The Nashville Predators (19-16-0, 38 points, 5th Central) take to the road Friday with a visit to the Motor City and Little Caesars Arena to face the Detroit Red Wings (16-15-4, 36 points, 5th Atlantic). Nashville was defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 on Wednesday night and the Predators have lost two straight and three of the last four. Detroit was defeated by the Minnesota Wild 6-3 and the Red Wings have lost two straight and six of the last seven. Nashville does not have any players listed on its injury report. Detroit will play without RW Christian Fischer, G VIlle Husso, C Klim Kostin, RW Matt Luff and G Alex Lyon.
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Nashville is averaging 3.09 goals per game which is 15th in the NHL but are taking only the 24th most shots at 29.8. Nashville wins 49.2% of its face-offs, which is only 20th and Predators’ power play scores only 20.5% of time which is 17th. Filip Forsberg is the leading goal scorer for Nashville with 16 and Ryan O'Reilly is second with 14. Forsberg is also the leader in assists with 22, thus the points leader with 38. Roman Josi is second in assists with 21, while O’Reilly is second in points with 29.
Nashville has a goals against average of 3.11, which is 13th in the NHL while opponents are averaging 31 shots per game which is 20th. Nashville's penalty kill unit is a disappointing 25th, holding opponents scoreless 77.3% of the time the Predators are short-handed. Goalie Juuse Saros is 15-13- 0 with a 2.94 goals against average and .905 save percentage. Backup Kevin Lankinen is questionable for Friday.