Sharks at Predators preview

SHARKS (0-3-0) at PREDATORS (1-1-0)
8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV

A loss by the Sharks would equal their 0-4-0 start in 1993-94.
Forward Evander Kane will make his season debut for San Jose after serving a three-game suspension for physical abuse of an official. He is expected to play left wing on the second line with Tomas Hertl and Barclay Goodrow.
Sharks forward Marcus Sorensen will miss the game because of an undisclosed injury.
Predators coach Peter Laviolette needs one win to tie Bryan Murray (620) for 17th place on the NHL's all-time list.

Players to watch

Sharks center Logan Couture has two points (one goal, one assist) in three games; no other San Jose player has more than one point.
Predators center Matt Duchene has five assists in two games.

They said it

"It allows you to have an elite guy at the most important position on each unit, which is the guy at the top. But … we're going to have different looks. And depending on health and personnel and who we have in and out, I think we're going to see a lot of different formations there." -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer on splitting up defensemen Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns on the power-play units
"Obviously you always need to be aware of what's going on around you and make good decisions with the puck. Just keep your head cool. … Everybody just wants to contribute offensively, but there has to be a little bit more of a mindset to play defense as well." -- Predators forward Filip Forsberg on avoiding the counterattack when pushing offensively

Sharks projected lineup

Timo Meier -- Logan Couture -- Kevin Labanc
Evander Kane -- Tomas Hertl -- Barclay Goodrow
Melker Karlsson -- Joe Thornton -- Jonny Brodzinski
Lean Bergmann -- Dylan Gambrell -- Lukas Radil
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon -- Erik Karlsson
Mario Ferraro -- Trevor Carrick
Martin Jones
Aaron Dell
Scratched: Danil Yurtaykin
Injured:Dalton Prout (upper body), Jake Middleton (undisclosed), Tim Heed (upper body), Radim Simek (knee), Marcus Sorensen (undisclosed)

Predators projected lineup

Craig Smith -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Filip Forsberg -- Matt Duchene -- Mikael Granlund
Rocco Grimaldi -- Kyle Turris -- Calle Jarnkrok
Colton Sissons -- Nick Bonino -- Austin Watson
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- Dante Fabbro
Matt Irwin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Dan Hamhuis, Daniel Carr
Injured: None

Status report

Sorensen being out is a result of a play in a 3-1 loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, DeBoer said. … The Predators held an optional morning skate. … Irwin is expected to enter the lineup in place of Hamhuis.

Stat pack

Jones is 0-2-0 with a 4.80 goals-against average and .862 save percentage. … Thornton has 64 points (14 goals, 50 assists) in 54 games against Nashville. … Arvidsson has 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 10 games against San Jose.