Adam Vingan

USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee

PITTSBURGH — The Predatorslost 5-2 to the Penguins on Thursday without forward Colin Wilson, who was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

It was a decision that was both intriguing and not entirely unexpected. Wilson, who scored a career-high 20 goals last season and signed a four-year contract worth a total of $15.75 million last summer, has five goals this season with four games left in the regular season.

"We're in a position right now where we've got extra bodies here," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "You've got to make sure your game's on the mark here. Guys want to play. All guys want to play, and decisions are tough."

Austin Watson returned to the lineup on the fourth line, receiving 8:29 of ice time. Miikka Salomaki took Wilson’s place on the left side of the third line, playing 14:34.

Predators fail to clinch yet again

After Nashville's victory against Los Angeles on March 21, Laviolette said that Wilson may have played his best game of the year, using his power-forward skill-set to create scoring chances. But Wilson hasn't converted many of those chances this season, having not scored in his past 14 games. This season, he has gone as many as 21 games without a goal.

"I think with everybody, you look for consistency in your game," Laviolette said. "Like I said, there's decisions to be made. If anything, it puts a little bit more pressure on players to make sure their game's at a spot where they're comfortable and they know that they're contributing on a regular basis. That's not just for Colin. That's just in general with our team or any team. But decisions are tough, and they've got to be made. Best 12 forwards tonight. That's it."

The playoffs are approaching, and last spring, Wilson was the Predators' most prolific scorer in their first-round series against the Blackhawks, scoring five goals in six games. He's shown himself to be dominant in spurts, but the Predators need more than that.

"He's had an off season," Predators general manager David Poile said. "We can't get around it. ... We're in a results-oriented business, and (Wilson) just hasn't been the same player. Hopefully, this is a wake-up call for him. He's got to find a way to play better. We all know that he can do it.

"He hasn't been anywhere near as dynamic as he was last year. He had that confidence with the puck, taking the puck to the net, shooting the puck, scoring goals. ... He's just not the same player."

Rinne pulled again: For the second time in three games, Laviolette pulled goaltender Pekka Rinne, deciding to insert Carter Hutton at the start of the third period. Rinne, who wasn't pulled in Nashville's first 75 games of the season, made 25 saves on 29 shots through 40 minutes.

"I thought he was our best player," Laviolette said. "It got to four (goals) there, and just to make a change and look for something else. He had taken a lot of shots and there's been a lot of work going his way. Carter's done a good job as well, but (Rinne) had to make a lot of saves tonight. A lot of them."

Elliott's Predators debut: With defenseman Ryan Ellis missing Thursday's game because of an upper-body injury, defenseman Stefan Elliott made his Predators debut. Elliott, recalled Wednesday under emergency conditions with both Ellis and defenseman Anthony Bitetto injured, played with Barret Jackman. He received 12:20 of ice time.

The Predators chose to call up Elliott, acquired in a January trade with the Coyotes, because his offensive-minded style was most similar to Ellis' and he is also a right-handed shot. Laviolette said Milwaukee Admirals coach Dean Evason recommended Elliott as well.

Reach Adam Vingan on Twitter @AdamVingan.