Predators at Sharks preview

PREDATORS (5-4-2) AT SHARKS (6-5-0)
10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV

The Predators are 1-2-1 in their past four games entering the opener of a four-game road trip. Goaltender Pekka Rinne, who backed up Juuse Saros in a 6-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday, will make his ninth start of the season. Rinne is 5-1-2 with a 1.86 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.

Players to watch

Predators forward Filip Forsberg has 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in his past nine games. He leads Nashville in points (13), goals (eight) and game-winning goals (two).
Sharks rookie defenseman Tim Heed has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past four games. He had a power-play goal and an assist in San Jose's 3-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.

They said it

"The Toronto game was a great example of us kind of firing on all cylinders, what that looks like against a very good team. But in the NHL, it's replicating that every night and not taking a deep breath, 'OK, we did it, now we can take our foot off the gas.' It's finding that consistency." -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer
"I feel more confident, going through that. Mentally for a goalie it's a good thing. I think mentally you are stronger, and you can definitely use that to your advantage. For me, so far I've felt very comfortable and very confident on the ice." --Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne on his strong start after reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Scott Hartnell -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Miikka Salomaki
Kevin Fiala -- Colton Sissons -- Craig Smith
Cody McLeod -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Austin Watson
Alexei Emelin -- P.K. Subban
Roman Josi -- Mattias Ekholm
Matt Irwin -- Samuel Girard
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Anthony Bitetto, Yannick Weber, Pontus Aberg
Injured:Nick Bonino (lower body), Ryan Ellis (knee)

Sharks projected lineup

Kevin Labanc -- Joe Thornton -- Joe Pavelski
Melker Karlsson -- Logan Couture -- Tomas Hertl
Joonas Donskoi -- Chris Tierney -- Mikkel Boedker
Timo Meier -- Ryan Carpenter -- Joel Ward
Joakim Ryan -- Brent Burns
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Justin Braun
Brenden Dillon -- Tim Heed
Martin Jones
Aaron Dell
Scratched:Barclay Goodrow, Dylan DeMelo, Jannik Hansen
Injured:Paul Martin (ankle)

Status report

Bitetto, Weber and Pontus Aberg stayed on the ice for extra work at Nashville's optional morning skate and will likely be scratched, with Irwin, Girard and McLeod returning to the lineup. Bonino skated with the Predators for the first time since being injured against on Oct. 14 against the Chicago Blackhawks. ... Martin skated with the Sharks for the second straight day.

Stat pack

Couture has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in his past seven games. … Nashville has won four of six games against San Jose during the past two seasons.