Sharks at Predators preview

SHARKS (44-23-10) at PREDATORS (49-16-11)
8 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, FS-TN, NHL.TV

The Sharks can also get in with one point against the Predators and if the Los Angeles Kings lose the Arizona Coyotes in regulation. They are second in the Pacific Division with 98 points and 8-0-1 in their past nine games.
The Predators lead the NHL with 109 points and will break their single-season record (110 in 2006-07) with a victory. They have clinched home-ice advantage in the Western Conference First Round.

Players to watch

Sharks forward Evander Kane has scored four goals in a three-game goal streak.
Predators forward Filip Forsberg has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his past 14 games.

They said it

"I think it's kind of in the back of our minds for sure. I think every game over basically these last 10 to 15 has kind of been that playoff mentality. A lot of these teams, even a team like Nashville, they're still competing for home-ice advantage and the Presidents' Trophy. These kind of games obviously have big meaning." -- Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon
"I think every one of these games that are coming up and the games that we've been playing are a huge step toward the playoffs. I think you need to play well in order to have that right feeling and that swagger so to say, coming into the playoffs." -- Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm

Sharks projected lineup

Evander Kane -- Joe Pavelski -- Chris Tierney
Timo Meier -- Logan Couture -- Mikkel Boedker
Melker Karlsson -- Tomas Hertl -- Kevin Labanc
Jannik Hansen -- Joel Ward -- Marcus Sorensen
Paul Martin -- Brent Burns
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Justin Braun
Brenden Dillon -- Dylan DeMelo
Martin Jones
Aaron Dell
Scratched:Tim Heed, Joakim Ryan
Injured:Joe Thornton (knee), Joonas Donskoi (upper body), Eric Fehr (lower body), Barclay Goodrow (broken finger)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Miikka Salomaki -- Nick Bonino -- Colton Sissons
Scott Hartnell -- Mike Fisher -- Ryan Hartman
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Matt Irwin
Juuse Saros
Pekka Rinne
Scratched:Eeli Tolvanen, Anthony Bitetto
Injured:Austin Watson (upper body), Yannick Weber (upper body), Calle Jarnkrok (upper body)

Status report

Ryan is available but won't play. … Goodrow had surgery Wednesday and is out indefinitely. … Tolvanen signed a three-year, entry-level contract Thursday. The No. 30 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft joined the Predators for the morning skate but will not play.

Stat pack

Burns has seven points (goal, six assists) in his past five games. … Arvidsson has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in his past 15 games.