Game 82. The Predators finish the regular season tonight with a matchup against the Dallas Stars in the Lone Star State. The only thing on the line for Nashville is pride… for Dallas, a win means the Central Division banner (their first division title since 2006,) a Western Conference banner (their first since 2003) and a date with the Minnesota Wild in the first round and more importantly… avoiding the Chicago Blackhawks. It could be a case of “be careful what you wish for” as Minnesota has traditionally been dangerous in the first round.
Nashville’s goal is to get the players that have been scratched lately a chance to get some game time before the playoffs begin and to stay healthy. I expect to see Carter Hutton in net tonight and some more regulars rested. The question on Pred Nation’s mind is if Filip Forsberg will get a chance to break the franchise single season goal scoring record tonight as he is tied with Jason Arnott with 33 goals.
There is potential for Dallas to insert a few recently injured players into the lineup as Jason Spezza and Patrick Eaves are both likely to return to the Stars lineup.
Tonight’s tilt is a classic story of one team with nothing on the line and one team with something to play for. The scoreboard watching will begin for Nashville at 4:30pm central when the Ducks and Avalanche meet up in Pepsi Center. Then it will proceed to 9pm when the Kings and Jets take the ice. If LA wins that game, they win the Pacific and lock in as Nashville’s first round opponent.
Game time is 7pm with coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee, 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network.
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Random Notes
- The Predators posted a 8-0-3 record at Bridgestone Arena versus Pacific Division teams and went 5-3-2 on the road against the division
- If Shea Weber scores a power play goal tonight, he breaks the franchise single season PPG scoring record. Weber is tied for 4th in the NHL in PPG scoring.
- The potential owners of an NHL team in Las Vegas came out and said that the fans may not have a say in the name of a potential team there… they may want to be careful there as if the original owners of the Predators found their selected name was hated by the fans… and changed it to Predators.
- All 30 teams are active today as there are 15 games in the NHL today, all times central – 11:30am – OTT @ BOS, DET @ NYR. 2pm – PIT @ PHI. 4:30pm – ANA @ COL. 6pm CGY @ MIN, TL @ MTL, CAR @ FLA, TML @ NJD, CHI @ CBJ. 6:30pm – BUF @ NYI. 7pm – WSH @ STL, NSH @ DAL. 9pm – WPG @ LAK, EDM @ VAN. 9:30pm – ARI @ SJS.
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