Preview: Rangers at Predators

RANGERS (21-10-1) at PREDATORS (13-12-4)
8 p.m. ET; MSG 2, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Rangers team scope

The New York Rangers will try to improve on a 10-5-0 road record against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday. Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey will play against the Predators for the first time in his career. He was drafted by the Predators in the 2012 NHL Draft but elected not to sign with them after his senior season at Harvard. Vesey's rights were traded from the Predators to the Buffalo Sabres in June. He signed as a free agent with the Rangers on August 19. He said he doesn't expect a warm reception in Nashville. "Probably not the best reception," Vesey said. "I already played in Buffalo and that was not exactly a warm welcome, but this might be the worst of it. I'm just going to try and focus on the game and keeping it simple out there." Henrik Lundqvist will start his second straight game for the Rangers after backing up Antti Raanta for four straight games. The Rangers are 4-1-0 in their past five games.

Predators team scope

The Predators are coming off of a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. They were not happy with their defensive coverage and will try to improve in that area against the Rangers. "I think especially in front of our net, we've got to be a little better," Predators defenseman Roman Josi said. "We knew against Minnesota they crash the net hard. Most of their goals came from right in front of our goaltender so we want to make sure we protect that area." The Predators are 2-4-1 in December and 10-3-2 at home. Predators forward Ryan Johansen leads the team with 21 points and has one goal and three assists in his past three games.

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Derek Stepan -- Mats Zuccarello
J.T. Miller -- Kevin Hayes -- Rick Nash
Jimmy Vesey -- Oscar Lindberg -- Jesper Fast
Michael Grabner -- Marek Hrivik -- Matt Puempel
Ryan McDonagh -- Dan Girardi
Marc Staal -- Nick Holden
Brady Skjei -- Kevin Klein
Henrik Lundqvist
Antti Raanta
Scratched:Adam Clendening, Brandon Pirri
Injured: Pavel Buchnevich (back), Mika Zibanejad (broken left fibula)

Predators projected lineup

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

Status report

Puempel will return to the lineup after missing five games with a concussion. He will take Pirri's place in the lineup for the Rangers. … Subban did not participate in the morning skate but is expected to play. … Saros is expected to start for the Predators.

Who's hot

Nash has three goals and one assist in his past five games. …. Arvidsson has two goals and four assists in his past five games.