Twenty-three times.
On twenty-three previous occasions this season the Nashville Predators entered the third period trailing, and twenty-three times they posted a loss. The Nashville Predators pulled out a 2-1 win in Vancouver last night coming back in the third period for the first time this season on the strength of a goal and an assist from Nick Spaling. The win was Nashville’s fourth in their past five games as they try to get back to striking distance of a playoff spot. A key for Nashville was the play of goaltender Carter Hutton. It was another solid outing, making 33 saves and keeping the Canucks off the board on several power plays in the first period. Vancouver kept looking backdoor, over and over again and Hutton was there.
The trade for Devan Dubnyk seems to have pushed Hutton, providing ammo for Coach Barry Trotz’s theory of pressure from behind… Hutton has risen to the challenge and provided the kind of goaltending that has allowed the defense to activate with much more consistency. Considering that Nashville’s offense fires from the blueline, this piece has been critical to the Predators resurgence in the last week and a half.
Here’s your highlights…
The boys took off right after the game for the second half of a difficult back-to-back… in traveling to Calgary, the team loses an hour. These small things can make a big difference on your routine. Tonight’s 8pm faceoff is the second game of a four game road trip and the second time these two teams have tangled in the past ten days. The Predators put a 4-2 win on the Flames at Bridgestone Arena in Calgary’s only visit to Music City this season. The Predators will return to Calgary in late March.
The Flames finally broke a franchise record seven game home losing streak Wednesday night with a 3-2 win over Phoenix and are desperately trying to get back to some sort of relevance in their division and the Western Conference as they are five points from the bottom of the conference standings.
Given Hutton’s strong play of late, I wonder when Devan Dubnyk gets another crack at a start, perhaps tonight? Maybe Sunday against his old team? Hutton is on a four game win streak and playing the best hockey we have seen him play during his time in Nashville. It will be a difficult decision for Trotz to figure out the starters over the next three games. Injuries for Nashville remain static, Calgary lists Curtis Glencross on IR and Michael Cammalleri as still recovering from his concussion.
The keys for Nashville remain constant. Score early, power play, solid goaltending that allows the defense to activate. Game time is 8pm central time with coverage on 102.5 the Game and Fox Sports Tennessee.
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Random Notes
- Nashville comes into tonight’s game against Calgary eight points behind Minnesota and Vancouver for the wild card and 14 points behind Colorado for third in the Central.
- Best wishes to Nashville Assistant Coach Lane Lambert. He has stayed in Nashville to care for his wife during chemotherapy treatments. Thoughts and prayers going out to him and his family.
- Lambert’s absence had Predators Director of Player Development Scott Nichol behind the bench last night, he will be filling the role for the entire road trip.
- Nice column on Sportsnet.com from Gord Stellick on suggestions to improve the NHL.
- Outdoor games coming up this weekend… heck, even 80 degree weather in LA isn’t deterring the ice making.
- Five games tonight – 6pm start – Capitals @ Devils. 6:30pm starts – Canadiens @ Red Wings, Avalanche @ Panthers. 8pm start – Predators @ Flame. 8:30pm start – Coyotes @ Oilers.
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