The Nashville Predators welcome the Los Angeles Kings to Smashville tonight for the final game before the Christmas break. Both teams are having a bit of an up-and-down season, both teams have had their road struggles, both teams have identical 4-4-2 records in their last ten and the winner of tonight’s tilt will head into the break in the playoff position… quite a bit on the line for a mid-season matchup.
The Kings have been without star goaltender Jonathan Quick, who has missed 31 games so far this season but have been riding a resurrection season from veteran goaltender Peter Budaj. Budaj has posted 14 wins this season and is currently one of the hotter goaltenders in the league, posting a .969 save percentage and a 0.97 GAA over his last three games, stopping 93 of 96 shots. That hot play has brought his season stats down to a 2.11 and a .916 over 28 games played.
Offensively, the mail is being carried by Jeff Carter with 16 goals and 10 assists, Tyler Toffoli has eight goals, Tanner Pearson has seven. Special teams may play a big role tonight as the Kings have gone seven straight games without allowing a power play goal, posting a perfect 20 for 20 on the penalty kill over that span. The other thing to look for… physical play. Los Angeles leads the league in hits by a large margin
Nashville is coming off their most successful road trip of the season, posting back-to-back wins in Philly and New Jersey. It is obvious that this team can play from behind, but does much better when initiating and playing on their toes. It limits the opportunities for bad giveaways in their own end. This is a team made for tenacious forechecking… if they aren’t doing it… trouble normally follows.
A key tonight will be the kind of fast start we saw Tuesday in New Jersey, the Kings are in the middle of nine consecutive games on the road, tonight being game six of their odyssey. So far posting a 2-2-1 record. They head home after the game for the Christmas break before travelling to Edmonton for the first game after the holiday.
Game time is 7pm.. . very limited tickets remain for this pre-holiday tilt. Coverage on 102.5 the Game (pregame starts at 6pm) with Pete Weber on the call… TV pregame starts at 6:30 with Willy Daunic and Stu Grimson on the mic come game time.
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Random Notes
- It has been a month of milestones for Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, posting his 250th NHL win back on 12/13 and recording his 12,000 save this past Monday in Philadelphia.
- Kudos to coach Peter Laviolette for his management of Pekka Rinne this season. The big Finn always reacts well to an extra day rest and Monday was no exception… Rinne got the extra day coming into tonight’s game as well.
- No update yet on PK Subban's status for tonight's game... he has missed the last three for Nashville.
- The Predators and Bridgestone Arena is sponsoring a blood drive tonight from 4p – 8p benefiting the American Red Cross.
- Nice article from John Glennon on five top prospects for Nashville. Three of them will most probably participate in this year’s World Juniors.
- Viktor Arvidsson is now tied for the team lead in points with 23 after his three assist night in New Jersey.
- Keep an eye on Filip Forsberg tonight… with three goals in his past five games, he is heating up at the right time.
- Ten games in the NHL tonight, all times CST – 6pm - CAR @ BUF, PHI @ NJD, PIT @ CBJ. 6:30pm - MIN @ MTL, ANA @ OTT, STL @ TBL, BOS @ FLA. 7pm – LAK @ NSH. 8pm – TOR @ COL. 9pm - WPG @ VAN.
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