Predators at Blue Jackets
THE STORY: The Nashville Predators were without red-hot goalie Pekka Rinne and all-star defenseman Ryan Suter on Tuesday as their five-game win streak ended with a 3-0 defeat at the New York Rangers. Rinne was rested after playing 10 straight games and is expected to return Thursday when the Predators visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Rinne had won eight of his last nine decisions before giving way to backup Anders Lindback. Suter missed his first game of the season with an upper-body injury and isn’t likely to play Thursday. Columbus is 2-2 under interim coach Todd Richards, including a 4-2 victory over Edmonton on Tuesday. Nashville has won three of four meetings between the Central Division foes this season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS-TN (Nashville), FS-Ohio (Columbus).
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (26-16-4): It does not appear the injury to Suter is serious, but Nashville has moved to sixth in the West and will be cautious with him. The Preds still have another all-star defenseman in Shea Weber, who leads the team with 32 points and a plus-11 rating. Rinne owns a .941 save percentage his last nine games and is 12-4-1 lifetime against Columbus. The Predators have struggled a bit on the power play of late, despite standing third in the league through Tuesday at 21 percent. But they have killed 30-of-32 penalties (.938) over the last 12 games.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (13-27-5): Columbus registered its first victory of the season when trailing by two goals Tuesday. Colton Gillies, a former first-round pick recently grabbed on waivers from Minnesota, had an assist in his first game with the Jackets. Derick Brassard, mentioned in many trade rumors, had a goal against Edmonton to give him 10 points in his last 13 games. With Jeff Carter injured, Rick Nash is the only player with double-digit goals (16). Goalie Curtis Sanford has a .930 save percentage in his six starts during January.
OVERTIME:
1. Nash was third in the NHL in shots on goal through Tuesday with 173.
2. Nashville rookie Craig Smith has cooled off, scoring one goal in 18 games.
3. Columbus has recorded 1,165 hits, fourth most in the NHL.