Predators at Islanders preview

PREDATORS (31-12-7) at ISLANDERS (26-22-5)
7 p.m. ET; SN, TVA Sports, MSG+, FS-TN, NHL.TV

The Predators, who have won eight of their past 10 games (8-1-1), will be without forward Filip Forsberg; he will serve the first of a three-game suspension for interference against New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey on Saturday.
The Islanders can move from outside the Stanley Cup Playoff picture into the first wild card from the Eastern Conference with a victory. They have 57 points, one behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, who don't play Monday.

Players to watch

Predators defenseman P.K. Subban has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past 10 games. He leads the Predators with 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists).
Islanders forward Jordan Eberle has two goals in his past four games. He is two from scoring 20 in a season for the sixth time in eight NHL seasons.

They said it

"It doesn't matter who comes in or who comes out, we still have a job to do and I think the guys understand that. It's not the first time we've had to go through somebody missing from the lineup. Guys will work to cover his position. Great opportunity for others to step up." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette, on suspended forward Filip Forsberg
"You know where you stand and we know where we are. We've just got to take it one game at a time, and I know it's all the boring cliché stuff. Tonight's a huge game against a really good team. We have to take advantage of being at home and being at home the last few days and kind of start to get on a roll." -- Islanders forward Anders Lee

Predators projected lineup

Colton Sissons -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Scott Hartnell -- Nick Bonino -- Calle Jarnkrok
Miikka Salomaki -- Austin Watson -- Pontus Aberg
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Anthony Bitetto, Matt Irwin
Injured:None
Suspended: Filip Forsberg

Islanders projected lineup

Anthony Beauvillier -- John Tavares -- Josh Bailey
Anders Lee -- Mathew Barzal -- Jordan Eberle
Andrew Ladd -- Brock Nelson -- Cal Clutterbuck
Casey Cizikas -- Alan Quine -- Jason Chimera
Nick Leddy -- Sebastian Aho
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Thomas Hickey -- Scott Mayfield
Jaroslav Halak
Thomas Greiss
Scratched: Ross Johnston, Dennis Seidenberg
Injured: Tanner Fritz (lower body), Nikolay Kulemin (upper body), Johnny Boychuk (lower body), Calvin de Haan (upper body)

Status report

Fritz was injured during the Islanders' 4-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday and is day to day. … Boychuk, who hasn't played since Dec. 27, participated at the morning skate but is not ready to return.

Stat pack

Rinne has a 1.56 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage during his winning streak. … The Islanders have allowed 30 or more shots on goal in 19 straight games. They allow 35.4 shots per game, most in the NHL.