Game Day: Devils vs. Preds

The Nashville Predators return home for a weekend full of hockey at Bridgestone Arena, beginning this afternoon when they host the New Jersey Devils for a 1 p.m. (CT) puck drop. After winning 5-3 in Colorado on Tuesday, the Preds (11-8-3) are looking to extend their home win streak to seven games.
"We have a game plan for each game, and we don't see New Jersey too often," Captain Mike Fisher said. "They're a good hockey team and Jersey probably doesn't get enough credit for how good they are and how hard they work. You've got to really play hard against them and that'll be our focus."
Nashville will be hitting the ice without the likes of James Neal (week-to-week, upper-body) and Anthony Bitetto (broken hand). Defenseman Ryan Ellis, who did not practice on Friday, remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury as well.

Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen are tied for the team lead in points with 16, including five goals from Johansen and 14 assists from Forsberg. P.K. Subban has five goals and 15 points on the season while Viktor Arvidsson and Roman Josi have 14 points apiece. Pekka Rinne, who won nine games in November to earn NHL First Star of the Month honors, is 10-5-3 overall.
New Jersey (10-7-6) is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to Chicago on Thursday, which gives them at least a point in four of their last five games. Taylor Hall, recently activated from Injured Reserve, is in his first season with the Devils and has five goals and 12 points in 15 games. Travis Zajac leads the Devils with eight goals and 18 points, followed by Mike Cammalleri and Damon Severson with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Goaltender Cory Schneider is 8-6-4 on the season.
As the Preds get set to play their first of nine home games in the month of December, here are three things to watch:

Home Sweet Home:
The Predators begin a three-game home stand this afternoon in a venue where they've been among the League's best this season. Nashville is 8-1-1 at Bridgestone Arena, and has won six games in a row at home, outscoring their opponents, 35-13, in their own building. The 13-goal total for opponents is the fewest in the League.
"No question we're moving up and playing a lot better," Fisher said. "We had a really good month, but that being said, we've still got to continue that on and continue to find ways to get wins. We have a lot of home games coming up this month, which is nice, and we've just got to continue playing and not let up at home."

On The Kill:
Much like their record, Nashville's penalty killing prowess at home has been off the charts. They are a perfect 27-for-27 on the penalty kill at home this season, the only team in the League to have a penalty kill percentage of 100 percent at home or on the road and their 97.6 percentage in November led the NHL.
"I don't want to talk about it too much because that's usually a sign it's going to go south," Head Coach Peter Laviolette quipped. "But I think we've done a good job of just straight-line pressure in zone, blocking shots and our goaltender has been excellent - that's your best penalty killer.
"We really didn't start out very good on the penalty kill, so I think we made a few adjustments and obviously our best penalty killer has been Pekka, he's been unbelievable," Fisher said. "Sometimes that's the way it goes, you get hot and you feel confident that every time you're going out there, you're going to kill it off. We've had a really good stretch and hopefully we can keep that going."

Johansen Jubilation:
Things have picked up as of late for Ryan Johansen. The centerman earned his fifth multi-point game (1g-1a) of the season on Tuesday at Colorado, and his third in his last four contests. Johansen has seven points (4g-3a) in his last four contests and his team is now 4-0-0 when he scores this season. Three of those wins have come in their last four games.
When You Go:
Saturday's game comes with a special 1 p.m. start time at Bridgestone Arena. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and all fans in attendance will receive a Preds hat, featuring P.K. Subban hat. Prior to the game, stop by the party on the Bridgestone Arena plaza, beginning at 11:00 a.m., presented by LEE Company. The party will feature a DJ, face painters, kid's games, stilt walkers and jugglers, just to name a few things.
You can also support those affected by the East Tennessee wildfires, with several ways to give back with the Preds. There will be a Disaster Relief Drive from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at today's Plaza Party and the $1 button will be added this Saturday to food and beverage stands, with 100 percent of the money benefiting disaster relief through the American Red Cross.
Take It In:
Today's game can be seen on Fox Sports Tennessee, beginning with Predators Live! beginning at 12:30 p.m. with Willy Daunic, Stu Grimson and Lyndsay Rowley. On the radio side, Pete Weber and Brent Peterson have you covered on 102.5 The Game.