Preview: Predators (13-14-3) at Rangers (15-15-1)

               Snowflakes still blowing around outside MSG, but at a much less potent pace. Wonder whether the weather will limit the crowd. Might be a good night for a walkup/online buy.

               Nashville has lost five in a row, one in a shootout, and have scored just seven goals in those games; Colin Wilson and Mike Fisher each have two of the goals. The PP is 0-for-14. The Rangers won 2-0 in Nashville on 11/23 with Cam Talbot in goal. G Carter Hutton (4-3-1, 3.26 GAA, .894 svp) will start for Preds; last start was 11/10 in New Jersey, a 5-0 loss.

               The Rangers have scored 14 goals in the last five games; but have lost three og them, two straight, including in OT against the Devils at home on Saturday. This is the third game of a season-high, nine-game homestand.

               During the morning skate, there was a lot of mixing and matching of forward lines, but this is clear: Henrik Lundqvist, who has been in goal for two consecutive losses, will start, as will the six healthy defensemen, although the pairs could be changed during the game, coach Alain Vigneault said.

              Projected d-pairs, lines (one version from the skate)

              McDonagh-Girardi; Del Zotto-Stralman; Falk-JMoore

              Kreider-Stepan-Nash

              Richards-Brassard-Callahan

              Hagelin-Boyle-Zuccarello

              Dorsett-DMoore-Asham

(Boyle and Moore were among those flipped, as well as Brassard)

            “I’ll be the first one to say my game’s is not where it can be…I know what I can do in this league,” said Dom Moore, who was scratched Saturday for the first time this season. Moore hadn’t posted a point in the last 12 games.

           “Since I came back from the injury (oblique, missed seven games Oct. 31 through Nov. 12) I thought I’d done well, thought I created offense even though things haven’t gone in as much as you’d like. I’ve just got to continue to stay positive and keep improving my game as we go along. (Effort) is never the issue, except maybe sometimes you try too hard.”

             Said Asham: “They’ve had a little lull, figure I’ll try to get them out of it, just come here and try to bring some offense. I’m towards the end of my career; just happy to get the call. I’m just going to take it game-by-game, play my style.”

           Dorsett (sprained wrist/bone bruise, missed three games) said he “wasn’t going to go looking (for a scrap) but if it happens, it happens…”