It’s a Game Night in Glendale as the Nashville Predators invade the desert for a late season tilt against the Arizona Coyotes… check that… against the suddenly hot Arizona Coyotes. The Desert Dogs have been quietly playing some very good hockey lately, since the calendar has flipped to March the team is 5-1-1 with quality wins over Minnesota and Colorado. As a matter of fact, only one team in the Western Conference has gathered more points that the Coyotes 21 since February 12… you guessed it… it’s Nashville who has gathered 25 points.
How has Arizona been doing it? Defense and goaltending, the ‘Yotes have only allowed 29 goals since 2/12… despite only scoring 37 during this hot streak. The Coyotes solid play of late has come as the team is dealing with goaltending injuries as both Antti Raanta (LBI) and Darcy Kuemper (Illness) are not at 100% for the ‘Yotes. Rookie Adin Hill was in net on Tuesday night for Arizona’s shootout win over LA and may get the nod tonight should Raanta and Kuemper not be ready to go.
Nashville hits the road after capturing 7 out of a possible 8 points in their last home stand, winning 11 of their last 12 games, including a clean sweep in their last road trip. It’s the front end of a back-to-back for Nashville as they head to Denver after the game for tomorrow night’s potential first round preview match against the Avalanche.
With Calle Jarnkrok’s status being unknown after taking a rather nasty (read: late, dirty, unpunished) hit from Winnipeg’s Andrew Copp (see rant below,) I expect to see Scott Hartnell back in the lineup tonight after his “maintenance scratch… on Tuesday. Again, we see the value of the depth in this organization. I wouldn't be surprised to see Juuse Saros in net tonight, perhaps saving Pekka Rinne for tomorrow night’s divisional matchup.
This is the rubber match between these two teams, Arizona won at Bridgestone Arena in early 2018 then Nashville returned the favor in Glendale two weeks later. For some reason, Arizona always plays Nashville tough and given the play of this Coyotes team over the past month… this one is no walkover and given tomorrow night's opponent, could be considered a bit of a "trap" game.
Game time is 9pm Central, pregame on 102.5 the Game gets going at 8pm, Fox Sports Tennessee’s pregame starts at 8:30pm. Puck drop at 9:07pm. Brew up the coffee, it may be a late one.
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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 100 points, leading Winnipeg (1 GIH) by 8 points … The Predators lead the Western Conference, holding a 5 point lead over Vegas (1 GIH.) The Predators also now lead Tampa Bay (1 GIH) in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy by virtue of the tie-breaker.
Impact games tonight (all times Central) – 7pm – CHI @ WPG.
Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are at 99.999998%, 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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Last night’s SlapShot Radio
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Now I don’t mean to go off on a rant here but…
The Department of Player Safety, a good idea when first started and well executed in the first year or two of existence, has become a shell of its’ former self and frankly … has become a complete joke.
I take you back to early February… a late hit from a first time offender appears to cause an injury and draws a three game suspension.
Now let’s move forward to last Tuesday night… a late hit from a first time offender that definitely causes an injury draws…
Bupkas… Nada… Crickets... not even a get well card for Calle Jarnkrok.
Gee… that doesn't seem right... or consistent... Why would a decision like that get made?
I wonder if the first situation was driven by the team offended... maybe it had something to do with being concerned with what that major market media might say… you know… the market where the NHL offices are? Considering that it happened outside of the glare of so many New York columnist's brilliance, it does make you wonder.
So what is the solution? I am pretty sure it is not what is going on right now...
Instead of addressing the very real problems with rules, their interpretation and the performance of the both the on ice officials and the replay officials in the war room… the NHL just wants the players and coaches to shut up about it.
OK... "Shut up and play" is one way to go... it's ineffective and pointless, but it is one way to go... my solution?
Just eliminate the Department of Player Safety… it’s useless, ineffective and can’t get out of its’ own way.
Hey… now THAT would be a way to get everyone to shut up about it!
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Random Notes
- Head coach Rick Tocchet is scheduled to be behind the bench for Arizona tonight after a brief leave of absence to deal with a family illness.
- All of a sudden, Pekka Rinne has gone from “no way… in regards to the Vezina to (according to Andrew Berkshire of Sportsnet) “runaway favorite… … that was fast.
- Rumors are flying that Joel Quenneville may be fired by the Blackhawks. Sure… coaching is the issue in Chicago. After all Q was one who that gave out crippling contracts to fading stars and traded away the future. Quenneville will be unemployed only as long as he wants to be… and it wouldn’t surprise me if Chicago follows the same path that St. Louis did after firing Q. Dumb…
- A couple of crazy ones in the National last night… Toronto’s crazy win over Dallas (and loss of Fredrik Andersen) and Vegas dropping an 8-3 stink bomb at home to New Jersey. The Vegas Twitter account asked for puppy pictures to get over the drubbing.
- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit team has won their series and will play CSKA in the next round of the KHL playoffs. The best-of-seven begins on Friday.
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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 Saturday 3/24 at 8am.
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