Preview: Jets at Predators

JETS (9-11-2) at PREDATORS (9-7-3)
6 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, TSN3, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Jets team scope

The Winnipeg Jets are 0-4-0 heading into the finale of a five-game road trip, and they'll be without defenseman Toby Enstrom, who went home to Sweden to deal with a personal matter. Enstrom has played more than 20 minutes in all but one game this season. This is the first half of a home-and-home series; the Nashville Predators come to MTS Centre on Sunday. "We've kind of had a few back-to-backs, and it's always nice to get the first win," forward Blake Wheeler said. "It's tough to beat any team twice in a row, but I think just with where our team is at right now, this game is a big one for us tonight just to get back on the right path." The Jets have scored five goals in their past four games and were limited to 16 shots on goal in a 3-1 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.

Predators team scope

Defenseman Anthony Bitetto may return to the lineup. Bitetto missed 18 games with an upper-body injury and played two games for Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment. "It's a frustrating thing," Bitetto said. "First game, halfway through the game, I'm injured already. It was kind of frustrating, but it's been a positive five weeks getting back and getting back into shape I guess and getting my injury better. I think the biggest thing for me was going down to Milwaukee, and playing those two games was huge." The Predators recalled Bitetto from Milwaukee on Thursday along with goaltender Juuse Saros. Nashville is 7-1-1 at home, including five consecutive wins, and has killed off all 26 opposition power plays at Bridgestone Arena.

Jets projected lineup

Patrik Laine -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Nic Petan -- Drew Stafford
Marko Dano -- Adam Lowry -- Brandon Tanev
Andrew Copp -- Alexander Burmistrov -- Chris Thorburn
Ben Chiarot -- Dustin Byfuglien
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Mark Stuart -- Paul Postma
Connor Hellebuyck
Michael Hutchinson
Scratched:Chase De Leo, Toby Enstrom
Injured:Joel Armia (lower body), Bryan Little (lower body), Shawn Matthias (upper body), Tyler Myers (lower body), Mathieu Perreault (upper body)

Predators projected lineup

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

Status report

The Jets did not hold a morning skate. Hellebuyck will start for the third straight game. … Rinne was the first goaltender off of the ice at Nashville's morning skate and is expected to start. Bitetto and Saros replace Bass and Mazanec, who were sent to Milwaukee.

Who's hot

Scheifele has one goal and two assists in his past five games and is third in the NHL with 23 points in 22 games. … Subban has two goals and four assists in his past four games.