It’s game two of a three game home stand as the Nashville Predators host the Colorado Avalanche for the completion of their season series this evening at Bridgestone Arena. It’s a special 4:30pm start time as the NHL obviously cleared the schedule for the Stadium Series game tonight in Philadelphia.
The Avalanche hit town fresh off a 7-1 beatdown of Winnipeg on Wednesday and started this back-to-back with a 5-3 win over Chicago last night. They seem to have righted their ship for a late push for one of the last playoff spots. They are basically a one line team, but that one line is awesome.
Nashville also seems to be headed in the right direction, owners of a modest two game win streak, looking like they did in October, playing on their toes with an aggressive forecheck. If they can gain a modicum of consistency, and perhaps improve a bit on the power play… they will be in great shape come April.
Practice was different yesterday as the team split into two groups to work on specifics with each and the power play was a big piece of the effort. Different looks, different combinations and some series detail work. No where near a practice intended to generate as Peter Laviolette called it “a big sweat,… this one was detail oriented, more cerebral... and frankly, may have been way overdue.
In net today? Who knows? Semyon Varlamov went last night for the Av’s, not sure if they will go with him back-to-back, if they don’t then we will see Philipp Grubauer between the pipes for Colorado. I would expect Pekka Rinne for the Preds, but we know that Juuse Saros may be in the mix as the Preds are starting a three game in four night stretch. The Predators are also working Miikka Salomaki back into the swing of things, he was a full participant in yesterday’s practice minus the no-contact jersey, an indicator that he is close to being taken off IR. Craig Smith is still on IR as of this writing.
Game time is 4:30pm… pregame starts at 3:30 on 102.5 the Game, 4pm on FS-Tennessee. Puck drop is at 4:37pm. Very limited tickets remain… please drive carefully to the game tonight as there are flash flood warnings across the midstate.
See you at the Bridge!
------------------------------------
The Where We Stand section
After a one night stay in first, Nashville is back in second place in the Central Division, one point behind the Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg holds two games in hand over Nashville. The Preds lead St. Louis (3 GIH) by eight points, Dallas by 12 and Minnesota by 15.
Nashville currently holds the 4 seed in the Western Conference playoff race.
Impact Games Today – 3pm – BOS @ STL. 4pm CAR @ DAL.
-------------------------------------
Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update – The Admirals dropped a 3-2 OTL in Cleveland last night The two teams play again Sunday.
- Trade Deadline Watch – With Matt Duchene going to the Blue Jackets, attention now turns to Mark Stone and Artemi Panarin as the “big… names left. I can’t say I am mad that the Preds didn’t get Duchene. I am also not sure if Eeli Tolvanen needs to be part of any trade. The development of this young player is incomplete and patience will be rewarded.
- Trade Deadline Watch 2 – Per Larry Brooks’ Twitter, the Rangers want Eeli Tolvanen for Chris Krieder? Ummm… pass.
- Wild Care Schmozle – The peloton chasing for the wild card slots in the west contains six teams, four of them in the Central.
-----------------------------------
------------------------------------- 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.
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.
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.