The Predators begin a back-to-back tonight in Edmonton against the resurgent Oilers. This has been an incredibly disappointing season for the Oil after going two rounds deep in the playoffs last year, expectations were high… and have been dashed by injuries and under-performance. Edmonton comes into tonight’s game winners in four of their last six, including a three-game win streak that was snapped on Tuesday night by San Jose. As the calendar turns to March, they find themselves with 58 points, 16 points out of a playoff spot with five teams to leapfrog. Their chances of making the playoffs are very small… let’s put it this way… they need to go 19-0-0 to get 96 points and a 91% chance of making the second season.
So you are saying there’s a chance…
The Predators hit town after a crazy win in Winnipeg Tuesday night, with all the confidence that win and others like it inspires. This team simply doesn’t believe it is ever out of a game… and proves it almost every night. Nashville is looking for its sixth consecutive win tonight after a February that was simply “meh.… You really can’t tell that from the results… 10-2-2 is a monthly record every team would take… but inside that record was a two week streak of crazy comebacks, overtime points and so-so play that could’ve cost this team dearly… but it didn’t. Good teams win games like that.
March begins for the Predators with the team standing first in the conference, tied in points with Vegas, but with an all-important game-in-hand. Tonight is the first of four remaining back-to-backs in the season, so we know we will see Juuse Saros in one of these games. Probably tomorrow in Vancouver as Pekka Rinne has an outstanding record against the Oilers, especially in Edmonton.
The offense has exploded for 25 goals in this win streak, while holding their opponents to 10… and five of those came in Tuesday’s game. Nashville’s focus needs to be coming through this month with a head of steam that takes them into April and the second season with the momentum needed for a deep run.
Edmonton is opening a five game home stand tonight and is just looking to figure some things out for next year… what moves need to made defensively? Is Cam Talbot really their #1 goaltender? What pieces are missing in order to surround a generational talent with the tools needed for success. The soap opera in Oil Country is just beginning…
Game time is 8pm central, pregame gets going at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and 7:30 on Fox Sports Tennessee.
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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 are first in the Central Division with 87 points, leading Winnipeg (1 GIH) by four points and eight points ahead of Minnesota (1 GIH) … the Preds lead Dallas (1 GIH) by eleven points and Anaheim (2 GIH) by thirteen. The Predators are tied in points with Vegas (1 GIH) however, due to tie breakers, the Predators now lead the Western Conference.
Impact games tonight (all times Central) – 7:30pm – TBL @ DAL. 8pm – MIN @ ARI.
Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are at 99.99%, they need 9 points in 20 games to get to the 96 point line.
The Playoff Point Line - I look at the point level needed for at least a 75%+ chance to make the playoffs… the weekend’s play saw a shift here… right now, 96 points gets you at 77% chance of making the playoffs, 95 gets you a 57.2% chance.
Playoff odds and playoff point line courtesy of SportsClubStats.com
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Random Notes
- The Predators now have three 20 goal scorers this season, Craig Smith, Kevin Fiala and Viktor Arvidsson. Filip Forsberg will join that group shortly as he is at 17.
- The Predators are looking to complete a season sweep of Edmonton, they beat the Oil 4-0 in Edmonton on December 14 and 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena on January 9.
- Big win for the St. Louis Blues last night, stopping their seven game slide with a win over Detroit. That win tied the Blues in points with Anaheim for the last wild card slot. Anaheim has a game-in-hand over St. Louis.
- Don’t count out the Avalanche yet… They have games-in-hand on everyone they are chasing and the Av’s are only ne point out of the last wild card slot.
- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit team finishes their regular season today with a tilt against Dinamo Riga. The KHL playoffs begin next week, Jokerit will be a 3 seed.
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Last night’s SlapShot Radio
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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 March 10th at 8am due to Predators Live players show on Wednesday.
We have been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives results at a reasonable price. Just ask our sponsors… including day one sponsor Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762, Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799, and TurfMasters… check out their great service at TurfMasters.com. Also… The Crag… Nashville’s premiere location for indoor rock climbing. Newton Dominey and his awesome crew have a great location in Cool Springs and they have opened a new location in South Nashville at the corner of Old Hickory Blvd and Nolensville Rd. Check out their website at ILoveRockClimbing.com If you’ve never done it before… you need to try, they specialize on helping first timers.
We are also happy to welcome our latest sponsor… Patrick 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… reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great preseason advertising deals available for our tenth season when you email me at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
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.
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