It’s a game night in Smashville as the Los Angeles Kings come a-callin’ for a Western Conference showdown. NBCSN is in town as the Predators get two straight regular season games on the network. The Predators are in a pitched battle for first in the division… and the big story is the return of Mike Fisher.
In a late morning presser, the Predators made the announcement official. Mike Fisher will return to the Predators for the late season push. So… does this move make a real difference for the Predators?
Yes… it does. For quite a few reasons…
Adding the voice of a respected leader back into the locker room makes this team better. Adding a veteran center to one of the deepest center lineups in the NHL makes this team better. If you assume that Mike Fisher is slotted in to center the fourth line, adding a little offensive pop to the grind line makes this team better. A Mike Fisher that only plays 25-30 games in the regular season goes into the Stanley Cup Playoffs incredibly fresh makes this team better for the playoff run.
Does Mike Fisher turn the Predators into an instant Stanley Cup favorite… no. But he does turn the Preds into a sentimental favorite… and “win this for Mike” could be a powerful motivator.
What does the timeline look like for a return for the Predators former captain? It makes sense that he needs a few weeks to get back into “hockey” shape. We know that he has to be signed by the trade deadline in order to be available for the playoffs. I would anticipate his return right around the end of the month.
So let’s turn our attention to tonight… The Los Angeles Kings are in town. The Kings are currently locked in a battle for one of the top two spots in the Pacific Division with 59 points in 50 games and started their post All-Star stretch with a convincing 3-0 win in Dallas on Tuesday night. A lot of pundits thought the Kings wouldn’t be a factor in the playoff race, but the change in coaches has lifted this team. New head coach John Stevens has this team having a little more fun on the ice, and it is showing in their results.
The Kings are scoring by committee, with 6 players in double digit goals, led by Anze Kopitar and Tyler Toffoli along with a rejuvenated Duston Brown and any team with Jonathan Quick is goal always has a chance to win, problem is... Quick is on IR. Defensively, Drew Doughty is having a Norris-consideration worthy year on both sides of the puck. The Kings are certainly better than expected.
For Nashville, all eyes are on number 9 as the “Forsberg Return Watch” enters day four since the forward shed his “no-contact” jersey. I am sure that the Predators are taking no chances with their forward and Forsberg is certainly anxious to get back into the lineup. We will see what day of game skate tells us later this morning.
So far, the Predators are 2-0 against the Kings this season, winning both of their games at Staples Center, tonight concludes the season series with LA. Game time is 7:30pm tonight, however, doors will open at their normal 5:30pm time. The game is on NBCSN, the radio call, as always is with the Voice of the Predators, Pete Weber and color from Hal Gill on 102.5 the Game. Coverage begins live from the Barrell House at Bridgestone Arena with Ryan Porth hosting Pres Extra at 6pm, Darren McFarland takes over at 6:30 for pregame.
Limited tickets remain… see you at the Bridge!
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“Where We Stand” update… a daily tracking of where the Preds are in the standings and the games that impact them most, brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
After last night’s play the Predators stand second in the Central Division with 65 points, three points behind Winnipeg (3 GIH) and tied in points with St. Louis (4 GIH) … the Preds lead Dallas (3 GIH) by five points and Minnesota (2 GIH) by six points.
Impact games tonight (all times Central) – 6pm – STL @ BOS. 7pm – VGK @ WPG. 8pm COL @ EDM, DAL @ ARI. 9pm – CHI @ VAN.
Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are now at 98.2% as we begin the post All-Star game schedule.
The Playoff Point Line - I look at the point level needed for a 75%+ chance to make the playoffs… right now, it stands at 97.
Playoff odds and playoff point line courtesy of SportsClubStats.com
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Random Notes
- Interesting some of the negativity surrounding Fisher’s return… folks seem to forget his four assists in the Final last season.
- The Predators actually have an overall losing record to LA at home, 13-15-(3)-2 but have winning record in Los Angeles.
- Tuesday’s regulation loss was Juuse Saros’ first in 10 starts for the young netminder.
- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit team has two games remaining in their regular season. They are now on their Olympic break. Tolvanen now has 17 goals and 17 assists in 47 KHL games. Tolvanen will play for the Finnish Olympic Team. The league returns in late February for a few games before their regular season ends on March 1st.
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SlapShot Radio’s tenth anniversary season is on. As the longest running hockey show in the region, SSR feeds hockey fans what they crave… intelligent, fun, entertaining talk about their favorite sport and we do it from the opening of training camp all the way through UFA day… the only local hockey show that does that.
We are on every Wednesday night at 7pm on the Predators flagship station, 102.5 the Game. Our co-hosts, Dan Keczmer and JP Dumont bring a true insiders perspective to the show. Dan Keczmer is in the co-host chair for our next show, which will be Saturday at 8am where we check in with Eklund on how the trade deadline market is shaping up and we will do the first of our “Down on the Farm” segments, checking in on the Milwaukee Admirals. These segments are brought to you by Patrick Brown’s Farmers Insurance Agency…
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TurfMasters.com. Also… The Crag… Nashville’s premiere location for indoor rock climbing. Newton Dominey and his awesome crew have a great location in Cool Springs and they have opened a new location in South Nashville at the corner of Old Hickory Blvd and Nolensville Rd. Check out their website at
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Advertisers… reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great preseason advertising deals available for our tenth season when you email me at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
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