Game Day: Red Wings vs. Preds Preview

After collecting four wins and nine points during an eight-game road trip, the Nashville Predators have finally returned home to host the Detroit Red Wings for a two-game set, and it begins tonight at Bridgestone Arena. This evening's contest is the fifth of eight meetings between the two this season; the Preds are 2-2-0 against the Wings.
The Predators finished their two-week excursion with a 4-3-1 overall record, including a 3-1-0 mark in their last four. The trip ended on Sunday night in Dallas with a 4-3 victory in a shootout, and the Preds were largely pleased with the body of work they put in over the course of the journey, especially with contributions from young players throughout the lineup.
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"We're missing a lot of key players, and for all these young guys to step up and compete the way they have and be difference-makers in games, not just working hard - it's been a lot of fun on this trip and fun to watch them," Preds center Ryan Johansen said following Sunday's win in Dallas. "This was a make-or-break trip for us. We had to find a way to get points and win some games, and then we did that, and we're in a position where we have 24 games left, and if we can keep taking strides forward, we'll put ourselves in a good position at the end of this season. I'm really proud of our group."
Preds goaltender Juuse Saros returned from Injured Reserve during the trip, but the team still has a number of players out due to various ailments. Forward Mikael Granlund missed Sunday's game in Dallas and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Forwards Matt Duchene, Luke Kunin and Brad Richardson, as well as defensemen Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Luca Sbisa all remain on IR for the Preds. Defenseman Mark Borowiecki is also out with an upper-body injury.
The Predators had a day off Monday following their back-to-back set over the weekend, but they are scheduled to hold a morning skate today at Bridgestone Arena. On Monday afternoon, the Preds reassigned forward Rem Pitlick and defenseman Alexandre Carrier to the taxi squad.
Update: The Preds have activated Captain Roman Josi off injured reserve and recalled forward Michael McCarron and defenseman Alexandre Carrier from the taxi squad. Defenseman Jeremy Davies has been reassigned to the taxi squad.

The Good Guys:
Eeli Tolvanen recorded the first three-point game (1g-2a) of his career on Sunday night in Dallas to help the Preds to a 4-3 win in the shootout, including the game-tying goal in the third period. Forward Calle Jarnkrok scored the winner in the shootout and was named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday.
Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg also scored for Nashville on Sunday, and Pekka Rinne made 27 saves through 65 minutes - and then four more in the shootout - to earn the win.
Forsberg continues to lead the Preds in scoring with 11 goals and 28 points, followed by Jarnkrok with 15 points (9g-6a), and then Mattias Ekholm (5g-9a) and Viktor Arvidsson (4g-10a) with 14 points each. Tolvanen has seven goals - four of which have come on the power play - and Granlund has found the back of the net on five occasions. Rinne is 8-11-1 in net; Juuse Saros has a 6-6-0 record.
The Opposition:
The Red Wings dropped a 3-0 decision to Dallas on Saturday night in Detroit, but they have points in four of their last six outings. Filip Hronek leads the team in scoring with 18 points (1g-17a), followed by Dylan Larkin (6g-10a) with 16 points, and then Robby Fabbri (9g-6a) and Anthony Mantha (8g-7a) with 15 points each. Jonathan Bernier is 8-6-0 in net for the Wings this season; Thomas Greiss is 2-12-4.
All-Time Meetings:
The Predators are 38-51-(4)-10 all-time against the Red Wings, including a 22-24-(2)-3 record at Bridgestone Arena. This will be the 104th meeting between the two teams, Nashville's third-most games played against a single opponent behind St. Louis (118) and Chicago (119).
Prior to this season, the Predators and Red Wings were Central Division foes for 14 seasons from 1998-99 to 2012-13. Nashville has won three of its last five games against Detroit, including a 1-1-0 record at home this season.
The Predators are 2-8-0 in their last 10 home games versus the Red Wings; their 3-2 win on Feb. 11 was the team's first home victory over Detroit since Dec. 30, 2013. On Feb. 28, 2009, the Predators defeated the Red Wings, 8-0, at Bridgestone Arena. It remains the highest margin of victory in a game in franchise history.
Notables Versus Detroit:
Filip Forsberg posted a six-game point streak versus Detroit from Feb. 12, 2019 to Feb. 23, 2021, tallying four goals and 10 points, including a multi-point effort in three of his last five contests.
Ryan Johansen has five points (1g-4a) in his last six games versus Detroit, and Dante Fabbro has three points (1g-2a) in his last four meetings against the Red Wings.
Calle Jarnkrok was acquired from Detroit along with Patrick Eaves and a second-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft (traded to San Jose; San Jose selected Julius Bergman) for David Legwand on March 5, 2014.
Watch & Listen:
Coverage for tonight's 7 p.m. CT puck drop from Nashville begins on FOX Sports Tennessee at 6:30 p.m. CT with the Predators Live! pregame show hosted by Lyndsay Rowley and Terry Crisp. Willy Daunic, Chris Mason and Kara Hammer have the call on the television side, while Pete Weber and Hal Gill will broadcast on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network. Pregame coverage on the radio begins at 6 p.m. For broadcast information and channel locations throughout the country,
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Streaming Info:
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