Predators at Canadiens preview

PREDATORS (24-15-3) at CANADIENS (22-14-5)
7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN360, CITY, SNE, FS-TN, ESPN+, NHL.TV

It is the fifth game between the teams since the June 29, 2016 trade, which saw Nashville acquire Subban for Weber. The only other time both defensemen were in the lineup was March 2, 2017, a 2-1 win for the Canadiens at Bell Centre.
Subban scored in Nashville's 4-3 overtime loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Friday for his first point in five games since he missed 19 games with an upper-body injury.
The Predators are 2-5-2 in the past nine games but have points in three straight (2-0-1). They are playing the second game of a season-high six-game road trip. They are 1-8-3 in their last 12 road games.
The Canadiens, who will try for a third straight win, are 11-5-0 since a five-game losing streak (0-3-2).

Players to watch

Predators forward Ryan Johansen has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past three games.
Canadiens goalie Carey Price made 33 saves for his second shutout in a 2-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday after missing a three-game road trip because of a lower-body injury. He is 8-2-0 in his past 11 games (10 starts).

They said it

"The biggest (thing we need to change) is the start of the game. Make sure we're ready, and not just to go out and have a solid start, but to dominate and set the tone for the game." -- Predators forward Ryan Johansen
"Right now, we're in the position that we want to be in. We're in a position to make the playoffs. We're there. The second half will be more difficult. That's why it's important that we continue to grow as a team." -- Canadiens coach Claude Julien

#

Predators projected lineup

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

Canadiens projected lineup

Tomas Tatar -- Phillip Danault -- Brendan Gallagher
Jonathan Drouin -- Max Domi -- Paul Byron
Artturi Lehkonen -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Joel Armia
Kenny Agostino -- Michael Chaput -- Nicolas Deslauriers
Victor Mete -- Shea Weber
Mike Reilly -- Jeff Petry
Brett Kulak -- Jordie Benn
Carey Price
Antti Niemi
Scratched: Matthew Peca, Charles Hudon, Karl Alzner
Injured: Andrew Shaw (neck), David Schlemko (upper body)

#

Status report

Neither team held a morning skate. … Salomaki left in the second period Friday because of an upper-body injury. He did not return and there was no update after the game. … Forsberg skated in a non-contact jersey at Thursday's practice and might play … Price, feeling "light-headed", did not finish practice Friday, but Julien says there should be no issue for Saturday.

Stat pack

Smith has a four-game point streak (two goals, two assists). … Benn has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past three games.