It’s Hockey Night in Smashville as the Jekyll and Hyde Nashville Predators welcome the New York Rangers to Music City for a Saturday night donnybrook. Tonight also marks the first visit to Smashville of one Jimmy Vesey, y’know… the gentleman of Harvard (/sarcasm off) that decided to take four years of free development, nutritional and conditioning coaching, give all indications that he would sign, then decide to ply his trade somewhere else, managing to aggravate the fan bases of four different markets in just a few short months. That has to be some kind of record… oh, and before you go there…
Spare me the “he’s just a kid… crap.
Vesey is a Harvard educated, 22 year old man who made a decision that, to be fair, was well within his rights. He exploited a loophole in the CBA for players that decide to play all four years in college. It may have been within his rights… but it wasn’t right. I expect his welcome in Music City to reflect something a little less than Southern hospitality…
So, you wonder what Nashville team shows up tonight… the one that put a touchdown on the St. Louis Blues… or the one that couldn’t seem to get the equalizer Thursday night against Minnesota? This team is an enigma defensively, but after a discussion with the Voice of the Predators, Pete Weber on today’s SlapShot Radio, we may have put our finger on the issue.
I made the comment to Pete that I wondered where the defense from Tuesday night went in Thursday’s game against the Wild… he stated that the team spent more time in the offensive zone on Tuesday night… and it dawned on me… that is the key to this team. For so long we have talked about how defensively sound this Nashville Predators team is, but the reality is, it hasn’t been as sound as five man units over the last few seasons, going back to the last two under Barry Trotz… as the team has gotten more skilled offensively, the defensive play has not been as tight. While shot limitation has been there, the defensive errors have seemed to increase and magnify… look no further than the last two minutes of the first period on Thursday.
It’s been a bit of an adjustment in my thinking… so tonight, I will look for possession and puck control in the offensive zone and limiting the errors in their own zone, that appears to be the key.
For the Rangers, I will be curious to see how Henrik Lunqvist is after the incredibly dirty hit he took from Dallas’ Cody Eakin on Thursday. A hit that drew a four game suspension from the NHL DPS. All word from the Ranger camp is that King Henrik is OK and will be ready to go. Pekka Rinne should get the nod for the Preds, but I do expect to see Juuse Saros get a start either Monday or Tuesday in the Preds next back-to-back set.
It’s a 7pm start in Smashville and today is the official 20th anniversary of the opening of Bridgestone Arena. Coverage begins at 6pm on the Predators Radiop Network flagship 102.5 the Game, pregame starts at 6:30 on Fox Sports Tennessee. Very limited tickets remain for tonight’s matchup.
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Random Notes
- Viktor Arvidsson is looking to get his five game point streak alive tonight. The forward has six points over the streak.
- The Fisher/Wilson/Arvidsson line has been a revaltion for the Preds, adding scoring punch to the third line that this team hasn’t seen very often.
- Looking for a cool present for the hockey player in your life? Maybe get them registered for the Preds Alumni Fantasy Camp? Sign up to be able to skate with Preds alumni, coaches and broadcast team members. Go to the Preds website for more information.
- Good heavens, the win streaks in the NHL… Pittsburgh’s was snapped at seven yesterday, Philly’s is at 10, Columbus is on an 8 game win streak, Washington and Minnesota both own 6 game win streaks.
- If you haven’t seen the Penguins send up on Elf… well… you gotta.
Don’t be a cotton-headed ninny-muggins. Watch the Penguins’ Elf video and have a great holiday! pic.twitter.com/VtERlL85BW
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 17, 2016
- Ten games in the NHL today, all times CST – 1pm – PHI @ DAL, ARI @ MIN. 6pm – PIT @ TOR, NJD @ OTT, ANA @ DET, MTL @ DET, BUF @ CAR. 7pm – CHI @ STL, NYR @ NSH. 9pm – TBL @ EDM.
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