The Nashville Predators are in Vancouver tonight after a strange schedule quirk that had the Predators playing one game in an eight day stretch. When last we left the Predators they dropped an overtime loss to Vegas and were in first place in the Central Division.
So… a few days off has Nashville solidly in the third spot with a five point lead over Minnesota, Dallas and Chicago, training Winnipeg by one point and St. Louis by four. The key to all of this are games in hand… they have three games in hand over the Blues, two over the Jets, Stars and Blackhawks and one over the Wild. Now, games-in-hand are critical only if you take advantage of them.
Tonight begins a tough little stretch, three games in four nights, tonight against the Canucks, tomorrow night in Edmonton, and Saturday in Calgary.
Vancouver beat the Predators back in November on Bridgestone Arena ice, one of the few regulation losses Smashville has witnessed. Brock Boeser had an outstanding game and Anders Nilsson was very solid between the pipes in a game where Nashville simply didn’t show up for.
My concern tonight has to do with rest vs. rust, although there have been some very spirited practices this week at Centennial Sportsplex. I always worry after a break like this, the Preds need to get this roadie off right.
Both Ryan Johansen and Scott Hartnell are still on IR but are listed as “game-time decisions” for the Preds. I will also be curious to see where Juuse Saros gets his start… I am assuming it would be tomorrow night as Pekka Rinne has not played since the Boston game almost ten days ago. A much needed mental break as well as a physical one.
Game time is 9pm central… pregame coverage gets going at 7pm with SlapShot Radio, JP Dumont, Zack and I will be previewing the road trip with Edmonton play-by-play man Jack Michaels and Calgary play-by-play man Derek Wills. Predators pregame follows SSR at 8pm on 102.5 the Game. Fox Sports Tennessee pregame starts at 8:30pm and game coverage on all media begins at 9.
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Random Notes
- After a scorching hot November that saw the Preds go 11-2-1, they have started off December 3-0-1.
- Pekka Rinne’s renaissance season has the big Finn 11-2-1 in his last 14 starts.
- Milestones in sight… Viktor Arvidsson is two points away from his 100th NHL career point, Craig Smith is one goal away from taking sole possession of 4th on the franchise goal scoring list.
- KHL Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit lost to Metallurg yesterday 2-1. Tolvanen had an assist and now stands at 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points in 39 games.
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