Starter Cory Schneider is out with a groin injury sustained in the second period of a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Forward Taylor Hall will miss his third straight game with a right thumb injury but the Devils hope he'll be ready after the All-Star break, assistant coach Geoff Ward said. Forward Marcus Johansson was placed on injured reserve with a concussion sustained from a hit by Bruins forward Brad Marchand on Tuesday. The Devils are 0-3-0 in their past three games and 2-6-3 in their past 11, but are second in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand on the third-place Philadelphia Flyers. The Predators are 5-0-2 in their past seven games and two points behind the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central Division.
Players to watch
Defenseman P.K. Subban has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past 10 games. He leads Nashville with 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists). Devils forward Damon Severson has scored three goals in his past five games.
They said it
"We've picked up 11 out of our last 12 points and played some good hockey at home. Tough building in New Jersey that we're going into, so we're just looking to finish this last little chunk of games in between our breaks on the right foot and come out of there with a win." -- Predators forward Ryan Johansen "I think it's good that I got in those few periods now. It gave me a little bit of a sense of what to expect for tonight. But I'm very excited. I just want to go out there and play my game."-- Devils goaltender Ken Appleby
The Predators held an optional morning skate. … Blackwood and Rooney were recalled from Binghamton of the American Hockey League. … Kinkaid and Mueller were on the ice. … Boyle missed the morning skate because of personal reasons but is expected to play.
Stat pack
Subban has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 19 games against the Devils. … Palmieri has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 16 games against the Predators.
