Predators at Rangers preview

PREDATORS (0-0-0) at RANGERS (0-0-0)
7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, MSG, NHL.TV

The Game

David Quinn will coach his first NHL game when the New York Rangers play the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
Quinn, 52, was hired as the 35th coach of the Rangers on May 23 after five seasons at Boston University. He was an assistant with the Colorado Avalanche in 2012-13.
The Predators begin defense of the Presidents' Trophy after leading the NHL with 117 points (53-18-11) before a seven-game loss to the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference Second Round.

Players to watch

Predators goalie Pekka Rinne won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL for the first time last season. He finished first in save percentage (.927) and goals-against average (2.31), tied for first in shutouts (eight) with Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning), and third in wins (42) behind Vasilevskiy and Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets (44 each).
Goalie Henrik Lundqvist begins his 14th NHL season, all with New York, and will likely extend his Rangers record of consecutive season-opening starts to 13. Lundqvist, 36, is 8-5-0 with a 2.09 GAA, a .930 save percentage and two shutouts in 13 games against the Predators, including 4-1-0 with a 1.60 GAA and .945 save percentage in his past five at Madison Square Garden.

They said it

"The start of the season is always exciting. When you're off for the summer you think about a lot of things, what could have been, what should have been. If you're fortunate enough that things went well, you get to reflect on that a little bit. But it's time to move past that. You go through training camp. Everybody wants to get themselves in shape, get their team in order. This is the start of it. I think our guys are ready to play." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette
"We're all human and I'm probably as excited as people would anticipate I am. But once the puck drops, you just get so enthralled in what you're doing. I think it's exciting for everybody this time of year, no matter how long you've been coaching in the League, but obviously it's extra special for someone who's a first-time head coach in the National Hockey League and the first time coaching in Madison Square Garden. -- Rangers coach David Quinn

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Colton Sissons -- Nick Bonino -- Calle Jarnkrok
Ryan Hartman -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Miikka Salomaki
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Dan Hamhuis -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Anthony Bitetto, Matt Irwin, Zac Rinaldo
Injured: None
Suspended: Austin Watson

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey -- Kevin Hayes -- Mats Zuccarello
Ryan Spooner -- Filip Chytil -- Jesper Fast
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Brett Howden -- Vinni Lettieri
Brady Skjei -- Adam McQuaid
Brendan Smith -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Marc Staal -- Neal Pionk
Henrik Lundqvist
Alexandar Georgiev
Scratched: Tony DeAngelo, Fredrik Claesson, Cody McLeod
Injured: Matt Beleskey (separated shoulder), Boo Nieves (concussion)

Status report

Hartman (shoulder) was activated from injured reserve. He alternated with Rinaldo during Nashville's morning skate. ... Shattenkirk will play his first regular-season game since Jan. 18. He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee Jan. 22. … Howden is expected to make his NHL debut and McQuaid to play his first game for the Rangers after nine seasons with the Boston Bruins. … New York had an optional morning skate.

Stat pack

Forsberg has six points (two goals, four points) in eight games against New York, including four points (one goal, three assists) in two games last season. … The Rangers have won eight of their past 12 games (8-4-0) against the Predators. … Fast is two points from 100 in his NHL career.