Game Two in the Shark Tank tonight as the Nashville Predators hope to do what every other road team has done in this second round of the NHL playoffs so far, win one on the road. After dropping Game One 5-2 in a score that was pumped up by two empty net goals in the final minute, the Predators will be looking to match the third period energy of the Sharks, while maintaining the fast start they showed Friday night.
Nashville has lost the first game of a series six times previously… they lost all six. San Jose has lost every series that they have had more than five days off in between… something’s gotta give here from a history perspective.
San Jose is a much quicker team that Anaheim was, and they showed it in the third period Friday night, they were able to build off of a very good performance from goaltender Martin Jones, who stymied the Preds in the first two periods of the loss.
Let’s take a look at what Nashville has to do in order to come back home with a split.
- Play 60 at a high tempo – The Predators continue to play every other day since the beginning of the playoffs, it may have factored into Friday’s third period. They cannot allow it to happen again. Head Coach Peter Laviolette kept the team away from the rink yesterday as he put it “two find the juice we will need for tomorrow night.” They have to play all 60.
- Stay out of the box – The Sharks power play has been lethal in the playoffs, two of the three goals the Sharks scored before garbage time were on the power play. This is a frustrating part, as the officials have been incredibly inconsistent throughout these playoffs.
- Production from the top lines – Filip Forsberg, James Neal, Calle Jarnkrok, Mike Ribeiro all need to sep up the offensive production. The team is getting the secondary scoring needed… time for this group to really step it up.
No word on Craig Smith’s status for tonight’s game… the Predators are 4-0 in the playoffs in games where Smith is in the lineup and completes the game, 0-4 otherwise. San Jose probably won’t be making any changes to their lineup, expect Jones and Rinne in net.
Game two game time is 7pm Central. Coverage on 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network with the Voice of the Predators, Pete Weber on the play-by-play and Brent Peterson on color. TV coverage on NBCSN. The Predators are hosting an open house today starting at 6pm with free popcorn and soda… the game will be shown on the MegaTron.
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Cause for Joy – Peter Laviolette has proven to make very good in series adjustments
Cause for Concern – Potential to come home 0-2
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Random Playoff Notes
- The Prodigal Pred may be returning to the NHL as reports surfaced that Alexander Radulov could be signing in Colorado with his old Junior coach, Patrick Roy. Yup… smacks of a desperation move in Mile High Country. For a team that needs help on defense… I don’t get it…
- If you haven’t read JR Lind’s fabulous Eulogy of the Anaheim Ducks on Puck Daddy… you need to…
- Bruce Boudreau being fired yesterday surprised no one. Anaheim GM Bob Murray completely blasted the “core players” of the team in his end of season presser.
- The Capitals / Penguins is everything expected and more… this is going to be a really good series.
- Congrats to the Maple Leafs, they won the NHL Draft Lottery last night, the Winnipeg Jets got the 2nd pick, followed by Columbus, Edmonton and Vancouver.
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Second Round Snapshots
Lightning / Islanders – Series tied 1-1 – Game 3 Tue @ NYI – 6pm – NBCSN
Capitals / Penguins – Series tied 1-1 – Game 3 Mon @ PIT – 7pm – NBCSN
Stars / Blues – DAL leads 1-0 – Game 2 today @ DAL – 2pm - NBC
Sharks / Predators – SJS leads 1-0 – Game 2 tonight @ SJS – 7pm - NBCSN
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