Blackhawks at Predators preview

BLACKHAWKS (23-19-7) at PREDATORS (29-11-7)
8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBCSCH, TVA Sports, NHL.TV

Forsberg, whose 34 points (15 goals, 19 assists) are second on the Predators behind P.K. Subban's 37, was on the first line with Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson at the morning skate, but he was not on the ice for warmups. He has missed 10 games with an upper-body injury
The Predators are 7-1-2 without Forsberg and one point behind the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central Division. They are 6-0-2 in their past eight games.
The Blackhawks are 1-3-1 in their past five games and have scored two goals or fewer in five of their past seven. They are 1-2-0 against the Predators this season.

Players to watch

Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past eight games.
Subban has scored in three consecutive games and has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past seven.

They said it

"You've got to work every shift. You've got to be ready because they're relentless and they don't have any letdowns in their game at all. I think at the same time, we can simplify. We can be tough to play against. We can be better defensively and not give up too much, and make them work for things against us as well." -- Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews
"I'm really excited going forward, just looking at how good we've been playing. We've been suffering injuries throughout the whole season like everybody, but I'm excited. It's going to be a lot of fun to join the guys. Whenever I can play again, it's going to be a lot of fun." -- Predators forward Filip Forsberg

Blackhawks projected lineup

Alex DeBrincat -- Jonathan Toews -- Anthony Duclair
Brandon Saad -- Nick Schmaltz -- Patrick Kane
Ryan Hartman -- Artem Anisimov -- Tommy Wingels
Vinnie Hinostroza -- David Kampf -- Tomas Jurco
Duncan Keith -- Jordan Oesterle
Erik Gustafsson -- Brent Seabrook
Michal Kempny -- Connor Murphy
Anton Forsberg
Jeff Glass
Scratched:Jan Rutta, Lance Bouma, Patrick Sharp
Injured:Corey Crawford (upper body), Michal Rozsival (upper body)

Predators projected lineup

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

Status report

Crawford did not make the trip.

Stat pack

Kane has 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists) in 56 games against the Predators. … Johansen has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 24 games against the Blackhawks.