Predators at Kings
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Kings have no time to dwell on their latest setback as they begin a four-game homestand Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. Los Angeles suffered its fifth straight loss Monday, a 4-2 setback at San Jose. The Staples Center has not provided much of an advantage for the Kings of late as the club has dropped eight of its last 11 games on home ice dating to last season. Los Angeles' slide has a good chance of continuing as Nashville enters with a 2-0-1 mark on its season-high five-game road trip that concludes Wednesday in Anaheim. The Predators are 3-0-1 in their last four away from home and 4-0-1 in their last five overall contests.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), FS West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (7-4-2): Nashville climbed into the NHL's Super 16 Power Rankings, placing 14th after going 2-0-1 last week. Patric Hornqvist is riding a five-game goal-scoring streak. He is one game away from the franchise record set in 2007-08 by J.P. Dumont and matched later that season by Alexander Radulov. Pekka Rinne is expected to make his 14th consecutive start Tuesday. He is the only netminder to start all of his team's games.
ABOUT THE KINGS (6-5-3): Ethan Moreau received his punishment for a hit from behind in Saturday's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was fined $2,500 by the league after drilling Chris Kunitz face-first into the glass in the first period. Moreau, who received a minor penalty, said the fine was more than he deserved. "I definitely hit him from behind, but it wasn't excessive," Moreau said. "I understand (the NHL's) philosophy and what they're trying to crack down on, but it's difficult. It's a really difficult read. My job is to play physical, and if you pass up every questionable position on the ice, you're not going to be very physical."
OVERTIME:
1. Nashville has won six of its last seven visits to Los Angeles but has only one victory in its last five overall meetings with the Kings.
2. Following Wednesday's contest in Anaheim, the Predators return home to take on the Montreal Canadiens in the 1,000th game in franchise history.