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At the Rink blog

Predators also expect Spaling back vs. Penguins

Tuesday, 03.04.2014 / 3:10 PM

By John Manasso - NHL.com Correspondent / 2013-2014 At the Rink Blog

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2013-2014 At the Rink Blog
Predators also expect Spaling back vs. Penguins

NASHVILLE -- In addition to franchise goaltender Pekka Rinne, center Nick Spaling was expected to return to the Nashville Predators lineup on Tuesday for the first time since Jan. 31, after suffering a lower-body injury.

When he was injured, Spaling had had three goals and three assists in his past seven games. Spaling's nine goals last season were tied for fourth on the team.

"Nick brings a pretty complete game," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "[Spaling] was having a pretty solid offensive and defensive year. Obviously, he got hurt right before the Olympics. He was playing with a lot of confidence. He's a guy that has good instincts. He doesn't cheat on the ice. He plays the game 200 feet. … He will help the penalty kill, he'll help our depth, all those things."

Trotz did not say which forward would come out of the lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins to make room for Spaling. One possibility is Matt Cullen, who had been banged-up but Trotz said Cullen was "good to go."

Here are the projected lineups for the Penguins and Predators:

PENGUINS

Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Brian Gibbons

Jussi Jokinen – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal

Taylor Pyatt – Brandon Sutter – Tanner Glass

Craig Adams – Joe Vitale – Deryk Engelland

Olli Maatta – Matt Niskanen

Brooks Orpik – Rob Scuderi

Simon Despres – Robert Bortuzzo

Marc-Andre Fleury

Jeff Zatkoff

Scratched: Chuck Kobasew

Injured: Kris Letang, Paul Martin

PREDATORS

Gabriel Bourque – David Legwand – Craig Smith

Colin Wilson – Mike Fisher – Patric Hornqvist

Eric Nystrom – Nick Spaling - Viktor Stalberg

Rich Clune – Paul Gaustad – Simon Moser

Roman Josi – Shea Weber

Michael Del Zotto – Ryan Ellis

Mattias Ekholm – Seth Jones

Pekka Rinne

Carter Hutton

Scratched: Devan Dubnyk, Matt Cullen, Victor Bartley

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