I trashed several columns yesterday, everyone I wrote just didn’t hit what I was looking for… so I deceided to just forget it and move on… kinda like the Preds need to.
A must win game four? For Nashville, I say yes. I know, 3-1 isn't fatal... but in this series, it could be. Tonight’s game four needs to be the turning point for the Nashville Predators in this playoff season. The on/off version of this Predators team needs to be banished forever and consistency needs to be achieved. I mean let’s face it… a win tonight and all is forgiven… coming back home 2-2 with a regained home ice advantage is exactly what the doctor ordered for this Predators team and Pred Nation.
How do the Predators have to do it? Come out like they did in game three… lather, rinse, repeat three times? Well… yeah… but I don’t think the Jets will come out as flat as they did Tuesday night. Going 2 for 4 on the power play… yeah… that would help as well, but I want to see more energy in the power play… it’s become plodding and predictable.
On last night’s SlapShot Radio, Dan Keczmer made a really good point about the deployment of the Predators defensemen… if you look at the time on ice… especially last Sunday night… this is a two pairing team right now… The third d-pair got less that ten minutes each in game three and around 15 minutes in the double overtime game two. The play of the blueline has not been up to snuff in these playoffs either offensively or defensively. Offensively, the defense is coming around… now it’s time to tighten up defensively. Is it time to maybe split up the pairings? Add Anthony Bitetto to the mix? I'm not sure, but this team has to be better defensively.
There has been some criticism of Pekka Rinne for taking a slash toward the end of the game. It was a rare public show of frustration from the normally unflappable Finn. It may have been a great move on Rinne’s part. It is only the second time I have seen Rinne show that kind of emotion, expressing his clear displeasure at the team in front of him. Make no mistake… Pekka Rinne is a leader on this team, when he shows that kind of public emotion, it should have an impact.
The biggest piece… the biggest learning has got to be on the discipline side. The Predators took bad penalties and paid the price for them, having to kill off three man advantage situations in a tie game… one of them resulting in the game winner. That just can't happen again, or this season becomes lost.
Almost everything that could’ve gone wrong on Tuesday night did… that should make it easier to forget about it and move on.
From a lineup perspective, I am hoping that Calle Jarnkrok can go tonight, however… if he can’t, it may be time to put Scott Hartnell with Mike Fisher and Ryan Hartman… the Preds could use the size and physical play from the veteran and the additional traffic in front of the net couldn’t hurt.
Brew up the coffee, it’s an 8:30pm game time from Winnipeg. Pregame begins at 7:30pm on 102.5 the Game. Game coverage with the Voice of the Predators Pete Weber and Hal Gill starts at 8:30pm. TV coverage on NBCSN also starts at 8:30pm.
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The Playoff Tracker … a daily update of the Stanley Cup Playoffs brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
Big wins for San Jose and Tampa Bay last night
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins – TBL leads 2-1 - Game four is Friday in BOS
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – WSH leads 2-1 - Game four is tonight in PIT
Western Conference
Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets – WPG leads 2-1 - Game four is tonight in WPG
Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks – Series tied 2-2 - Game five is Friday in VGK
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Last night’s SlapShot Radio
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Random Notes
- Bridgestone Arena is open tonight for a watch party… $10 admission that goes to the Nashville Predators Foundation.
- Well, once again the tired old saw about piped in noise gets hurled at the best fans in the NHL. This time from the Jets captain… bless his heart. At least he didn't make a ridiculous "radio tuned ears" claim...
- Congratulations to PK Subban for being named a finalist for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The King Clancy is awarded annually "to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community." You do Nashville proud PK!
- The Predators Foundation had their annual check presentations this week and continues to break their own records as they passed out 149 grants totaling almost $610k! That is almost $100,000 more than the amount given out last year.
- The Predators Foundation, over it’s 20 years, has awarded almost $6 million across 600 organizations.
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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. We are back to our normal Wednesday night 7pm timeslot.
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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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