Predators at Red Wings
A day after climbing into first place in the Central Division, the Nashville Predators attempt to stay there when they visit the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. Nashville wrapped up a 2-2-0 homestand with Monday's 5-2 victory over Ottawa, which tied it in points with Winnipeg but put it ahead of the Jets by virtue of having played one fewer game.
Viktor Arvidsson scored twice in the triumph to end his five-game drought and give him sole possession of first place on the team with 20 goals. Craig Smith has tallied in back-to-back contests for the Predators and carries a four-game point streak into Tuesday's matchup. Detroit is looking to remain close in the race for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as it trails Carolina by seven points with two games in hand. The Red Wings' four-game homestand got off to a disappointing start Sunday as they dropped a 3-2 decision to Toronto after Auston Matthews snapped a tie with 31 seconds remaining in the third period.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (35-14-9): Roman Josi scored a power-play goal Monday and also added an assist, leaving the defenseman one helper away from 200 for his career. Pekka Rinne made 36 saves en route to his third win in four starts and needs one victory to reach 300 in the NHL. Kevin Fiala hopes to be heating up as he notched a pair of assists Monday after recording one goal over his previous six contests.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (24-25-9): After making back-to-back starts over the weekend, Petr Mrazek was traded to Philadelphia on Monday for a conditional draft pick in both 2018 and 2019. Anthony Mantha reached a milestone Sunday, converting a power-play opportunity in the first period to hit the 20-goal plateau for the first time in the NHL, and has recorded six points in as many games to match the career high of 36 he posted last season. Captain Henrik Zetterberg scored his 334th career goal Sunday, leaving him one shy of tying Ted Lindsay for fifth place on the franchise list.
OVERTIME
1. Red Wings C Dylan Larkin leads the team with 43 points and is two away from matching the career-high total he recorded in 2015-16 as a rookie.
2. Smith is tied with Fiala for second on Nashville in goals and is two shy of reaching 20 for the fourth time in his seven seasons in the NHL.
3. Detroit D Mike Green has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury.