The Nashville Predators are back tonight for a rare Friday evening game at Bridgestone Arena, taking on the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver is fresh of a 4-3 win over Dallas last night and are looking to put some more consistency in their game. Nashville continues to crank out points, winning ugly, losing ugly in OT or the shootout but putting up points. The Predators stand second in the Central Division, fourth in the Western Conference, just a single point behind the Northwest leading Canucks.
In Vancouver… it is situation normal. NO matter how well or how poorly the team is doing, the team is taking fire from the media. The target now if defenseman Jason Garrison. Signed in the offseason for six years at $27.6 million, apparently he hasn’t hung the moon fast enough and has not cured the common cold. Sheesh… give the guy a break. This team is leading their division the last time I checked.
Tonight represents a chance for both teams to springboard off big wins, Vancouver’s last night and Nashville’s last Tuesday. The Predators win over Detroit was a nice follow up to booting the Wings out of the playoffs last year… the key for Nashville is not to overlook tonight’s game in favor of tomorrow’s rematch at the Joe. The first half of back-to-backs have not been kind to the Predators so far this year and the team is looking to reverse that trend.
The injury situation for both teams is fairly good. Nashville lists Paul Gaustad as doubtful and Pekka Rinne as probable. The Canucks list Manny Malhotra as out.
Nashville will rely on the suddenly consistent Colin Wilson who is riding a career high five game point streak and as I noted in my game review of Tuesday’s game, has posted 13 points since the beginning of the month. Shea Weber has also broken out offensively with goals in the last three games and six points in the last four games. Weber makes this team more dangerous offensively, giving another weapon that needs to be accounted for in game planning for opponents. That in itself frees up things underneath and has already opened up more offensive chances for Nashville.
Game time is 7pm, coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee with Pete Weber and Terry Crisp and the Predators Radio Network with Tom Callahan and Stu Grimson. Pregame on the Predators flagship station 102.5 the Game starts at 6:30pm with Willy Daunic. Tickets are in very short supply and a 22nd consecutive sellout is all but assured so if you want to go, get to the box office early.
See you tonight!
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Random Notes
- Nashville’s PK has really stepped up over the past six games, killing off 17 of 18 opportunities for a 94.4% kill rate.
- The Buffalo Sabres didn’t seem to get the uplift they expected after firing Lindy Ruff, losing to the Maple Leafs.
- Freak play last night in the Columbus / Detroit game. A play that ended with Columbus forward Artem Arnisimov was taken off the ice on a stretcher and Red Wing Kyle Quincey left the game with a lower body injury.
- Another stretcher on the ice last night with a controversial hit on Minnesota’s Cal Clutterbuck by Edmonton’s Taylor Hall. Hall was assessed a five minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct. The Shanahammer may hit Hall, but this is going to be a tough call.
- Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson is very blunt, he blames Matt Cooke for his injury. I guess Mom was right about reputation…
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