Two highly defensive squads take the ice Thursday night in a battle of East vs. West. With Pekka Rinne between the pipes, Nashville (33-21-5) has allowed the fourth-fewest goals in the league (2.59) and will take on the Canadiens, who’ve won three of their last four games thanks to the stellar play of goaltender Carey Price..

The last time Montreal faced Nashville was January 5 at the Bell Centre, and the Habs were gouged 4-1. But following Price’s resurgence as an elite ‘tender in the league, Montreal has elevated their defensive play and now sit just four points back of the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division..

The Predators find themselves mired in a three-game mini skid as they enter Thursday’s contest. They dropped two games to the St. Louis Blues and lost 3-2 to the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night. Those are hardly elite squads in the NHL, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Preds bounce back against a surging Canadiens’ club. Regardless of the outcome, it’ll be one that Habs fans will be extra keen to watch, as former Montreal hero, PK Subban, will suit up against his old squad. Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM ET in Nashville.