Predators figure to be stingy hosts

The Kings would be wise not to expect another high-output game against the Nashville Predators. In the teams’ first two meetings, the Kings won 4-1 and 6-1, then lost to the Predators 5-2 at Staples Center on Jan. 6. The Predators are 4-1-2 in their last seven games, and goalie Pekka Rinne allowed only 10 regulation goals in those seven games. The Predators are accustomed to playing close, low-scoring games, so Terry Murray is well aware of the challenge the Kings face tonight.

MURRAY: “You’ve got a hard team to play against, every time you play Nashville. Very difficult. They’ve got great goaltending. They’ve got a back end, made up of a couple players in particular that are impact players on the game, and they’re very hard-working. Hard around the blue paint. Hornqvist is one of the guys who is a real pit bull in that area of the game, I think. You’ve got Erat, who is a very talented guy, can carry the puck and do some great things off the attack and create plays. You add Fisher in there now, a guy who is going to bring great intensity and a hard game, also. So you’ve got to bring the work boots every time you play Nashville. It will be a fun game tonight.”