Predators at Stars preview

Khudobin is 1-3-1 with a 3.10 goals-against average, .901 save percentage and one shutout in his past five starts in place of No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop, who has been out since Feb. 2 because of an upper-body injury. 

The Stars, who have been shut out in two straight losses and are 1-3-1 in their past five games, hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and are four points behind the St. Louis Blues for third place in the Central Division.

The Predators, 1-3-1 in their past five games after going 5-1-0 in their previous six games, are in second place in the Central Division, three points behind the first-place Winnipeg Jets. 

This will be the fifth and final game between Dallas and Nashville this season; the Stars have won twice in regulation and the Predators have won twice in overtime.

Players to watch

Predators center Ryan Johansen has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past seven games.

Stars center Tyler Seguin has nine points (six goals, three assists) in his past eight games. 

They said it

"We're in a fairly good position in the standings, but it's so tight that all these games matter." -- Predators goalie Pekka Rinne

"You don't want to reinvent the wheel. We are what we are." -- Stars forward Jason Spezza on Dallas being shut out in two straight games

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson

Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Colton Sissons

Ryan Hartman -- Nick Bonino -- Craig Smith

Brian Boyle -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Rocco Grimaldi

Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis

Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban

Dan Hamhuis -- Yannick Weber

Pekka Rinne

Juuse Saros

Scratched: Frederick Gaudreau, Cody McLeod, Matt Irwin

Injured: Miikka Salomaki (upper body)

Suspended: Austin Watson

Stars projected lineup

Roope Hintz -- Tyler Seguin -- Alexander Radulov

Jamie Benn -- Radek Faksa -- Andrew Cogliano

Mattias Janmark -- Jason Dickinson -- Jason Spezza

Valeri Nichushkin -- Joel L'Esperance -- Brett Ritchie

Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg

Miro Heiskanen -- Roman Polak

Jamie Oleksiak -- Taylor Fedun

Anton Khudobin

Landon Bow

Injured: Stephen Johns (upper body), Marc Methot (lower body), Martin Hanzal (back), Tyler Pitlick (upper body), Ben Bishop (upper body), Blake Comeau (upper body)

Scratched: Connor Carrick, Julius Honka

Status report

Smith didn't practice Monday and didn't participate in the optional morning skate but is expected to play. … Bishop worked out on the ice before the optional morning skate and is listed as doubtful against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. … Comeau could return Thursday after missing three games.

Stat pack

Josi has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his past seven games. … Arvidsson has six points (five goals, one assist) in his past six games. … Dallas has scored two goals or fewer in four of its past five games.