The Nashville Predators are in California for a three game swing that will be critical to the team’s ultimate playoff position come April 8th. Considering the team went 0-fer on the last California swing, you always have that feeling that this team never chooses the easy path to get well, but after two straight losses in which the team really played well overall, it can be argued that this is a very different hockey team than the one that visited back in October.
First up? The Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks are 5-5-0 in their last ten and are coming off of a loss to Vancouver on Sunday and been in a bit of a “win one, lose one” cycle since the end of January. As readers of this blog know… not a recipe for long term success. At the end of January, the Ducks were one point behind San Jose for the division lead… they now trail the Sharks by nine points and are trying to fight off the red hot Calgary Flames (who are now tied with Anaheim in points) for 3rd in the Pacific.
These Ducks are a bit different from previous Anaheim teams, both Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaff are having off years and the scoring is being handled by Rickard Rickell and Patrick Eaves, both with 20+ goals so far this season and noted Pred-killer Ryan Kesler knocking on that 20 goal door with 19. In net, John Gibson is having a five season but has been shelved for the last few games due to a lower body injury so Jonathan Bernier may be making his sixth consecutive start. Not only are the Ducks missing Gibson, they are also missing their top face off man Antoinne Vermette who is serving a ten game suspension for making contact with an official.
Nashville starts the trip with some good news as Ryan Ellis was on the ice for practice yesterday after missing Saturday night’s Chicago game, also PA Parenteau participated in his first practice as well. The Predators missed Ellis Saturday night and seeing him back so quickly after being helped from the ice on Thursday night in Montreal has to hearten Pred fans. Practice was spent on cleaning up some defensive issues that have cropped up late in games, given the compressed schedule, practice time is at a premium right now.
No starter has been named for Nashville tonight, but I would expect Pekka Rinne in net as Juuse Saros got the start on Saturday. A key for tonight could very well be special teams. The Predators have a power play goal in eight consecutive games against Anaheim… and the Ducks special teams have been struggling lately.
Game time is 9pm CT. Brew up the coffee and strap in for a good one. Coverage begins with pregame at 8pm on 102.5 the Game and the Preds Radio Network, 8:30pm on Fox Sports Tennessee. Game coverage gets going at 9pm.
-------------------------------------
Random Notes
-
Where We Stand – After yesterday’s play, the Nashville Predators have 73 points in 65 games played and remain 3rd in the Central Division, leading St. Louis by four points. The Blues have a game in hand on Nashville. Per sportsclubstats.com, the Predators playoff chances are at 85.4%.
-
Impact Game Warning - St. Louis at Minnesota – Critical game for playoff positioning. The Blues just snapped a five game losing streak at Colorado but this is a different beast. The Wild are coming off a big with over San Jose and chewing their way through the Central Division. Pred Nation is rooting for Minnesota in this one.
- Pekka Rinne has been outstanding against Anaheim lately, he has a 3-1-0 record with a shutout, posting a .938 save percentage and a GAA of 1.96.
- James Neal and Colin Wilson also seem to like playing the Ducks, Neal has a three game scoring streak against tonight’s opponent and Wilson has posted a point per game (2g, 3a) in his last five against the Ducks.
- No decision has been made on Ryan Ellis for tonight, keep an eye out to see what happens at today’s day of game skate.
- I think we now know why David Poile got such a good deal on PA Parenteau as he works his way back from an upper-body injury. No word on when he hits the lineup but he was also a full participant in yesterday’s pre-travel practice.
- Nine games in the NHL tonight, all times CST – 6pm – NJD @ CBJ. 6:30pm – PHI @ BUF, DET @ TOR, NYR @ FLA. 7pm – STL @ MIN. 8m - CAR @ COL, NYI @ EDM. 9pm – MTL @ VAN, NSH @ ANA.
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
SSR’s season nine is on, our next show is Wednesday night at 7 on 102.5 the Game. SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the mid-south and Pete Weber and I bring you the best in hockey talk all season long. We will be talking with the legendary voice of the Los Angeles Kings, a Hockey Hall of Famer who just recently announced his retirement, the one and only Bob Miller will be joining us to talk about his career, the Kings and also help us preview Thursday’s game.
SlapShot Radio has been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives results. Our premier sponsors include day one sponsor
Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762, Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799, and TurfMasters… check out their great service at
TurfMasters.com.
Advertisers… reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great advertising deals available when you email me 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 informatio,
click here.
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • 
Join the Discussion:
»