The Nashville Predators play the second of three games on their California road trip against the Los Angeles Kings. The Predators, who are 0-2-1 in their past three games after winning four in row, are three points ahead of the St. Louis Blues for third place in the Central Division. Pekka Rinne, who made 39 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, is expected to be in goal. "They just played harder," Ryan Ellis said of the Ducks after the game. "They worked harder, they battled harder and we didn't deserve much out of that game. We're lucky we got a point there." Nashville has at least one point in each of its past five games against the Kings at Staples Center (3-0-2). Craig Smith is two points shy of 200 in his NHL career.
Kings team scope
The Kings, who haven't played since a 4-3 loss against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, are three points behind the Blues for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Los Angeles is 4-7-2 in its past 13 games. The Kings won the previous two games against the Predators; they defeated Nashville 4-0 on Dec. 22 at Bridgestone Arena and 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 27 at Staples Center. Los Angeles will play the third of a seven-game homestand. Goalie Jonathan Quick (2-0-1) is expected to start. Quick has a 2.63 goals-against average and .921 save percentage since he returned Feb. 25 against the Ducks after missing 59 games with a groin injury sustained in a season-opening loss to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 12. Quick hasn't played since March 2 when he made 29 saves in a 3-2 win in a shootout against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Parenteau, who was acquired on March 1 from the New Jersey Devils for a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, skated at practice Thursday, according to the Predators website. … Nolan and Shore did not skate during an optional practice Thursday. Each is listed as day to day.
Who's hot
Forsberg, who leads the Predators with 27 goals, has 16 points (11 goals, five assists) in the past nine games. … Subban has 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) in the past 11 games. … Josi has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in the past 14 games. … Pearson, who is second to Carter (30 goals) on the Kings with 22 goals this season, has 14 points (seven games, seven assists) in the past 11 games.
