All photos are courtesy of SlapShot Radio/DLM
It’s a pivotal game four in Smashville tonight as the Predators and Ducks tangle again. A Nashville win puts Anaheim’s back against the wall, an Anaheim win changes the complexion of this series. Both teams practiced at Bridgestone Arena yesterday and both coaches kept their cards very close to the vest as far as any changes in lineup or lines.
You know change is coming for Nashville, with Craig Smith not practicing yesterday and being classified as “day-to-day,” someone has to be moved up to the second line. My belief is the first someone to get that chance will be Colin Wilson. Playoff Colin is back and being moved into a more offensive role with Mike Ribeiro and Filip Forsberg could be just what the doctor ordered to leverage his recent performance. The Ducks will have to scheme differently to defend that line with Wilson… if that is indeed the way that Peter Laviolette decides to play it.
The other question if Smith can’t go tonight, is who fills the open spot in the lineup? The choice appears to be between Eric Nystrom, Austin Watson and Colton Sissons. You can make cases for all three, Nystrom has more playoff experience (13 games) and Laviolette seems to like to go with veterans in these cases… Watson has the big body and can bang and crash with Anaheim… Sissons has been excellent in the face off circle and has earned a bit of trust from the coaching staff. It will be a tough call, but I think that the decision will come down to Nystrom or Sissons.
So, what does Nashville need to do tonight to head back to the West Coast with a 3-1 lead in the series?
1. Tighten up defensively. As has been observed by many who were at game three, the Predators looked like the December version not like the February/March version of the team. The reason for that comes down to defense… it was atrocious and not just from the blueline. Team defense was a Predator strength from late January on, it needs to be a strength tonight and going forward.
2. Giveaways – Game 1 – 11 giveaways (covered by Anaheim’s 20)… Game 2 – 11 giveaways (covered by Anaheim’s 15)… Game 3 – 14 giveaways (not covered by Anaheim’s 3.) Not much more than can be said as the numbers tell all you need to know. Averaging 12 giveaways a game is no recipe for success in the playoffs.
3. Burn From Bar One – There will be no time to ease into this one, the Predators have to jump out early and take the game to Anaheim to keep what is sure to be a raucous Smashville crowd in the game. Early frustration for the Ducks will be good for the Predators.
Take a positive from Tuesday’s game three loss… the Predators finally saw some success in the face off circle and seemed to increase their energy and performance in the third period. That can be built on. The other thing I liked post game from the Nashville locker room was the sense of accountability coming from the team leaders… clear recognition of what happened and more importantly, the team was unwilling to just slough it off. They wanted to let the experience burn in to ensure the proper learnings before letting it go and moving on. A sign of a mature team.
Smashville will be amped up and ready... Tonight’s game starts at the normal time for Nashville home games, 7pm. The Plaza Party begins at 4pm with live music, food, beverages and lots of fun including a Smashville playoff tradition, the Smash Car. All fans in attendance get thudersticks and doors open at 5pm. Very limited tickets remain… coverage on 102.5 the Game, the Predators Radio Network and Fox Sports Tennessee.
-------------------------------
Cause for Joy – The Pacific Division home losing streak is broken! After the first six contests in the Pacific series went to the visitor, San Jose finally broke through with a win on home ice.
Cause for Concern – Craig Smith being announced as day-to-day. Colin Wilson is probably the one to move to the second line, which will change the dynamic a bit, but he certainly has the playoff touch.
----------------------------------
Check out the podcast for last night’s SlapShot Radio…
----------------------------------
Random Playoff Notes
- Special teams have been a mixed bag for Nashville, 1-13 on the power play, but they have successfully killed off 6 of 7 man advantage situations.
- The Predators really need to test Frederik Andersen tonight… something that didn’t happen near enough in game 3. Remember, this is a goaltender that gave up 18 goals in the last four games of the conference final last year.
- Start time for game 5 in Anaheim has not been set yet, I am pretty sure it will depend on the results of Blues / Blackhawks tonight… if St. Louis closes out Chicago the Preds/Ducks could get an earlier start time.
- Kudos to the Flyers, after a dumpster fire of a game three both on and off the ice, they brought it strong last night, made Cap fans put away their brooms and came up with a gutty 2-1 win.
- Scary moment in last night’s Flyers/Caps game as Flyer’s forward Scott Laughton was carried off the ice on a backboard/stretcher after a nasty tumble into the boards. He was held at hospital overnight for observation and is said to be alert.
- Changing your goalie seems to be working in these playoffs, Philly, Dallas, Anaheim, Detroit and Pittsburgh all changed goalies and won the first game after the change.
- Two series could conclude tonight, Tampa Bay is leading Detroit 3-1 and are at Amalie Arena for game 5 at 6pm on NBCSN and St. Louis hosts Chicago with a 3-1 lead on NBCSN at 8:30.
----------------------------------
Series Snapshots - all times Central
- Predators / Ducks – NSH leads 2-1 – Next game – Tonight @ NSH – 7pm – Fox Sports TN
- Panthers / Islanders – Series tied 2-2 – Next game – Friday @ FLA – 7pm CT – USA Network
- Lightning / Red Wings – TBL leads 3-1 – Next game – Tonight @ TBLT – 6pm CT - NBCSN
- Capitals / Flyers – WSH leads 3-1 – Next game – Friday @ WSH – 6pm CT - NBCSN
- Penguins / Rangers – PIT leads 2-1 – Next game – Tonight @ NYR – 6pm CT – CNBC
- Stars / Wild – DAL leads 3-1 – Next game – Friday @ MIN – 8:30pm CT - NBCSN
- Blues / Blackhawks – STL leads 3-1 – Next game – Tonight @ STL – 8:30pm CT - NBCSN
- Kings / Sharks – SJS leads 2-1 – Next game – Friday @ LAK – 9:30pm CT – CNBC
-----------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Season eight of SlapShot Radio is on! Join us every Wednesday night at 7 on 102.5 the Game. Pete Weber and I cover the playoffs from pillar to post. We will also be on Saturday morning with fresh content at 8am!
SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the mid-south delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio. Our premier, day one sponsor is
Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762. Also, our newest member of the SSR Sponsorship family is Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799.
Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base via email 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.
-------------------------------------
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Predators Buzz, a one-stop feed for all things Predators-related on HockeyBuzz. Your subscription includes a free 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month thereafter. For more information,
click here.
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • 
Join the Discussion:
»