSG Plus (New York)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (31-12-7): Forsberg had returned from his upper-body injury with a vengeance, recording a pair of two-point performances after missing 11 contests. Defenseman P.K. Subban (40 points) maintained the team lead in scoring by notching a goal and an assist against the Rangers - staying two points ahead of Forsberg, who set up a pair of tallies in Saturday's victory. Nick Bonino has been kept off the scoresheet in each of his last five games, keeping him one point shy of 200 for his career.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (26-22-5): Captain John Tavares notched an assist against the Blue Jackets for his team-leading 58th point, leaving him five away from 600 in the NHL. Ryan Pulock recorded a pair of assists Saturday for his third multi-point performance of the season. The 23-year-old defenseman collected five points at Chicago on Jan. 20 and registered a goal and an assist on Oct. 28 in Nashville.
OVERTIME
1. Predators C Kyle Turris hit a milestone on Saturday, recording the 200th assist of his career.
2. Islanders D Nick Leddy's goal against Columbus was his first since Nov. 24, ending his 30-game drought.
3. Nashville acquired C Mark McNeill from Dallas on Saturday for D Andrew O'Brien.