Nashville @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 7, 2019 ) New Jersey 4, Nashville 6

The Nashville Predators showed some life with a victory against the league’s top team and look to ride that momentum 24 hours later when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. The Predators had lost three of four after a disappointing performance coming out of the break against Toronto, but rallied in the third period on the road to knock off Washington 5-4 on Wednesday.

“It’s definitely a good confidence boost tonight, and knowing that when we stick together we can go and get the job done,” Nashville center Ryan Johansen told reporters after his team moved within four points of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Predators have gained at least a point in nine straight matchups (6-0-3) against the Devils, who gave up 17 total goals in three straight losses before the All-Star break and rebounded with a 4-3 shootout win over Ottawa on Monday. New Jersey, which sits last in the Metropolitan Division, registered a season-high 53 shots in the victory and 18-year-old rookie Jack Hughes scored the deciding goal in the shootout as the Devils offered a glimpse of their potential. “I think we all know now the way we have to play,” New Jersey’s All-Star center Nico Hischier told reporters. “. … We’ve got to play with a lot of speed, make their (defensemen) turn, and that’s how we can create offense.”

TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports Network, TVA

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (23-19-7): Defenseman Yannick Weber scored the winner Wednesday with 4:37 left for his first goal of the season after Johansen tied the contest early in the third period with a short-handed tally. Captain Roman Josi added an assist in the victory and the All-Star defenseman is one point from reaching 50 for the third straight season and fifth time in six years. Juuse Saros made 29 saves for his seventh victory Wednesday and will likely hand the net to veteran Pekka Rinne (16-11-3, .897 save percentage), who lost six of his last nine starts and has not won consecutive games since before Christmas.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (18-24-7): Right wing Kyle Palmieri returned Monday after missing the last four games before the break with a foot injury and scored his 17th goal while registering his team-leading 32nd point. Hischier added an assist to improve to 30 points on the season and 27-year-old rookie forward Nikita Gusev matched him to push his total to 29, including five in his past seven contests. Mackenzie Blackwood (15-12-6, .906 SP) turned aside 35 shots Monday to gain his first victory since Jan. 2 and is expected to make his first career start against the Predators on Thursday.

OVERTIME

1. Devils D P.K. Subban (illness) reportedly missed practice Wednesday and is questionable to play against his former team.

2. Nashville F Mikael Granlund netted his third goal in four games Wednesday and has 10 this season.

3. New Jersey F Blake Coleman tops the team with 19 goals - three shy of his career high set in 2018-19.

PREDICTION: Predators 4, Devils 3