If you haven’t heard it yet… check out last night’s SlapShot Radio featuring 14 time Stanley Cup winner and NHL Coaching Legend, Scotty Bowman. We also spoke to San Jose Sharks beat writer Curtis Pashelka to preview tonight’s game four.
-----------------------------
A pivotal game four drops the puck at 8pm tonight in Smashville as the Nashville Predators attempt to tie this second round series up at deuces. For the first two games of this series, San Jose took advantage of every bounce and power play situation to build a lead in this best of seven, Nashville flipped the script on Tuesday night, doubling their power play goal output for the playoffs by going 2-5 on the man advantage and used their up-tempo game to their advantage.
Not only did Nashville play their game, they had James Neal and Filip Forsberg doing Neal and Forsberg things, getting these two on track is critical for the Predators and having both of them dialing it in will be a necessity if the Preds hope to continue playing deeper into May. You have seen Forsberg showing signs of simplifying his game, he has been over thinking a bit on the ice, Tuesday, you saw him just play, and when Filip does that, he is dangerous.
So what does Nashville need to do tonight?
Adapt and Adjust – Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer indicated yesterday that we could see some lineup changes tonight, it will be the first change in personnel for the playoffs from San Jose. Wondering if it is a bit of gamesmanship on the coach’s part, but Nashville should be prepared to potentially see Danius Zubrus or Dylan Demelo in the lineup tonight. Also interesting that Coach DeBoer is positioning it as needed because a couple of players are being medically evaluated.
Special Teams - After a night where the Preds went 2-5 on the power play and held San Jose scoreless on four opportunities, all was right with the world for Pred Nation. Staying out of the box is key, as Nashville is a better team 5 on 5, but winning the special teams battle enhances that advantage.
Goaltending - Pekka Rinne has been outstanding in this series, posting a GAA of 2 and a save percentage on .931 while Sharks netminder Martin Jones has been good posting a GAA of 2.66 and a save percentage of .908 … both goalies have faced 87 shots each in this series. Rinne has been consistently excellent since game 5 of the Anaheim series… Jones is facing adversity for the first time in these playoffs, even though there isn’t a goaltender on the planet that could’ve stopped three of Nashville’s four Tuesday night goals, Jones’ body language changed as the game went on… I will be curious to watch how he responds.
The Sharks spent a lot of time yesterday saying how good they felt about their position, how they were the best road team in the NHL, yada, yada, yada. Just like Anaheim wanted to close out the Predators in game six, San Jose does not want to go back home with this series tied, no matter how cavalier Coach Peter DeBoer was in his press availability. That being said, this Sharks team has only lost consecutive road games once in 2016. They can be a very confident bunch, with good reason… however, Nashville has shown an innate resilience in these types of situations.
Too many times, Pred Nation has watched their team sit back and try and protect a lead, this Predators team has not done that very often this season… especially in the playoffs, a killer instinct has developed. Tuesday night, Nashville kept its foot on the gas in the third period… staying on their toes and keeping the Sharks on their heels…
Game time is 8pm tonight at Bridgestone Arena, very limited tickets remain. Coverage is on 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network with the Voice of the Predators, Pete Weber and analysis from the Coach, Brent Peterson, pregame with Darren McFarland at 7pm live from Barrel House at Bridgestone Arena. TV Coverage on CNBC.
---------------------------------
ICYMI… SlapShot Radio’s intrepid photographer was back capturing the game three action at the Bridge, see the album at the
the SlapShot Radio Facebook page.
All photos are courtesy of SlapShot Radio/DLM
Keep an eye out tonight as SSR will be on the scene and check tomorrow for more Playoff Shots.
-------------------------------
Cause for Joy – Filip Forsberg and James Neal seem to be dialing it in. Mike Fisher has gone to another level… all good news for fans of the fang.
Cause for Concern – What kind of game is called by the officials tonight? It may have a major impact on the outcome.
----------------------------------
Random Playoff Notes
- Smashville… remember to bring your wristbands tonight and be part of the show!
- Congratulations to Shea Weber on being named as a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
- Nashville has confirmed the call up of five more players since Milwaukee’s season ended last week… adding to their existing “black aces” Pontus Aberg and Marek Mazanec are Corey Potter, Stefan Elliott, Frederick Gaudreau, Vladislav Kamenev and Kevin Fiala.
- Wondering what decision Peter Laviolette makes tonight regarding Mike Ribeiro… he’s in a bit of a tough spot as Tuesday’s lineup really clicked offensively.
- Game five start time has been announced, 9pm central Saturday night, coverage on NBCSN.
- The Pens/Caps series has not disappointed, it has been fun to watch. Washington being in a 1-3 hole is a little unexpected… game five will be in DC and you can be sure that the Red will be Rocked at Verizon Center…
- The Blackhawks have to be wondering… who is this Trevor Daley guy, and why didn’t he do this earlier in the season?
- The top two stars in last night’s Penguins win were former Nashville Predators, Matt Cullen and Patric Hornqvist.
----------------------------------
Second Round Snapshots
Lightning / Islanders – TBL Leads 2-1 – Game 4 FRI @ NYI – 6pm – NBCSN
Capitals / Penguins – PIT leads 3-1 – Game 5 Saturday @ WSH – 7:15pm – NBC
Stars / Blues – STL leads 2-1 – Game 4 Tonight @ STL – 7pm - NBCSN
Sharks / Predators – Sharks lead 2-1 – Game 4 Tonight @ NSH – 8pm - CNBC
-----------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Season eight of SlapShot Radio is on! Join us every Wednesday night at 7 on 102.5 the Game. Pete Weber and I cover the playoffs from pillar to post.
SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the mid-south delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio. Our premier, day one sponsor is
Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762. Also, our newest member of the SSR Sponsorship family is Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799.
Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base via email at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1 … Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the
link.
-------------------------------------
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Predators Buzz, a one-stop feed for all things Predators-related on HockeyBuzz. Your subscription includes a free 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month thereafter. For more information,
click here.
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • 
Join the Discussion:
»