Predators at Canucks
The Western Conference-leading Nashville Predators look to extend their season-high winning streak to seven games when they visit the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Friday. The Predators reached the 40-victory mark by rallying for a 4-2 win at Edmonton on Thursday as David Poile became the winningest general manager in NHL history with his 1,320th triumph.
Nashville has recorded a total of 29 goals during its winning streak as Scott Hartnell scored for the fourth time in five games on Thursday while newcomer Ryan Hartman notched an assist for his second point in two games since being acquired from Chicago. The Predators have earned at least one point in 10 consecutive road contests (7-0-3) as they prepare to take on the Canucks, who are 1-2-2 in their last five games overall. Vancouver rallied from an early three-goal deficit before settling for a 6-5 overtime loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday in the opener of its five-game homestand. “We could have mailed it in, packed it in, and called it a night,” Canucks center Bo Horvat told reporters after posting three points in the setback. “That’s not the way of our group. We knew we had to pull up our socks and get going again. I thought we did a great job.”
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (40-14-9): Viktor Arvidsson continued his red-hot stretch with a pair of goals in Thursday’s win and has tallied six times in his last six games while adding three assists in that span. Arvidsson (46 points) is second on the team in scoring behind defenseman P.K. Subban (48), who has not added to his 15-goal total in 10 games, while Filip Forsberg and blue-liner Roman Josi (11 assists in his last six games) are next with 44. Craig Smith, who had his eight-game point streak come to an end against Edmonton, is slated to play in his 500th NHL game on Friday.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (24-32-8): Brendan Leipsic made an impact in his debut with the team on Wednesday after being acquired from Vegas two days earlier, recording two assists and a plus-2 rating. Brock Boeser scored twice against the Rangers to push his team- and NHL rookie-leading total to 29 goals, and he also tops the club with 54 points. Daniel Sedin looks to remain hot as he has collected five goals and a pair of assists during his four-game streak to move into second place on the team with 44 points.
OVERTIME
1. Nashville G Pekka Rinne posted his 34th win Thursday but could be rested Friday in favor of Juuse Saros (6-5-5, .926 save percentage).
2. Vancouver D Alex Biega (six assists in 31 games) signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday for a total of $1.65 million.
3. The teams have split a pair of games this season in which a total of 16 goals were scored, with each road club claiming one victory.