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Kings-Predators Preview

Mar 30, 2010 - 5:34 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (42-27-6) at Nashville (44-27-6), 8:00 p.m. EDT

While the Nashville Predators are doing their best to improve their playoff position, the Los Angeles Kings just hope to maintain a spot in the race for the postseason.

The Predators hope to further help their cause while trying for an eighth consecutive victory over the struggling Kings on Tuesday night in Nashville.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in five seasons in 2008-09, Nashville (44-27-6) is on the verge of clinching a berth. The Predators are second in the Central Division and fifth in the Western Conference. A 3-2 overtime victory at Florida on Monday also moved Nashville within five points of the division-leading Chicago Blackhawks, currently second in the West.

Los Angeles (42-27-6), meanwhile, remains seventh in the West despite matching a season high with its fourth straight loss, 3-2 at Minnesota on Monday.

Looking for their first postseason appearance since 2001-02, the Kings are one point ahead of eighth-place Colorado, which holds the last spot, but just five in front of ninth-place Calgary. Los Angeles is four points behind Nashville.

"We got to win. It's as simple as that," Los Angeles forward Scott Parse said.

Trying to end their current skid won't be easy for the Kings, who are 0-6-1 against the Predators since a 4-1 road win March 13, 2008. Los Angeles has lost three straight at Nashville, including 4-2 on March 4.

In the midst of an 8-1-1 stretch, Nashville should have some momentum after Francois Bouillon scored a minute into overtime Monday. Patric Hornqvist scored for the seventh time in 11 games and Steve Sullivan added a pair of assists as Nashville rallied to force overtime and bounced back from a 1-0 home shootout loss to Detroit on Saturday.

"We needed two points and we got it," said forward David Legwand, who snapped a 34-game goal drought Monday.

Hornqvist and Sullivan each scored in Nashville's 3-2 win at Los Angeles on March 14. Sullivan has three goals and six assists in his last nine games.

Though backup Dan Ellis made 27 saves against Florida, Pekka Rinne could be back in net for the Predators. Rinne is 4-0-0 with a 2.46 goals-against average lifetime against the Kings.

Parse scored both goals Monday for the Kings, who've been outscored 14-7 during their current losing streak.

After Los Angeles allowed four power-play goals in a 4-1 loss to Dallas on Saturday, the Wild scored on two of their three chances with the man advantage. The Kings also are 2 for 18 on the power play the past three games.

"Our special teams need to be better, that's for sure," Los Angeles forward Dustin Brown said. "It's all about results this time of year."

Jon Quick could be back in net after suffering his third straight loss for the Kings. Quick, who's allowed 16 goals in his last five games, is 0-3-1 with a 3.24 career GAA versus the Predators.

With 76 points, Los Angeles' leading scorer Anze Kopitar is one shy of matching his career high set in 2007-08. He has two goals and three assists in his last five games against Nashville.