A Preds projected lineup
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A morning feature on Colin Wilson, who is on a three-game point streak,
may be read here
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As the Preds hit the Lone Star State for the first time in 2016-17, here are three things to watch.
Competitive Balance:
With the return of James Neal to the Nashville lineup, after missing four games with an upper-body injury, the Preds got an immediate boost. For one, he scored his team-leading 11th goal in his return, but just as important, Neal's return gave the Predators a balance throughout their forward trios that can make them even more dangerous, no matter which line is on the ice.
"What was really good about having James back was it just provided a good balance in our lines and in the lineup and be able to roll them over," Head Coach Peter Laviolette said after Tuesday's game. "I thought his line was really good and gave us a nice attack. To have him back [gives us] a balance of offensive power on each line - every time you send somebody over the boards, there's a chance and he just adds depth to that."
Neal was reunited with Mike Fisher and Colin Wilson, a group that found plenty of success in the 2016 postseason. Nashville's scoring ability is clear, with eight forwards collecting 10 points or more to this point. The Preds have also scored 75 goals this season, tied for eighth in the League entering Wednesday's action.
Seven for 76:
After an admittedly rocky start at times, defenseman P.K. Subban appears to have hit his stride. He scored his seventh goal of the season on Tuesday, one more than he had all of last season, and has played a large role in the Predators offensive outburst as of late, co-leading the team with 17 points. And according to his head coach, it's not just what Subban has been doing with the puck that is impressive:
"His game has been excellent - not just offensively, but defensively as well," Laviolette said of Subban. "He's a guy that we count on to play against the other team's big lines right now, to shut them down and still provide offense. I think the more he plays, the more comfortable he gets and the better he looks."
Lighting the Lamp:
The Predators have scored four goals or more in five of their last seven outings. On the other side of the ice is a Dallas team that has allowed 87 goals, a total that, as of Wednesday morning, was the highest in the NHL. There's never a guarantee, but if looking at the numbers tells us anything, the Preds could be in for another successful night on the scoreboard against a team that gives up 3.22 goals-per-game.
Take It In:
Tonight's game at American Airlines Center in Dallas comes with a 7:30 p.m. CT start on Fox Sports Tennessee, with the Predators Live! pregame show set to begin 30 minutes prior. Willy Daunic, Stu Grimson and Lyndsay Rowley have the television side covered; Pete Weber and Brent Peterson call the action on 102.5 The Game.
