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The Week Ahead

March 12, 2018, 2:50 PM ET [2 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Y’know… that’s the thing with trap games… occasionally, they get you. You can’t complain about Saturday’s loss to the Devils… sometimes the puck doesn’t bounce your way. Nashville hit the post so many times that the Ironworker’s Union is looking for dues from the team. Getting a point out of the game was a positive, so the ten game win streak becomes an eleven game point streak as the Preds prep for the Winnipeg Jets coming to town late tonight after the Jets play Washington.

Depending on the outcome of Winnipeg’s game in Washington tonight… Tomorrow night could be the last gasp for the Winnipeg Jets to keep a reasonable chance at winning the Central. A Predators win in regulation could mean an eleven-point lead with 12 to play for the Jets. Any win tonight and a win tomorrow in regulation pulls the Jets to within 3 points of the Predators.

Any way you slice it… it’s a huge back-to-back for the Jets.

The week ahead sees the Predators hit the road again, vacating the friendly confines so March Madness can invade Music City. The Predators have a road back-to-back, Thursday in Arizona, Friday in Colorado, before crossing the country to play Buffalo next Monday night.

The Predators have only five divisional games remaining in the season… tomorrow vs. the Jets, Friday @ Colorado, a critical back-to-back next weekend in Minnesota and Winnipeg before finishing their division schedule at home on 3/27.

No team is eliminated mathematically yet, but a couple teams “tragic numbers” are getting awfully low… In the West, the Predators may have a chance to officially eliminate Arizona on Thursday night as their “tragic number” is three. Vancouver’s is 5, Chicago and Edmonton’s as 12. In the east, everyone is still in double digits with Ottawa at 10, Montreal at 13 and Detroit at 14.

Game time tomorrow night is 7pm

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“Where We Stand” update… a daily tracking of where the Preds are in the standings and the games that impact them most, brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!



After last night’s play the Predators remain first in the Central Division with 98 points, leading Winnipeg (0 GIH) by 7 points … The Predators lead the Western Conference, holding a five point lead over Vegas (0 GIH.) The Predators trail Tampa Bay (1 GIH) by two points in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.

Impact games tonight (all times Central) – 6pm – VGK @ PHI, WPG @ WSH.

Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are at 99.9999%, even though it is not official, for all intents and purposes, the Predators are in the playoffs.

The Current Opponent - If the playoffs began today, the Predators would draw the number 8 seed in the second wild card position… currently the Colorado Avalanche.

Playoff odds and playoff point line courtesy of SportsClubStats.com

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Random Notes

- The goaltender interference reviews are really getting out of hand… and now the NHL wants coaches and players to stop complaining about it? Sheesh, just get it right and EVERYONE will stop.

- Preds AGM Paul Fenton is being mentioned in connection with the Hurricanes GM job… I wonder if he put in his resume via Twitter?

- Another Canes GM candidate with Preds connections… Devils AGM and Preds first captain, Tom Fitzgerald.

- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit team has won their series and will play CSKA in the next round of the KHL playoffs. Tolvanen is the reason for their win, scoring both goals in game 5, tying the game with three minutes to go in the game, then winning it with a spectacular wraparound in overtime.

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SlapShot Radio’s tenth anniversary season is on. As the longest running hockey show in the region, SSR feeds hockey fans what they crave… intelligent, fun, entertaining talk about their favorite sport and we do it from the opening of training camp all the way through UFA day… the only local hockey show that does that.

We are on every Wednesday night at 7pm on the Predators flagship station, 102.5 the Game. Our co-hosts, Dan Keczmer and JP Dumont bring a true insiders perspective to the show. Our next show is Wednesday at 7pm as we get you ready for the Predators road trip.

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