The Nashville Predators are in Toronto tonight to face a Maple Leaf team with a chip on its’ shoulder, especially after their loss to Buffalo over the weekend. The Leafs have been a better road team so far this season, posting a 4-2-2 record… their home record? Meh… 5-5-0. For Toronto, defending home ice will be critical for their future prospects. The Predators have seen their share of success at the ACC, going 5-1-1 since the 08-09 season.

Toronto has talent on this team, decent scoring, solid netminding, acceptable defense. Not trying to damn this team with faint praise, but it has been wildly inconsistent. After posting three straight wins over the Rangers, Senators and Bruins, the Leafs dropped a tough one to Pittsburgh then completely defecated the mattress against the Sabres, giving up six goals.

The Predators are finishing up a long stretch of games that have covered all four US time zones since the end of October. One final roadie in Ottawa on Thursday before the Preds return home for six of the next seven games. Some extended time without travel may be just what the doctor ordered for the Predators struggling special teams. Staying out of the box will need to be a priority as Toronto does have an effective power play, converting at almost 21%.

The biggest factor tonight (no pun intended) will be between the pipes for both teams. Pekka Rinne has certainly regained his swagger in net and is tied for the NHL lead in goaltender wins with 11. Jonathan Bernier will be manning the crease for the Leafs after James Reimer got lit up in Buffalo.

After nine straight against the West, the Preds begin a string of three against Eastern Conference teams. The Predators need for their top line to continue to produce as they have, setting the pace, posting points in nine consecutive games. Nashville has traditionally done well against the East… we’ll see if that continues tonight at 6:30pm. Game coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game gets going with pregame at 6pm.

Here is the preview from nhl.com…


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Random Notes

- Filip Forsberg was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week yesterday, posting five points over the recognition period.

- Kinda cool to hear Peter Forsberg mention the Predators in his Hall of Fame speech.

- After last night’s Hall of Fame festivities, NHL GM’s meet today with a focus on overtime procedures, discussing potential 3-on-3 and the ever popular :”dry scrape.”

- In the “It’s About Damn Time” department, Pat Burns was posthumously enshrined in the Hockey Hall of fame last night.

- The World Cup of Hockey is coming back, and it’s coming back with a twist… the eight team event may end up with the top six hockey nations (Canada, Sweden, Finland, US., Russia and the Czech Republic) being joined by two “all-star” teams from unrepresented nations. The 2016 WCOH will be held in Toronto and will consist of a round robin, playoff and then a best of three final round.

- Now, we here in the south get a little crazy when there are a few flakes in the air… but Buffalo is simply getting hammered with snow right now, falling at a clip of 3-5 inches per hour! As I write this, tonight’s game against the Sharks is still on, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it postponed…

- The Minnesota Wild has waived goaltender Josh Harding after activating him from IR yesterday

- Damn! Another injury for Columbus? This time it’s Ryan Johanson… listed as questionable for tonight against Detroit.

- Eleven games tonight… Blues @ Bruins, Bolts @ Isles, Wings @ Jackets, Sharks @ Sabres, Preds @ Leafs, Pens @ Habs, Devils @ Jets, Canes @ Stars, Ducks @ Flames, Caps @ Coyotes, Panthers @ Kings.

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