UPDATE... Pekka Rinne gets the start...
The Nashville Predators are on the road for a matinee matchup with the New York Islanders. The Predators have only three afternoon starts scheduled this season, winning the first back in October. The team historically does very well in matinees, since 2003 Nashville has earned points in 80% of these games going 21-7-7. Today is the first of a back-to-back against New York City teams as the Preds take on the Rangers tomorrow night at MSG.
The Predators defense is finally clicking, in winning seven of their last eight Nashville has only allowed 16 goals. For this team to be competitive, team defense is the key. You can’t help but think that the addition of rookie Ryan Ellis has been a factor in this improvement. The kid just has the kind of hockey sense and ice vision that doesn’t come along very often.
The New York Islanders are led by John Tavares, who is on an eight game scoring streak, and Matt Moulson, who has 21 goals so far this season. The situation between the pipes is as chaotic as usual on the Island as Rick DiPietro is scheduled to have surgery this week, effectively ending his season. Al Montoya is out with a concussion, so the net belongs to Evgeni Nabokov. Yes the same Nabokov that refused to play for the team last year has started the last 11 games for the Islanders, gaining his 300th career win on Saturday night.
The key to today’s game may be between the pipes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Anders Lindback start today for the Preds, the word from Long Island (stick tap to Dee Karl) is that the Islanders may start Kevin Poulin. Both teams are on back-to-backs, the Islanders play Washington tomorrow. So which backup shows better?
The injury situation for the Islanders doesn’t stop at the net. Mike Mottau is listed as questionable with a concussion and Marty Reasoner is listed as out with a hand injury. The Predators list Jerred Smithson on IR with a lower body injury and Craig Smith is listed as questionable with the flu.
This should be an interesting week of hockey for Nashville, a fairly quick roadie with three games in four days. The early start today combined with the lack of travel for tomorrow’s game will be a positive for Nashville. If you are working today, figure out a way to avoid your boss for a few hours and tune in… Game time is noon CT and coverage is on both Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game.
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Random Notes
- The Nashville power play continues to hum along, posting six markers in their last four games. The team has the second ranked power play in the league.
- The Predators were outshot for the 29th time this season on Saturday night, it was the 17th time the team has won when being outshot.
- Speaking of a lot of shots… Pekka Rinne is 9-0-1 when the Predators give up 35 shots or more.
- Those of us that have to work today, I expect a lot of bandwidth to be eaten up watching the game… IT guys, beware! :-)
- What a game from Evgeni Malkin last night! A natural Hattie and five total points…
- The feel good story of the year is turning sour as the Winnipeg Jets, feasting on a home heavy portion of their schedule, got themselves in playoff position, only to lose five of their last six games and two of their best defensemen. Critical times for the Jets.
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In case you missed them... Here are yesterday's
Sunday Shots as our intrepid photographer captured the action at Saturday's Flyers/Predators game.
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