Predators at Coyotes preview

PREDATORS (13-4-1) at COYOTES (8-8-1)
9 p.m. ET; FS-A, FS-TN, NHL.TV

The Predators placed Subban (upper body) on injured reserve and activated defenseman Dan Hamhuis. Nashville is also without forward Viktor Arvidsson (broken thumb). Forward Auston Watson (suspension) will play his first game of the season.
The Predators began the season 8-0-0 on the road before losing 2-1 to the Anaheim Ducks in a shootout Monday and 5-4 to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Nashville is 2-1-1 on a five-game road trip and 5-1-1 in its past seven games.
The Coyotes begin a five-game homestand. They are 1-3-1 in their past five games following a five-game winning streak and have allowed at least four goals in four of the five games.

Players to watch

Predators goalie Pekka Rinne is 3-0-1 with an 0.73 goals-against average in his past four starts. He was 2-0-0 against the Coyotes last season and is 18-7-2 with a 2.02 goals-against average and five shutouts against them.
Coyotes forward Michael Grabner has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five home games, including two shorthanded goals.

They said it

"He'll be a physical force that I don't want to say we've been missing, but he's an upgrade on what we currently have. It's more depth. He's in really good shape. I think he's ready to go." -- Predators general manager David Poile on forward Austin Watson's return to the lineup
"It's frustrating. I'm sure he's frustrated. It's not a serious thing. Things happen. He's got to stay mentally strong on it and he'll be back in soon." -- Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet on defenseman Jakob Chychrun being out with an upper-body injury after playing in his first game of the season Tuesday

Predators projected lineup

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

Coyotes projected lineup

Richard Panik -- Alex Galchenyuk -- Christian Fischer
Nick Cousins -- Derek Stepan -- Clayton Keller
Michael Grabner -- Brad Richardson -- Vinnie Hinostroza
Lawson Crouse -- Dylan Strome -- Brendan Perlini
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Jason Demers
Kevin Connauton -- Niklas Hjalmarsson
Ilya Lyubushkin -- Jordan Oesterle
Darcy Kuemper
Hunter Miska
Scratched:Josh Archibald
Injured:Christian Dvorak (torn pectoral), Alex Goligoski (lower body), Antti Raanta (lower body), Jakob Chychrun (upper body)

Status report

Watson returns after being suspended for 18 games for domestic assault. Subban left after playing 7:07 against the Sharks. He must miss at least three games. Arvidsson is expected to be out 6-8 weeks. Hamhuis hasn't played since Oct. 23 because of a lower-body injury. … Chychrun won't play because of an upper-body injury. He played his first game of the season Tuesday in Detroit following knee surgery in April. Raanta remains day to day but should resume practicing within a few days, according to coach Rick Tocchet.

Stat pack

The Coyotes have allowed five power-play goals, are the fewest in the NHL. The Predators are an NHL-worst 11.6 percent on the power play (8-for-69). … The Predators have scored at least four goals in seven of their past 10 games and have permitted two goals or fewer in five of their past seven. Josi is expected to play in his 500th NHL game. He has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past seven games. … Crouse is expected to play in his 100th NHL game. Panik has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 16 games against Nashville.