OK Smashville… here we go… time to look at the Preds/Avs series…
The Nashville Predators head into this series on a mission. They are in the same kind of first round series as they were last season… number 1 vs number 8, only this time… the Predators are the top seed against a young, scrappy, hungry Colorado team fresh off the heels of a 47 point improvement season over season.
Oh you thought this one was going to be easy?
On paper… Nashville should win this one in a walk. They have the pressure of sky-high expectations of a President’s Trophy winning team… they are a Stanley Cup favorite and they swept the season series with Colorado. Colorado’s best defenseman and best goaltender are both injured and they are facing a team with a head coach that has never coached in the playoffs before.
It is going to be tougher than that.
Colorado is that most dangerous of opponent. An opponent playing with house money that never expected to be where they are. You’ve seen the quotes, they are going to be free and easy with no pressure. Almost like a team that’s been eliminated from the playoffs trying to play spoiler.
So what does Colorado need to do in order to win this series? Try to knock the Preds off their game… get under their skin… force the Predators into taking undisciplined penalties. One of the things Nashville has been is a penalty-taking machine… and Colorado has an outstanding power play.
The Predators simply need to remember what got them here, roll four lines, score by committee, play solid defense and limit the giveaways. This is the strongest Nashville Predator team ever, they are deep, they play with speed and when their forecheck is clicking, they are almost impossible to stop.
In this observer’s opinion, only the Predators can stop themselves from winning this series. If they get careless with the puck, if they come out flat, if they don’t use their speed… they can be beaten… and have been by teams that are no longer playing this season… but… If the Predators engage a killer instinct early, this series is over in no more than five.
Given how business like this team has been while winning the Central Division and Western Conference… while winning the Presidents Trophy… and how their attitude has been, we haven’ done nothing yet… That is exactly how long this series takes…
Predators in five.
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The Playoff Tracker … a daily update of the Stanley Cup Playoffs brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!
Wild night in the playoffs last night… a blow out, a 3-2 and a 1-0 game. Five more series start tonight…
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning vs New Jersey Devils – 0-0 – Game one is tonight
Washington Capitals vs. Columbus Blue Jackets – 0-0 – Game one is tonight
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers – PIT leads 1-0 – Game two is Friday
Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs – 0-0 – Game one is tonight
Western Conference
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche – 0-0 – Game one is tonight
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Los Angeles Kings – VGK leads 1-0 – Game two is Friday
Winnipeg Jets vs. Minnesota Wild – WPG leads 1-0 – Game two is Friday
Anaheim Ducks vs San Jose Sharks – 0-0 – Game one is tonight
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Last night’s SlapShot Radio
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Random Notes
- Be in your seats by 815 tonight… the pregame show is amazing, I guarantee you haven’t seen anything like it…
- I have seen plenty of speculation about the anthem singer tonight… haven’t seen anyone guess it yet though…
- Another reason to worry for Pred fans… the Preds have won 10 straight over Colorado, including a season sweep over the last two seasons.
- Calle Jarnkrok and Yannick Weber have been skating with the team over the last three practices.
- Pittsburgh made a statement last night… tacking on the extra point in a 7-0 blowout of the Flyers…
- Well well… Winnipeg won a playoff game!!! Devan Dubnyk came real close to stealing game one. It took them 19 years as a franchise. Vegas won their first playoff game as well… it took them a single season to do it.
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