Nashville @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 20, 2018 ) Nashville 3, Detroit 2

The Nashville Predators continue to get healthier and look to extend their winning streak to three games when they visit the struggling Detroit Red Wings on Friday night. Right wing Viktor Arvidsson scored twice in his fourth game back from a thumb injury as Nashville knocked off Philadelphia 4-0 on Tuesday and his first-line partner Filip Forsberg (hand) has been skating and could return soon.

“I thought (Arvidsson) came back and played a good first game, and then from there I think it’s been a buildup where he’s tried to get better,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette told reporters. “He’s pushing himself, and you see how important he was (Tuesday) with his speed and his work ethic and his ability to score goals and make a difference in a game.” Nashville snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series with a win in February against the Red Wings, who dropped a 5-3 decision against Calgary at home Wednesday for their sixth straight setback (0-4-2). Detroit had climbed back into the postseason race after a slow start, but has managed one victory in its last 11 contests (1-7-3) while falling double-digit points out of a playoff position. “We lost nine of our first 10 games this season and we were able to dig ourselves out of that hole,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill told reporters. “Now we’re facing that same situation and we are going to have to do it again. It will be tough, but we have the experience to know we can do it.”

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, FS Tennessee (Nashville), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (24-15-2): Defenseman Yannick Weber (undisclosed) and forward Colton Sissons (lower body) have also been skating while center Kyle Turris (lower body) is on the mend for Nashville, which was 0-5-1 before winning the last two. Center Ryan Johansen, who has often skated between Forsberg and Arvidsson, leads the team with 35 points after recording a goal and three assists the last two games. Reigning Vezina Trophy recipient Pekka Rinne (15-10-1), who cooled off in December (.897 save percentage), is likely back in net after backup Juuse Saros shut out Philadelphia on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (15-20-7): Detroit has also had injury problems much of the season with three top-six defensemen out, but it could get right wing Anthony Mantha (hand) back in the lineup Friday for the first time since Dec. 2. Fellow forward Darren Helm returned after a 20-game injury absence Wednesday and scored his second goal of the season while leading scorer Dylan Larkin (17 goals, 39 points) saw his career-best 14-game point streak end. Goalie Jimmy Howard (.918 SP) is winless in his last five games, but was selected to the Atlantic Division team for the All-Star Game.

OVERTIME

1. Detroit LW Thomas Vanek, who scored in the shootout loss to Florida on Monday, is slated to play his 1,000th NHL game Friday.

2. Rinne and D Roman Josi (29 points) were selected to the Central Division team for the All-Star Game later this month.

3. Red Wings F Andreas Athanasiou registered three of his 14 goals with an assist in his last four contests.

PREDICTION: Predators 4, Red Wings 2