New York @ Nashville preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2018 ) Nashville 3, NY Rangers 2

Mired in their longest losing streak in nearly three years and with a road-heavy schedule on the horizon, the Nashville Predators are in desperate need of a victory entering Saturday night's matchup against the visiting New York Rangers. A return home failed to reverse the fortunes of Nashville, which was blanked by Dallas on Thursday for its fifth straight defeat.

The Predators have scored only seven times during the five-game slide but they were buoyed by their effort in the 2-0 loss to the Stars after unleashing a season-high 49 shots on goal. "We are going to build off of this and get out of this thing, it's just a matter of keeping our focus where it needs to be," defenseman P.K. Subban said. "That's on the next game, for now." The Rangers have yet to notch a regulation win on the road and arrive in Nashville flustered after giving up a late tying goal in a 4-3 overtime loss to Columbus -- their fifth shootout or OT loss at Madison Square Garden in December. "It's really frustrating. I don't know what to say anymore," goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said. "That's how it's been going the last few weeks. It's only on us."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN Plus, MSG2 (New York), FS Tennessee (Nashville)

ABOUT THE RANGERS (15-14-7): New York could be getting some healthy bodies back with the possible return of defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and forwards Jesper Fast and Cody McLeod from injuries that have sidelined each for at least the past two weeks. Shattenkirk, who has missed six games since suffering a separated shoulder against Tampa Bay on Dec. 10, was a full participant at Thursday morning's skate -- the first time he skated with his teammates since he was injured. Forward Kevin Hayes set up two goals against Columbus to give him five tallies and 10 assists during a career-best eight-game point streak.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (22-14-2): Nashville's lineup also got a boost with the return of Subban and forward Viktor Arvidsson, who had each been sidelined since mid-November. Arvidsson provides a much-needed offensive option, coming off back-to-back seasons of 29 and 31 goals, and he was on a tear prior to getting hurt with five goals in a six-game span. "They gave us good energy early on," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "I thought just having them back in the lineup gave us the layers we needed in our lineup to be successful. It was big for our team to have them back. We'll look to build off of it."

OVERTIME

1. Hayes has nine points in nine games versus Nashville.

2. Predators G Pekka Rinne is 4-2-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average versus the Rangers after a 3-2 win on Oct. 4.

3. The Rangers are 5-for-19 on the power play over the last six games.

PREDICTION: Predators 4, Rangers 2