Predators at Jets preview

PREDATORS (42-27-6) at JETS (44-26-4)
7 p.m. ET; SN360, SNW, SNP, FS-TN, NHL.TV

The Jets will clinch a playoff berth if they get at least one point.
Winnipeg, 4-0-1 in its past five games, leads Nashville by two points for first in the Central Division. Connor Hellebuyck, who is 3-0-0 with a .948 save percentage and one shutout in his past four games, will start for the Jets
Pekka Rinne, who is 7-3-1 with a .923 save percentage and one shutout in his past 11 games, will start for the Predators, who are 3-0-1 in their past four games.

Players to watch

Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson has 31 goals, tying his NHL career high (2016-17), and is one shy of 100 in the NHL.
Jets forward Blake Wheeler has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in his past 15 games.

They said it

"It's a good time for it and our guys are ready. I think they understand everything about where we sit. It should be a good game." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette
"They're exciting. I think for the fans as well, and for us. That series last year (2018 Western Conference Second Round won by the Jets in seven games) was the most fun games I've ever played or been a part of. I feel like it's been like that during the regular season as well. They're tough games, they got a really good team. They've got some skilled players, they've got some big players. And we've got the same." -- Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Mikael Granlund -- Nick Bonino -- Wayne Simmonds
Calle Jarnkrok -- Colton Sissons -- Craig Smith
Brian Boyle -- Kyle Turris -- Rocco Grimaldi
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Matt Donovan, Austin Watson, Cody McLeod, Frederick Gaudreau
Injured:Miikka Salomaki (upper body), Zac Rinaldo (shoulder), Dan Hamhuis (lower body)

Jets projected lineup

Nikolaj Ehlers -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor -- Kevin Hayes -- Patrik Laine
Brandon Tanev -- Adam Lowry -- Bryan Little
Mathieu Perreault -- Andrew Copp -- Matt Hendricks
Nathan Beaulieu -- Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot -- Sami Niku
Dmitry Kulikov -- Tyler Myers
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
Scratched:Par Lindholm, Bogdan Kiselevich, Jack Roslovic, Joe Morrow
Injured:Dustin Byfuglien (lower body), Josh Morrissey (upper body), Laurent Brossoit (lower body)

Status report

Nashville signed forward Rem Pitlick from the University of Minnesota to a two-year, entry-level contract on Friday. … Laine moves to right wing on the second line and Ehlers moves up to left wing on the top line. … Beaulieu returns after missing two games with an upper-body injury. … Winnipeg recalled Comrie on an emergency basis from Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Friday.

Stat pack

Johansen has six assists in his past six games. … Forsberg has five points (four goals, one assist) in his past five games ... Laine has no goals in his past 11 games, four in his past 29 and six in his past 42.