Predators at Bruins preview

PREDATORS (16-12-6) at BRUINS (21-7-8)
7 p.m. ET; NESN, FS-TN, NHL.TV

Each has been out with a lower-body injury; Arvidsson has missed 12 games and Granlund has missed four. Predators coach Peter Laviolette would not commit to each facing the Bruins, but each took line rushes during the morning skate Saturday.
Nashville is 2-2-1 in its past five games after going 5-1-2 in its previous eight games.
The Atlantic Division-leading Bruins, winless in two straight (0-0-2), are 1-4-3 in their past eight games following an eight-game winning streak. Goalie Jaroslav Halak will start; he's 4-2-2 with a 1.85 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and one shutout in his past eight starts.

Players to watch

Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis has six points (one goal, five assists) in a three-game multipoint streak.
Bruins forward David Pastrnak has four points (two goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak.

They said it

"Boston's got a really strong team … one of the top teams in the League. So we know that's going to be a really good game. You always look at where the other team is at as well, what's going on inside of their room. And they're probably putting an exclamation point as well, which could make it a really competitive game." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette
"You've still got to eat pucks when it's your turn to eat the puck. You've got to put out fires when it's your turn to put out a fire. … We're going to break down, our system is designed for help, it's not a man-to-man all over the ice. So … it could be blocking a shot or giving yourself up or putting yourself in harm's way. And then the opposite, at the offensive end, I don't think we're generating consistently by getting our nose dirty or getting inside." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on what Boston must do to improve

Predators projected lineup

Calle Jarnkrok -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Rocco Grimaldi -- Matt Duchene -- Mikael Granlund
Filip Forsberg -- Nick Bonino -- Colton Sissons
Colin Blackwell -- Kyle Turris - Craig Smith
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- Dante Fabbro
Dan Hamhuis -- Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Austin Watson, Matt Irwin
Injured: None

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- David Krejci -- Danton Heinen
Anders Bjork -- Charlie Coyle -- Chris Wagner
Sean Kuraly -- Par Lindholm -- Brett Ritchie
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk -- Connor Clifton
Jaroslav Halak
Tuukka Rask
Scratched: David Backes, Joakim Nordstrom, John Moore
Injured: Karson Kuhlman (fractured tibia), Kevan Miller (knee)

Status report

Lindholm and Ritchie will replace Nordstrom and Backes.

Stat pack

Laviolette is one win from passing Darryl Sutter (634) for sole possession of 16th place on the NHL all-time coaching list. … Sissons is playing his 300th NHL game. … Josi has five points (four goals, one assist) in a three-game goal/point streak. … Coyle is one goal from 100 in the NHL.