Game Night in Smashville as the Kings are back again to complete the home portion of the season series with Los Angeles. The Kings have gone 2-0-0 since losing here last Monday night, scoring four goals in each game and showing an offensive burst that was expected with the array of talent assembled for this franchise. The fact that they are battling for one of the last playoff spots in the West makes them even more dangerous.
Bridgestone Arena has been very good to the Predators since the year turned, the team has gone 11-1-2 since the new year, their only home regulation loss came on January 5th. Nashville needs to keep that pace going as the rest of the division continues to keep pressuring the other three. Any kind of losing streak can seriously jeopardize your position… just ask the Chicago Blackhawks.
The injury situation is a little murky. For Los Angeles, Scott Parse and Simon Gagne are on IR, Kevin Westgarth is listed as questionable. The Predators have already stated that Kevin Klein is out tonight and Brian McGrattan is questionable.
Game time is 7pm… some tickets remain. Pete Weber and Terry Crisp have the call on Fox Sports Tennessee, Tom Callahan and Stu Grimson call the action on the Predators Radio Network and flagship station 102.5 the Game.
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“A Long March” – Tracking the stretch run…
Points Available – 30
Points Gained So Far – 2 out of 2
3/03 – @ Florida – W 3-1
3/06 – Los Angeles –
3/08 – Colorado –
3/10 – Detroit –
3/12 – @ Phoenix –
3/15 – @ San Jose –
3/17 – @ Los Angeles –
3/18 - @ Anaheim –
3/20 – Edmonton –
3/22 - @ Pittsburgh –
3/24 – Winnipeg –
3/25 - @ Chicago –
3/27 - @ St. Louis –
3/30 - @ Detroit –
3/31 – Chicago –
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Random Notes…
- With 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Predators remain 5th in the Western Conference standings with 83 points, trailing division leading St. Louis and Detroit by 6 points. The Predators lead Chicago by 4 points. Nashville has one game in hand over Detroit and St. Louis, the Predators hold two games in hand over Chicago.
- The team spent some time on shootouts in yesterday’s practice.
- The Tennessee High School Ice Hockey championship is down to its’ Frozen Four. They will battle it out tomorrow night at A-Game in Franklin. Game one features the top ranked Ravenwood Raptors taking on cross-town rival Centennial High School at 6:40pm, immediately following that game is the second semi-final game featuring the closely matched Brentwood Bruins and Father Ryan Irish. The winners will meet on Saturday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena for the Predator’s Cup. All four teams in the High School Frozen Four have won the Predators Cup in previous seasons, as a matter of fact, these four teams hold six total championships between them. Centennial won the cup in 2001, Brentwood has won it twice, 2002 and the Bruins are the defending state champion. Ravenwood has won the cup in 2006 and 2010 and Father Ryan took home the championship in 2009. Expect a packed house for both games. Parking can be scarce at A-Game so get there early. The winner of the 2012 Predator’s Cup will qualify for the USA Hockey High School Varsity National Championship Tournament that will take place in Salt Lake City March 21st – 25th.
- OK, I had my tongue-in-cheek yesterday on Don Cherry… but now I gotta wonder if he has really gone round the bend… Saskatoon as a destination for an NHL team? Great market, great fans… but it also makes Winnipeg look like Chicago… Current state, maybe… long term? No way.
- Chicago head coach Joel Quinneville has decided to put Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith back together again… I just wonder if that is rearranging the deck chairs. The best news for the ‘Hawks is that Jonathan Toews looks close to returning to the lineup. They need him.
- After Tuukka Rask went down over the weekend, the Boston Bruins signed Marty Turco. I will be interested to see if he clears waivers.
Tonight’s Impact Games
Detroit @ Philadelphia – Detroit has injury issues across their lineup and Philadelphia seems to be finding their stride, especially in goal as Ilya Bryzgalov is shaking off the effects of his Winter Classic stardom and getting back to being the kind of player the Flyers expected when they signed him. Tonight could be a tough go for the Red Wings.
Chicago @ St. Louis – Yikes, just settle this thing in regulation please. St. Louis has been stellar at home, a fact that was hidden by Detroit’s record breaking home win streak. Both teams have won seven of their last ten. A Chicago win in regulation (coupled with a Preds win) would help Nashville the most.
SportsClubStats Update
Predators Playoff Chances – 99.9%
Highest % Potential Playoff Opponent – St. Louis 41.1%, Detroit 47.5%
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