Preview: Devils at Predators

DEVILS (10-7-6) at PREDATORS (11-8-3)
2 p.m. ET; MSG+, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Devils team scope

The New Jersey Devils will try to get their first road win since Nov. 15 in the finale of a four-game trip. They defeated the Dallas Stars 2-1 on the road and have gone 0-4-2 since then. New Jersey is 1-4-3 in its past eight games. Forward Travis Zajac had a hat trick in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. He leads the Devils with 18 points. "[Zajac's] playing a faster game this year," coach John Hynes told Northjersey.com Friday. "There's more tenacity to his game in the offensive zone, forechecking. I think he feels more comfortable with the puck. I think the big thing for [Zajac] is mindset."

Predators team scope

The Nashville Predators are 8-3-0 in their past 11 games after starting the season 3-5-3, and they are 8-1-1 at home. Forward Ryan Johansen is starting to heat up offensively, but the Predators like the way he has played a two-way game all season. "He's been excellent," coach Peter Laviolette said. "I think he's been really strong on the puck. I think he's working hard defensively. He's playing against big lines and big defensemen every night. I just like the way he's attacking the game both offensively and defensively." Goaltender Pekka Rinne is 8-1-0 in his past nine starts and has allowed 13 goals during that span. Forward James Neal, who leads Nashville with 10 goals, is week to week with an upper-body injury.

Devils projected lineup

Taylor Hall -- Adam Henrique -- PA Parenteau
Michael Cammalleri -- Travis Zajac -- Kyle Palmieri
John Quenneville -- Pavel Zacha -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Miles Wood -- Vernon Fiddler -- Nick Lappin
Andy Greene -- Damon Severson
Yohann Auvitu -- Ben Lovejoy
John Moore -- Kyle Quincey
Cory Schneider
Keith Kinkaid
Scratched: Jacob Josefson, Jon Merrill
Injured: Beau Bennett (leg), Sergey Kalinin (illness)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Mike Ribeiro -- Craig Smith
Colin Wilson -- Mike Fisher -- Pontus Aberg
Frederick Gaudreau -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Austin Watson
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Roman Josi -- Matt Irwin
Petter Granberg -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Mike Liambas
Injured: Anthony Bitetto (hand), Ryan Ellis (upper body), James Neal (upper body), Miikka Salomaki (upper body), Colton Sissons (upper body)

Status report

Quenneville made his NHL debut against the Blackhawks. … Ellis participated in practice Thursday but did not Friday.

Who's hot

Zajac has four goals and four assists in his past five games. … Johansen has four goals and three assists in his past four games and is tied with Forsberg for the Predators lead with 16 points.