"We've got to make the games count," Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson said. "We've got to go in there, work hard and get a good feeling before the playoffs. We've got to work hard, and that's the main point."
The Predators are 22-11-7 at home this season and have gone 8-1-4 in their past 13 home games.
"Our fans are terrific," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "It can become a really loud place, a great place. It does give us an advantage. The fact that there's been so many sellouts and so many people in the building on a consistent basis behind our team is a great."
Predators defenseman Anthony Bitetto participated in practice Wednesday and the morning skate Thursday, and will be a game-time decision against Arizona, Laviolette said.
The Coyotes will miss the playoffs but are looking to close out the regular season with strong efforts against the Predators on Thursday and at the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
Rookie forwards Max Domi and Anthony Duclair have been key players for the Coyotes this season. Domi ranks second in scoring for Arizona with 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists) and Duclair fourth with 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists).
"I'm as big of a fan of those two as anybody," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said. "I think they are special players. We're excited about what they can grow into, what they've already done, but what they're growing into is really exciting."
Arizona goaltender Louis Domingue left the road trip and likely will not play again this season due to family reasons.
Here are the projected lineups:
COYOTES
Alex Tanguay - Antoine Vermette - Anthony Duclair
Tobias Rieder - Laurent Dauphin - Jiri Sekac
Max Domi - Brad Richardson - Shane Doan
Jordan Martinook - Boyd Gordon - Kyle Chipchura
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Connor Murphy
Kevin Connauton - Zbynek Michalek
Klas Dahlbeck - Alex Grant
Mike Smith
Marek Langhamer
Scratched: Nicklas Grossman, Louis Domingue, Sergei Plotnikov, Viktor Tikhonov
Injured: Eric Selleck (upper body), Martin Hanzal (upper body), Anders Lindback (Achilles), Michael Stone (lower body), Joe Vitale (concussion)
PREDATORS
Calle Jarnkrok - Ryan Johansen - James Neal
Filip Forsberg - Mike Ribeiro - Craig Smith
Colin Wilson - Mike Fisher - Viktor Arvidsson
Colton Sissons - Paul Gaustad - Cody Bass
Roman Josi - Shea Weber
Mattias Ekholm - Petter Granberg
Anthony Bitetto - Ryan Ellis
Pekka Rinne
Carter Hutton
Scratched: Eric Nystrom, Austin Watson
Injured: Gabriel Bourque (upper body), Miikka Salomaki (undisclosed)
Status report:Smith will start for the Coyotes. … Langhamer was recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. … The Predators held an optional morning skate.
Who's hot:Ekman-Larsson has one goal and one assist in his past three games and leads the Coyotes with 53 points (21 goals, 32 points). … Forsberg has one goal and four assists in his past five games and leads the Predators with 32 goals.
