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Game Night in Smashville - Hitting the gas

February 2, 2017, 10:08 AM ET [0 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Nashville Predators are home for a three game stretch starting tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. The first meeting of the season between these two clubs was just shy of two weeks ago in Edmonton… the match went to a shootout, with (surprise, surprise) Nashville prevailing 3-2. Nashville bookends the home portion of their February schedule with home games against the Oilers.

The question on the mind of Pred Nation… when do we see Roman Josi back in the lineup? The strong belief is that he is close, real close. Josi has been a full practice participant for three consecutive days and let’s be frank… the Predators could use the stability he will bring back to the defense corp. No knock on the blueline, they have really stepped it up while it has dealt with injuries to Anthony Bitetto, Ryan Ellis, PK Subban and Josi… getting this group back to full strength can only improve this team and solidify the gains it has made. That is one thing to appreciate about this team, it has fought through some significant adversity and grown from it.

Both teams come into tonight’s game off road losses, Edmonton lost to Minnesota 5-2 on Tuesday while Nashville was dropping a 4-2 decision to the defending Stanley Cup champs. No shame in either loss, but both teams will be looking to regain some of the momentum they had before the All-Star break.

With the Oilers high powered offense, the Predators will have to follow the pattern they established in Edmonton, limit chances and contain Connor McDavid… they did an excellent job of that back on January 20th and will need to do it again in order to come out of tonight with two points.

Game coverage begins at 6pm on 102.5 the Game for pregame, Fox Sports Tennessee’s Predators Live gets going at 6:30pm. Game coverage on both media begins at 7pm, puck drop at 7:07pm. Limited tickets remain… Tonight is another Hockey Happy Hour, doors open 30 minutes early at 5pm with half-priced domestic draft beer and sodas at specifically located bars until 6:30pm.

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I’d like to bring your attention to something that touched the hockey community’s heart and the way a great family has turned their pain into action. Those in Nashville will recall the passing of Mitchell Mielnik… a member of the Junior Predators and high school student who passed away from a rare heart condition almost two years ago. Mitchell’s passing hit us hard and the hockey community came together to help the Mielnik family like only hockey people can.

Now, the family is paying it forward by establishing the Mitchell Patrick Mielnik Scholarship through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Click on the link above for more information, to donate or, if you are a local high school hockey player… apply to be awarded the scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded for the first time this year to a high school senior who plays travel or high school hockey and the application period is now open.

I am simply astounded at this family’s resilience and commitment to taking this tragedy and turned it into something positive…
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#18ForeverStrong

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Random Notes

- Where We Stand – After last night’s play, the Nashville Predators have 56 points in 50 games played and stand 3rd in the Central Division. Nashville trails the division leading Minnesota Wild by 15 points and 2nd place Chicago by 9 points with two games in hand. Nashville leads 4th place St. Louis by three points. Los Angeles is in the first wild card slot, Calgary is in the second.

- Head coach Peter Laviolette was quoted yesterday at practice that the Predators need to be “tight” defensively and “continue to play a smarter game.”

- Having control of youor playoff destiny is important at this point in the season, gaining some separation from the six team Battle Royale going on for the two Wild Card spots should be avoided if at all possible. Those six teams are separated by four points in that battle. Winnipeg and Calgary are at a bit of a disadvantage having played 53 games already, Dallas and LA have played 51, St. Louis and Vancouver 50. Games in hand become critical over the next few weeks.

- The firing of Ken Hitchcock in St. Louis yesterday was hardly unsurprising. The whole “coach-in-waiting” experiment failed miserably. I am wondering if Hitch has gotten a call from Vegas yet?

- Can the mess in Colorado get worse? They have 28 points in 48 games… the rebuild probably needs to happen sooner rather than later and I wonder if it needs to start at the GM?

- In the “I never thought I would see the day” category… looking at the Eastern Conference standings as I write this, the Detroit Red Wings are at the bottom of their division and the conference. However, they are only seven points out of a Wild Card spot… but with eight teams to leapfrog… it looks like their 25 year playoff streak could very well be done.

- Eight games in the NHL tonight, all times CST – 6pm – MTL @ PHI. 6:30pm – NYR @ BUF, OTT @ TBL. 7pm – EDM @ NSH. 7:30pm – WPG @ DAL. 8pm – CHI @ ARI, TOT @ STL. 9pm – SJS @ VAN.

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SSR’s season nine is on, our next show is Saturday February 3rd at 8am 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. Jessie Spector, writer from the FanRag Sports Network and host of Tampa Bay Lightning Power Play will be joining us and we will be previewing the Detroit and Vancouver games.

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.

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