Predators at Canadiens preview

PREDATORS (32-12-9) at CANADIENS (22-26-6)
7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN360, CITY, TVAS, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Subban, who won the Norris Trophy with Montreal in 2012-13, has 83 points (25 goals, 58 assists) in 119 games with Nashville since he was acquired in the trade that sent defenseman Shea Weber to the Canadiens.
The Predators, tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the Central Division lead with 73 points, have lost two straight (0-0-2), but are 3-0-2 in their past five games and 9-1-3 in their past 13.
The Canadiens, 10 points out of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, are 2-1-0 in their past three games after going 2-5-2 in their previous nine.

Players to watch

Subban leads the Predators with 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists), and has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his past 13 games.
Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past four games, and seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past seven.

They said it

"We've had a decent trip so far, we've been able to pick up points in all the games on the road. … But we dropped our last two, so this is an important game for us." -- Predators defenseman P.K. Subban
"We know they're a really strong team so we've just got to come out here, play our game. And we've been pretty good at home (5-2-2 in their past nine games), so if we can keep that up, I think we'll be fine tonight." -- Canadiens defenseman Victor Mete

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Scott Hartnell -- Nick Bonino -- Calle Jarnkrok
Miikka Salomaki -- Colton Sissons -- Austin Watson
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Pontus Aberg, Anthony Bitetto, Matt Irwin
Injured:None

Canadiens projected lineup

Max Pacioretty -- Paul Byron -- Charles Hudon
Alex Galchenyuk -- Jonathan Drouin -- Nikita Scherbak
Artturi Lehkonen -- Tomas Plekanec -- Brendan Gallagher
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Byron Froese -- Logan Shaw
Karl Alzner -- Jeff Petry
Joe Morrow -- Jordie Benn
Victor Mete -- David Schlemko
Carey Price
Antti Niemi
Scratched: Jakub Jerabek, Daniel Carr, Jacob de la Rose
Injured: Shea Weber (foot), Andrew Shaw (lower body), Phillip Danault (concussion-like symptoms), Ales Hemsky (upper body)

Status report

Forsberg returns after serving a three-game suspension. … Danault took part in the Canadiens' optional morning skate.

Stat pack

Rinne is 8-0-1 with a 1.85 goals-against-average, .933 save percentage and two shutouts in his past nine starts. He has held opponents to two goals or fewer in six of those starts. … Arvidsson has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his past 10 games. … Petry has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past seven games.