The Predators clinched their 5th consecutive playoff berth with a 1-0 shutout win over the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center last night. A strange win to be sure, but a road win all the same. This was not one of Nashville’s better defensive efforts but Juuse Saros was there to cover for every Pred mistake.
Honestly, when you look at the stats, you wonder what the stat keepers were looking at… only 5 giveaways for the Preds… really? I would think there were at least 5 between Roman Josi and PK Subban. These are quibbles as stellar goaltending will cover a multitude of sins and Saros did just that last night. Of course, Minnesota couldn’t finish to save their lives through 60 minutes, missing opportunity after opportunity to tie the game. Nashville dominated in the face off circle, and Ryan Johansen’s 12th of the year, a shorty just 4:32 into the game stood up as the game winner. Saros made 29 saves to post his 3rd shutout of the year.
The goaltending situation in Nashville is as close to as perfect as it can be. Pekka Rinne is being gently pushed by his young protégé and it is showing in both goaltender’s play over the past two weeks. If Rinne falters in the playoffs, Saros will be there as a firebreak.
As Nashville becomes the 4th Western Conference team to punch their playoff ticket, positioning is still a big question in the Central. The division is still a possibility, but to do that, the team will have to run the table in their last five games, finishing with 102 points may be enough to take the division crown and set up a first round matchup with what looks to be the Dallas Stars. Anything less than that probably gives the Preds the 2 slot in the Central… unless St. Louis runs the table. The permutations are endless…
There was plenty of other news in Pred Nation yesterday. It appears that Dante Fabbro has signed, he posted on his Instagram about it, although there has been no official announcement from the Preds yet. Former Golden Gopher Rem Pitlick had his first NHL game last night and comported himself well. The recent signee looked good in the almost 10 minutes of ice time he got, especially telling was his being on the ice when the game was on the line in the last four minutes.
Miikka Salomaki and Austin Watson were both sent to Milwaukee for conditioning assignments. The “long-term injury… loan will allow the two to get some game time in and, as Austin Watson was quoted yesterday, get their “legs and lungs back.…
The team is back home, today is an off day before practice resumes tomorrow. They will practice Wednesday and Thursday before flying to Pittsburgh for the front end of the last back-to-back of the season.
------------------------------------
The Where We Stand section
Nashville is in second place in the Central Division, two points behind the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg holds a game in hand over Nashville. The Preds lead St. Louis (1 GIH) by two points.
Nashville has clinched their playoff spot and currently holds the 4 seed in the Western Conference playoff race. As things stand today, Nashville would host a first round series against the St. Louis Blues.
According to SportsClubStats.com, the Predators chances of playing St. Louis in the first round stand at 79.5%.
Impact Games Tonight – None – Nashville is off until Friday night when they travel to Pittsburgh. Winnipeg plays the New York Islanders on Thursday, St. Louis plays the New York Rangers on Friday
-------------------------------------
Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update – The Ad’s are back in action Wednesday night against Rockford. They are battling to make the playoffs and the additions of Watson and Salomaki will help.
- Now what – Now that the Preds have made the playoffs, what will the nattering nabobs of negatism come up with now. C’mon guys… enjoy the ride…
- Central – The Central is looking to send five teams to the playoffs, Arizona is the only team that can break that stranglehold as they are two points behind Colorado for the last wild card spot.
- Chatter – Maybe Drew Doughty should talk more often… after bashing Matthew Tkachuk, the Kings went into Calgary and took a 3-0 win.
- Disaster? – Saturday night’s Preds opponent will be a desperate hockey team as the Columbus Bllue Jackets are two points behind the last wild card spot in the East. Their “we don’t need no stinkin’ draft picks… strategy is looking shaky…
-----------------------------------
------------------------------------- SlapShot Radio’s 11th 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. We are on every Wednesday at 7pm all through the playoff all the way to UFA Day, the ONLY local hockey show that does that.
We have been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives awareness and results at a reasonable price. Just ask our sponsors… including day one sponsor Drs. Jane Bacon and Aileen Kruger at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762 and Patrick J. Brown’s Farmer Insurance Agency in Mt. Juliet… I switched to them a few years back and their service has been incredible! Give Pat and his team a call at 615-288-2086. And of course… don’t forget our good friend Carter Church! Your Mufreesboro real estate expert with Weichert – The Andrews Group.
Advertisers… Playoff specials are here! Reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great stretch run advertising deals available combining radio with advertising right here on my blog. It is a great, cost-effective, high-visibility way to build awareness of your business. You can send me a message on the SlapShot Radio Facebook page or by messaging me right here on HockeyBuzz.
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.
If you are outside of the listening area, listen live online at The Game website or check out the podcast about two hours after the show at on SoundCloud.
-------------------------------------
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.