It is a wounded Predators team that takes the ice in Winnipeg at noon today, and a lot of those wounds came at the hands of these same Jets just two days ago. James Neal and Colton Sissons, both injured in that game, have been placed on IR along with Ryan Ellis. The Sissons injury was caused by a nasty second period hit to the back from Brandon Tanev that drove the young centerman into the boards, out of the game and now, out of the lineup. Another interesting event happened at the end of the second period when James Neal appeared to take a stick to the abdomen in an unpenalized behind the play activity that appears to have put Neal on IR as well.
It is unusual for a team to be able to benefit from their bad behavior, but Winnipeg gets that opportunity today. They will attempt to snap their five game losing streak by facing a Nashville team that will be missing some key cogs. The replacements have been called up as four players from Milwaukee have been brought in as reinforcements, Petter Granberg, Mike Liambas, Frederick Gaudreau and Kevin Fiala.
Interesting choices for call ups… Granberg and Fiala aren’t that surprising. Both have been playing well for the Ad’s, Fiala is at a point per game plus in his time in Milwaukee this season… he will be counted on to deliver some offensive pop to the lineup. Granberg fills in as the 7th defenseman. Frederick Gaudreau is getting a chance as well to prove that he has what it takes for the NHL, he has posted solid stats for the Admirals as well.
The surprising choice? Mike Liambas who may be making his NHL debut today. He is second on the Admirals in penalty minutes this season and is known as a rugged player. Could messages be sent? That one bears watching.
For the Jets, they are trying to get the wheels back on as they have been in free fall for the past two weeks, falling out of playoff position and desperately trying to figure out how to stop this snowball from getting any larger. My observation on Friday night was a team that was waiting for the roof to cave in. It was pretty clear after the Predators took the lead in the second. So, obviously, that becomes a key today… if Nashville can jump out to a lead to quiet the raucous MTS Centre crowd it may take advantage of this fragile Jets team one more time.
Game time is noon, pregame starts at 11:30am for coverage on both Fox Sports Tennessee and the Predators Radio Network.
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The latest SlapShot Radio podcast with Peter Tessier and Greg Wyshynski…
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Random Notes
- This is the second of four between the Jets and Preds today… they don’t play again until March 13.
- Ryan Johansen and Colin Wilson both seem to like playing Winnipeg, Wilson is on a four game point streak (3g,3a) and Johansen is on a five game point streak (5g,6a) against the Jets.
- Since November 1, Pekka Rinne has been a beast… going 8-1-2 with a 1.35 GAA and a save percentage of .952
- The Predators finished a perfect homestand on the ice, going 3-0 and off the ice, selling out all three games. The team has sold out every home game this season with four of those games going over capacity with standing room tickets.
- Thursday night is the 5th annual Preds and Pins… Pete Weber and I will be hosting the event… please go to the Preds website for more information.
- Six games in the NHL today, all times central – Noon – NSH @ WPG, TBL @ BOS. 2pm – ARI @ EDM. 5pm – FLA @ CAR. 6pm OTT @ NYR. 6:30pm – CGY @ PHI.
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