Predators at Sabres preview

PREDATORS (47-14-10) at SABRES (23-36-12)
7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Rinne (39-9-4) is looking to become the seventh goaltender in NHL history to have at least three seasons with 40 or more wins. He would join Terry Sawchuk, Jacques Plante, Evgeni Nabokov, Mikka Kiprusoff, Braden Holtby (3 each) and Martin Broudeur (7). Rinne was 43-18-8 in 2011-12 and 41-17-6 in 2014-15.
The Predators, 13-0-1 in their past 14 games, will look to set their record for longest point streak (Nashville went 9-0-5 from Feb. 22-March 9, 2016). They have an eight-point lead over the second-place Winnipeg Jets in the Central Division and have clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Western Conference.
Sabres coach Phil Housley will face the Predators for the first time. He spent the previous four seasons as an assistant with Nashville.
Linus Ullmark will make his second start of the season for the Sabres. He made 44 saves in a 3-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 11.

Players to watch

Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson has 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in the past 14 games.
Sabres right wing Sam Reinhart has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in the past 19 games.

They said it

"It's become a culture in this dressing room. Going through last year, and really every year since [coach Peter] Laviolette's been here, we've expected to win; expected our best at all times no matter who we're facing." -- Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis on what's helped them to their 14-game point streak
"I had two great mentors. I had Barry Trotz, and you see the success he's had, I learned a lot from him my first year. Peter Laviolette… I learned a great deal. These are guys that are veteran coaches. I just absorbed as much as I could from them."-- Sabres coach Phil Housley

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Scott Hartnell -- Mike Fisher -- Miikka Salomaki
Ryan Hartman -- Nick Bonino -- Colton Sissons
Roman Josi -- Anthony Bitetto
Mattias Ekholm -- Ryan Ellis
Alexei Emelin -- P.K. Subban
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Yannick Weber, Matt Irwin, Austin Watson
Injured: Calle Jarnkrok (upper body)

Sabres projected lineup

Benoit Pouliot -- Jack Eichel -- Jason Pominville
Scott Wilson -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Sam Reinhart
Nick Baptiste -- Evan Rodrigues -- Justin Bailey
Jordan Nolan -- Johan Larsson -- Kyle Okposo
Marco Scandella -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Brendan Guhle -- Justin Falk
Nathan Beaulieu -- Casey Nelson
Linus Ullmark
Chad Johnson
Scratched:Robin Lehner, Josh Gorges, Victor Antipin, Seth Griffith
Injured: Zemgus Girgensons (undisclosed), Jacob Josefson (lower body), Kyle Criscuolo (upper body), Jake McCabe (shoulder), Zach Bogosian (hip)

Status report

Irwin and Weber were late off the ice on Monday and expected to be scratched. Girgensons did not skate on Monday and is day-to-day.

Stat pack

The Predators have won a team-record eight straight games on the road. … O'Reilly has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in the past 16 games. The Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention Saturday.