It might be a case of the rich getting richer.

When the Nashville Predators host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night [url=http://www.thebroncosfootballauthentic.com/josey-jewell-jersey-authentic]Youth Josey Jewell Jersey[/url] , they might put 18-year old Eeli Tolvanen in the lineup for his NHL debut, adding potentially more scoring punch to one of the league’s most explosive teams.

Tolvanen scored 19 goals and added 17 assists in 49 games with Jokerit (Finland) in Russia’s KHL, then tallied six goals and an assist in 11 playoff matches. Shortly after his team was bounced from the playoffs, Tolvanen signed a three-year entry-level contract with Nashville.

He arrived in the Music City on Thursday and has practiced with the team the last two days. Coach Peter Laviolette won’t divulge until Saturday if Tolvanen will be in the lineup, but with the team playing a huge game in Tampa Bay on Sunday, common sense would dictate a softer landing spot for his first NHL game.

Regardless, the 5-foot-10, 189-pound Tolvanen is ready to test his skills in the world’s best league.

“It feels kind of crazy that I’m here right now,” Tolvanen said. “It’s been crazy, all the immigration things, all the packing and saying goodbye to all my teammates. It was tough, but it feels good to be here right now. I’m excited to be here.”

Tolvanen’s possible debut is just one storyline from what could be a historic night for the Predators (50-16-11). If they beat Buffalo (24-41-12) and Winnipeg loses in regulation at Toronto, they will wrap up their first division title in franchise history.

Nashville’s 5-3 victory over San Jose on Thursday night allowed it to set a franchise record for points with 111, as well as reach the 50-win mark for the second time in team history. It has a three-point lead on Tampa Bay for the NHL’s best record.

The Predators got a tie-breaking goal halfway through the third period from Ryan Ellis and 39 saves from Juuse Saros, including 24 in a wild third period that saw the Sharks’ Logan Couture fail on a potential game-tying penalty shot with less than two minutes left.

“He really did put on an unbelievable performance, especially in the third period,” Laviolette said.

Saros (9-5-7, 2.46 goals-against average, .925 save percentage) might get another start against the Sabres, even though Laviolette usually plays him on the back end of back-to-backs to get starter Pekka Rinne a rest. Rinne (41-11-4, 2.25, .929) blanked Buffalo 4-0 on March 19, making 35 saves.

The Sabres come into town fresh off a 6-3 loss at home Thursday night to Detroit. It will be a homecoming of sorts for first-year coach Phil Housley [url=http://www.cardinalsfootballauthentics.com]Arizona Cardinals Jerseys Womens[/url] , who was an assistant for Laviolette the last three years, helping Nashville make a run to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring.

“Saturday night in Nashville is really a tough place to play, and the crowd will be roaring,” Housley said to the Buffalo News. “It’s one of the most entertaining places.”

Chad Johnson (9-13-3, 3.32, .897) will start in net for the Sabres, who own wins in their last two visits to Bridgestone, including a 5-4 verdict last season in which Jack Eichel scored the game-winner in overtime.

The biggest stars to play for the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night won't be around for the season opener, and it won't be because they're backups about to get cut.

Demetrius Harris caught an early touchdown pass for Kansas City, and Aaron Jones ran for 34 yards and a score for Green Bay, then the Chiefs rallied in a game of backups and also-rans for a 33-21 victory in the preseason finale for both teams.

Harris, expected to back up Travis Kelce at tight end, is suspended for the season opener for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. And Jones, the Packers' backup running back, is out the first two games for violating the same policy during the offseason.

They were two of a handful of recognizable names to even take the field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Chiefs counterpart Andy Reid had seen enough from their starters in training camp and the preseason, so they turned the game over to a plethora of backups trying to make the team 鈥?or, at least latch onto the practice squad when rosters are trimmed this weekend.

"It was great to see these young guys in there, give them an opportunity to play," Reid said. "They made (general manager) Brett Veach's job hard these next couple of days."

Rookie safety Armani Watts intercepted two passes , and Makinton Dorleant returned another pick for a touchdown, as the Chiefs' defense finally made some plays. Chad Henne, Matt McGloin and Chase Litton were all solid under center for Kansas City as Patrick Mahomes watched from the sideline, and undrafted free agent Byron Pringle had four catches for 122 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury.

Their only real starter to play [url=http://www.bengalscheapshop.com]Bengals Cheap Jerseys[/url] , Harrison Butker, was perfect on four field-goal attempts.

"We've got a lot of depth, especially at wide receiver, tight end and running back. Those guys are starters on other teams," Henne said, "and they showed it out there today."

DeShone Kizer started for Green Bay and was 5 of 7 for 57 yards with a touchdown and a pick. The 2017 second-round draft choice of the Browns, Kizer is expected to back up Aaron Rodgers after the trade of erstwhile backup Brett Hundley to the Seahawks earlier this week.

"The quarterback focus was to get DeShone two series. Obviously he had the high throw on the first series," McCarthy said. "We definitely accomplished that and it'll be a good tape to evaluate."

The Packers actually jumped to a 21-10 lead, but the Chiefs began to force turnovers against third-string quarterback Tim Boyle. McGloin and Litton were able to lead scoring drives, and Dorleant's pick-6 early in the fourth quarter put an exclamation mark on their comeback victory.

"It's a huge confidence boost," Watts said, "having a bunch of young guys making plays out there, our first year, getting out there and showing what we can do and contribute to this team."

TRADE NEWS

The Chiefs agreed to trade OL Parker Ehinger to Dallas for CB Charvarius Ward, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not expected to become official until Friday, a day before roster cuts.

HOME COOKING

McCarthy allowed most of his starters to remain in Green Bay rather than travel for a game in which they wouldn't play. That included Rodgers, who a day earlier signed a four-year, $134 million extension that could keep him with the team through the 2023 season.

INJURIES

Among the Packers headed into the season with injury questions are LBs Oren Burks and WR Jake Kumerow, both of whom have shoulder injuries, and RB Devante Mays, who did not play against the Chiefs with a hamstring injury. Kansas City was without SS Eric Berry, who has missed most of camp with a heel injury and whose status for the opener remains unclear.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

No demonstrations were evident during the national anthem.

UP NEXT

Chiefs: visit AFC West-rival Chargers on Sept. 9.

Packers: renew NFL's oldest rivalry by hosting Chicago.