Stars at Predators preview

STARS (26-21-4) at PREDATORS (31-18-4)
8 p.m. ET; FS-TN, FS-SW+, NHL.TV

The Stars, who trail the Predators by 10 points for second place in the Central Division, have outscored opponents 8-3 in three straight victories following a four-game losing streak and have allowed two goals or fewer in seven of their past eight games.
The Predators have outscored opponents 10-3 in their three wins in a row and are 9-3-1 in their past 13 games. They got a 4-1 win against the Florida Panthers on Friday. Forward Viktor Arvidsson has 10 points (nine goals one assist) in his past nine games.

Players to watch

Stars center Tyler Seguin has four points (three goals, one assist) in his past six games after having 11 points (six goals, five assists) in a seven-game point streak.
Predators center Ryan Johansen has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his past seven games.

They said it

"These are the type of games that get you ready for playoffs. That's what we say about the Central [Division]. It has to be the hardest division in the League, if not sports, but when it comes down to the last 30 games or so, you're playing playoff games already. That was a good one to win." -- Stars center Tyler Seguin after a 3-1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Friday
"It seems like the first half of the season we had some long road trips. Back-to-backs and playing every other night, I think we had a schedule of playing 15 in 28 days or whatever. There was a lot of hockey, so it'll be nice to be at home more." -- Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis on having nine home games in February

Stars projected lineup

Jamie Benn -- Radek Faksa -- Blake Comeau
Mattias Janmark -- Tyler Seguin -- Alexander Radulov
Andrew Cogliano -- Jason Spezza -- Valeri Nichushkin
Denis Gurianov -- Roope Hintz -- Brett Ritchie
Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg
Miro Heiskanen -- Roman Polak
Jamie Oleksiak -- Taylor Fedun
Anton Khudobin
Ben Bishop
Scratched: Julius Honka, Connor Carrick
Injured: Stephen Johns (upper body), Marc Methot (lower body), Martin Hanzal (back), Tyler Pitlick (upper body), Jason Dickinson (upper body)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Nick Bonino -- Craig Smith
Ryan Hartman -- Colton Sissons -- Calle Jarnkrok
Colin Blackwell -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Rocco Grimaldi
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Dan Hamhuis -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Matt Irwin
Injured: Kyle Turris (lower body), Miikka Salomaki (upper body), Zac Rinaldo (undisclosed)
Suspended:Austin Watson

Status report

Neither team held a morning skate.

Stat pack

Radulov has two assists in his past seven games after having eight points (one goal, seven assists) in a four-game point streak. … Ekholm has three assists in his past seven games after having 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his previous eight games.