Forsberg NSH

PREDATORS (25-15-3) at MAPLE LEAFS (27-12-2)
7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, TVAS, SNO, FS-TN

Coach Peter Laviolette said Forsberg is very close after missing the past 17 games with an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old forward has 22 points (14 goals, eight assists) in 26 games this season.
Goalie Pekka Rinne will likely start for the Predators, who are 3-0-1 in their past four games after going 0-5-1 in their previous six.
Michael Hutchinson is expected to make his third straight start for the Maple Leafs, who are 6-2-0 in their past eight games.

Players to watch

Predators forward Craig Smith has six points (four goals, two assists) during a five-game point streak.
Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in his past eight games.

They said it

"It happened with a kind of similar situation last year for me. It's just trying to get your legs under you pretty quick and try to keep my shifts short. You have to try to keep it simple. Obviously that's a challenge anyway to keep it simple but when (I get in the lineup), it will be fun."-- Predators forward Filip Forsberg
"You've got to bring your 'A' game against a team like this because they take off very few nights. It will be a good challenge for us, they've got a very complete team with a lot of depth. We feel like we're a good team as well, but they play well every night. They're fast, they've got good goaltending and their top four defense, you can put them with the top defensemen in the League." -- Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews

Predators projected lineup
Maple Leafs projected lineup
Status report

Salomaki, injured against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, did not take part in the morning skate. … Hyman skated in Toronto's optional but is still awaiting medical clearance. … Andersen has practiced in full twice since injuring his groin Dec. 22 but will miss his sixth straight game.

Stat pack

Grimaldi has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past four games … Tavares has 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in his past 11 games.