Preview: Predators at Red Wings

PREDATORS (1-2-0) at RED WINGS (2-2-0)
7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN360, TVA Sports, FS-D, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Predators team scope

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne's play has rebounded after he finished last season with a career-low .908 save percentage and allowed a League-high 161 goals. Two starts into the new season, he has a 2.03 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. Rinne is scheduled to play against Detroit in the Predators' final visit to Joe Louis Arena before the Red Wings move into Little Caesars Arena next season. "Pekka is one of the best goaltenders in the league, but every superstar has ups and downs," coach Peter Laviolette said. "The thing for a goalie is that, like a quarterback or a pitcher, you are always under the spotlight, so people notice. He's the same goalie he's been for us."

Red Wings team scope

Coach Jeff Blashill is making some changes after the Detroit Red Wings were outshot 33-18 on Wednesday in a 2-1 road win against the New York Rangers. Blashill said he's likely to switch Dylan Larkin from center to wing on a line with Justin Abdelkader and Frans Nielsen. Larkin has one assist and is minus-5 through four games. "We're thinking about it, because we want to find a way to spark his offense," Blashill said. "Playing on the wing is one way we can make that happen." Also, Forward Steve Ott moves back onto the fourth line in place of Andreas Athanasiou, and Ryan Sproul replaces Xavier Ouellet on defense. It will be the second NHL appearance for Sproul; the other came against the St. Louis Blues on April 13, 2014. "It's obviously been a long time," he said after the morning skate. "I just want to go out there and play a simple game. If offensive chances come, that's great, but I have to avoid mistakes."

Predators projected lineup

James Neal -- Mike Fisher -- Colin Wilson
Kevin Fiala -- Ryan Johansen -- Filip Forsberg
Viktor Arvidsson -- Mike Ribeiro -- Craig Smith
Cody Bass -- Colton Sissons -- Calle Jarnkrok
Roman Josi -- P.K. Subban
Mattias Ekholm -- Ryan Ellis
Matt Carle -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Marek Mazanec
Scratched: None

Injured:Anthony Bitetto (upper body), Miikka Salomaki (upper body)

Red Wings projected lineup

Justin Abdelkader -- Frans Nielsen -- Dylan Larkin
Tomas Tatar -- Henrik Zetterberg --Riley Sheahan
Thomas Vanek -- Darren Helm -- Gustav Nyquist
Drew Miller -- Luke Glendening -- Steve Ott
Danny DeKeyser -- Mike Green
Jonathan Ericsson -- Alexey Marchenko
Brendan Smith -- Ryan Sproul
Petr Mrazek
Jimmy Howard
Scratched: Xavier Ouellet, Andreas Athanasiou
Injured:Niklas Kronwall (knee), Tomas Jurco (back)

Status report

The Predators held an optional morning skate Friday, with about a dozen players taking part. … Mrazek will start despite Howard's sensational 32-save performance in the win at New York. Howard is expected to start Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.

Who's hot

Johansen leads the Predators with four points (all assists) in three games. He has taken four shots without scoring. … Vanek has six points in Detroit's first four games, largely serving as a power-play specialist. Vanek tied the game in New York early in the second period with a power-play goal, but played three 5-on-5 shifts in the final 33 minutes.