Very few of their remaining games, if any, will mean more to the Predators and Jets than when Nashville visits Winnipeg tonight with the Central Division lead on the line (at 6 p.m. CT).
The Preds (42-27-6) fell in a shootout to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, but maintained their longest point streak in nearly two months as their total rose to four games in a row. Nashville Head Coach Peter Laviolette elected to shake up his forward lines in the contest, promoting Kyle Turris to the second line, while joining Wayne Simmonds with Brian Boyle together and reuniting Colton Sissons with Nick Bonino (amongst other moves). The new forward lines helped the Predators score in the final minutes of regulation to force overtime.
Winnipeg (44-26-4) holds a two-point edge over Nashville for first in the Central and has played one fewer game. The Jets fell to the Predators on Oct. 11, but bounced back to beat them on Jan. 17 and March 1. Tonight's contest will conclude the clubs' regular-season series.
Nashville held a full morning skate on Saturday at Bell MTS Place and were joined by Dan Hamhuis (Injured Reserve), Rem Pitlick, Zac Rinaldo (IR) and Miikka Salomaki (IR). Below is a Preds projected lineup based on the session:
Projected Lineup: Predators at Jets
Central Division Lead on the Line as Predators, Jets Complete Season Series
© Darcy Finley
