Canadiens at Predators
THE STORY: Barry Trotz will coach his 1,000th game with the Nashville Predators on Saturday when the Music City representatives open a five-game homestand against the Montreal Canadiens. Trotz will join current Buffalo Sabres head man Lindy Ruff as well as Al Arbour and Billy Reay as the only coaches to reach the quadruple digits with one team. As unlikely as it sounds, Trotz may even have a smile on his face after his team returns to Tennessee following a 3-1-1 road trip. "Seven out of 10 points, especially when we have a number of people hurt and out. Guys just dug in. That's sort of our DNA. It was a good trip." It certainly helps matters that Vezina Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne hasn't lost since the team presented him a seven-year, $49 million contract on Nov. 3. The 29-year-old Finn has recorded back-to-back shutouts in his last two meetings with the Canadiens. Montreal won't shed a tear for Nashville's injuries, considering it has plenty of its own. Although left wings Andrei Kostitsyn (lower body) and Michael Cammalleri (knee) are banged up, the Canadiens could welcome back center Scott Gomez on Saturday. Gomez has been sidelined with an upper body injury since Oct. 20.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC, RDS
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (6-7-2): Montreal LW Travis Moen netted his fifth goal of the season in the team's 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday. With five goals, Moen now sits one tally shy of last season's total - and only six short of his career high. Carey Price continues to be a workhorse and will likely receive his eighth straight start on Saturday. The netminder, however, has dropped both career meetings versus Nashville.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (8-5-2): With David Legwand suffering an upper body injury, rookie Craig Smith has shifted to center and more than picked up the slack. The 22-year-old Smith collected two goals an an assist in Nashville's 4-2 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks. With the outburst, Smith (14 points) moved past top overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers for the rookie lead.
OVERTIME:
1. Nashville's Patric Hornqvist appeared to have set a franchise record by scoring in his seven straight game, but the tally was later given to Colin Wilson.
2. Montreal's Brian Gionta seems to have put his early-season injury behind him. The captain has three goals and six assists in his last six contests.