Let me start this off with a public service announcement.
Attention Nashville supervisors, managers and bosses of every kind, please be aware that the Nashville Predators begin a western Canada swing tonight. These type of events do sometimes drive a lack of sleep, decreased productivity and occasional naps at desks. Please understand, your Pred fan employee is loyal and will return to normal productivity next week… at least until the start of the playoffs, then all bets are off. :-)
Now… back to our regularly scheduled blog.
The Nashville Predators are in Vancouver, BC for a return match against the Vancouver Canucks. You remember them, the team that the Preds beat last Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena? Y’know, the one that the Preds scored on… with 2 seconds to go… short handed… in overtime?
Yeah, that one.
Well since that game, Vancouver has dropped two more games, one in a shootout to Philly and one in OT to New Jersey… extending their losing streak to four. That losing streak coming on the heels of a six game win streak, and points in nine of ten making for an interesting roller coaster for Canuck fans. It’s a funny losing streak though as the Canucks have taken the last three games to extra time, getting at least a point which has certainly mitigated the damage this streak could've done to the team’s playoff hopes.
The Canucks are led in scoring by Bo Horvath, leading the team in goals (13) and points (30) in this transition year in Vancouver, the Sedin twins are on the late back side of their career but are still effective. There is a rebuild in this team’s future, but there is an effort to make it more of a reload vs. rebuild. Injuries remain an issue for this team as four of the five players on IR last Tuesday night are still there, the only return to the lineup from last Tuesday's is Ben Hutton to the blueline.
For Nashville, the injury situation may be getting better as PK Subban was a full participant in yesterday’s practice. There is no official word on if he returns to the lineup tonight… I can only imagine that they will see how he is doing at day of game skate and make the call from there.
While these points are critical, caution is warranted. Bringing Subban back to soon could lead to trouble down the line and I am sure that is part of the decision making process. Yesterday’s practice was also the first time Cody McLeod got some time with the team to get a better understanding of the systems and expectations.
The Predators will be looking for their fourth win in a row tonight, their best win streak so far this season has been three… something they have only posted twice this season. Game time is 9pm central time, pregame starts at 8pm on 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network, pregame at 8:30 on Fox Sports Tennessee.
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Random Notes
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Where We Stand – After last night’s play, the Nashville Predators have 47 points in 43 games played and stand 4th in the Central Division, trailing, 3rd place St. Louis by three points with a game in hand. Nashville is one point out of a Wild Card spot. The Predators are two points behind with three games in hand over the first wild card team Calgary and are one point behind the 2nd Wild Card team, Los Angeles with a game in hand.
- New mascot? Preds social media has been full of pictures of a stuffed Mario the team won at Dave and Buster’s Friday afternoon as they were waiting for their plane to be repaired. The video game superstar has accompanied the team on the roadie and even had his own seat on the team plane.
- When asked about the new member of the Predators support team, Gnash was very gracious...
- Vancouver head coach Willie Desjardins gave his team the day off yesterday.
- Vancouver’s power play has been struggling recently only converting on 2 of their last 20 opportunities.
- 15 goals in last night’s Capitals / Penguins game, including 9 in the second period alone… Pittsburgh PA Announcer Ryan Mill is now listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury.
- Nine games in the NHL tonight, all times CST – 6pm – DAL @ NYR, CAR @ CBJ. 6:30pm – BUF @ TOR. 7pm – OTT @ STL, NJD @ MIN. 8pm – CHI @ COL, FLA CGY, 9pm – NSH @ VAN, TBL @ ANA.
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