Jets at Predators preview

JETS (41-18-10) at PREDATORS (44-14-10)
8 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN3, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Winnipeg is in second place in the division with 92 points; Nashville, which has played one fewer game, leads the division and the Western Conference with 98 points.
Jets forward Patrik Laine has 22 points (16 goals, six assists) in a 12-game point streak, which is the longest current streak in the NHL. Laine, 19, has scored the third-most goals by a teenager in League history with 77, trailing Jimmy Carson (92) and Dale Hawerchuk (85).
The Predators are 10-0-1 in their past 11 games and are 24-7-4 at home this season. They have not lost in regulation since a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 17.

Players to watch

Winnipeg forward Blake Wheeler has 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in his past 15 games.
Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past five games.

They said it

"It's not getting easier. It's probably the best team right now in the West so it's going to be a tight one, back-to-back in their building. We've just got to play better defense than we did [in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday]. They have a lot of skill up front so we've got to be careful with those guys." -- Jets forward Patrik Laine on the Predators
"It's been exciting hockey to watch. Two teams that can really skate and put the puck in the net. They're always fun games. They're physical and high-tempo, and it's become a good rivalry because the teams are playing so well. They've got a great team. We always look forward to those games." -- Predators forward Mike Fisher on playing against the Jets

Jets projected lineup

Nikolaj Ehlers -- Paul Stastny -- Patrik Laine
Kyle Connor -- Bryan Little -- Blake Wheeler
Mathieu Perreault -- Andrew Copp -- Joel Armia
Marko Dano -- Jack Roslovic -- Brandon Tanev
Ben Chiarot -- Dustin Byfuglien
Josh Morrissey -- Tyler Myers
Joe Morrow -- Tucker Poolman
Michael Hutchinson
Connor Hellebuyck
Scratched:Matt Hendricks Toby Enstrom
Injured:Shawn Matthias (upper body), Jacob Trouba (lower body), Adam Lowry (upper body), Steve Mason (lower body), Mark Scheifele (upper body), Dmitry Kulikov (lower body)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Ryan Hartman -- Nick Bonino -- Calle Jarnkrok
Colton Sissons --
Mike Fisher
-- Austin Watson
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Matt Irwin, Anthony Bitetto, Miikka Salomaki, Scott Hartnell
Injured: None

Status report

The Jets did not hold a morning skate. … The Predators held an optional morning skate. ... Hutchinson (2-0-0, 2.00 goals-against average, .933 save percentage) will make his third start of the season and first since Feb 24.

Stat pack

Laine has four points (two goals, two assists) in seven career games against the Predators. … Forsberg has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 19 career games against the Jets.