Predators at Canadiens
Three losses in a row, including a humbling 8-3 defeat at home to Edmonton, put the Nashville Predators in a precarious position entering a rugged portion of the schedule featuring a string of matchups against playoff contenders. The Predators answered the first part of the challenge and resume a five-game road trip with a visit to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
Nashville is breathing down the necks of the two wild-card teams after completing a home-and-home sweep of the Dallas Stars, winning both matchups via shutout. "One thing we all understand is this is going to be a tight race," coach John Hynes said. "It's just focusing on the next game and not getting too emotional either way -- whether you're in a playoff spot or out of a playoff spot." The Predators have had their way in the series, winning four in a row against Montreal, which sits eight points out of third place in the Atlantic Division and the second wild card. "We have to find ways to score," coach Claude Julien said after the Canadiens were outscored 8-1 in back-to-back losses at Tampa Bay and Florida.. "At the end of the day, we can't expect to win by scoring one goal."
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS Tennessee, RDS, TSN2
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (34-26-8): Pekka Rinne has been a mainstay in goal for more than a decade for Nashville, but fellow Finn Juuse Saros has seized the No. 1 role, starting seven of the last eight games and turning aside all 70 shots in blanking Dallas twice. "The thing that has separated him a lot is his rebound control has been exceptional," Hynes said. "He's calm and in position and then he's really firm." The Predators have scored only nine times in the past five games, but all four goals in the past three came on the power play.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (31-30-9): Montreal's offensive woes were exacerbated by the absence of leading scorer Tomas Tatar, who will sit out his third consecutive game due to a lower-body injury. "He's a big part of our team. He helps us in so many areas," forward Brendan Gallagher said. "He's working to get healthy but for us right now, it's about seeing what we can do without him." Julien tweaked his lines at Monday's practice, having Joel Armia and Paul Byron flank Phillip Danault while Max Domi centered Gallagher and Charles Hudon.
OVERTIME
1. Predators leading goal scorer Filip Forsberg has three tallies and six points in 10 meetings against Montreal.
2. The Canadiens have failed on all 16 power-play chances over the past eight games.
3. Predators F Matt Duchene had a goal and three assists in four matchups versus Montreal last season.