Winning streaks are on the line tonight in Smashville as the Anaheim Ducks, owners of a three game win streak are in town to face the white-hot Nashville Predators, possessors of a nine game win streak. Immovable object… meet irresistible force. The Predators are looking for another season sweep as they have already won the first two games of the season series.
The Predators and Ducks have a history… and it’s a nasty one. The overall record between these two clubs? Dead even in the regular season. The playoffs? Well, the Predators have owned the Ducks in the playoffs, getting their first ever playoff series win against them in 2011. Beating them again in the first round in 2016, then taking them down for the conference championship last year. It is something that really sticks in the Ducks bill.
Anaheim will come in and play their normal style, one I have named “Well… they can’t call all of ‘em!… They will play chippy and nasty and pull crap behind the play and after the whistle. It’s just their MO. One of the reasons Nashville has their number in the postseason is that they don’t take the bait. In last year’s conference final, the Predators threw it right back in their face… and just like a bully normally does, the Ducks crumbled.
So, that should be the strategy again… they know what crap will be pulled tonight and it will be up to the Predators to skate this team into the ground. You can’t hit what you can’t catch.
It’s a cast of characters that Pred Nation is well familiar… Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaff, Ryan Kesler, Kevin Bieksa. The Ducks are led in scoring by Rickard Rakell, who has 28 goals so far, and Adam Henrique, who has potted 20. In net, expect John Gibson who has been posting some solid stats this season.
For Nashville, it’s probably Pekka Rinne in net, but who knows… Peter Laviolette could throw a curve ball and put Juuse Saros between the pipes… we do expect to see him start one of the games in this home stand. The Predators have consistent scoring up and down the lines, led by Viktor Arvidsson’s 24 goals, Kevin Fiala’s 21 and Craig Smith’s 20. The Predators also have a few more knocking on the 20 door in Filip Forsberg’s 18, Calle Jarnkrok’s 16 and PK Subban’s 15. This team is a nightmare to scheme against with such strength up and down the lineup.
Prepare for a battle tonight… a greasy, gritty, nasty, bloody battle at Bridgestone Arena… game time is 7pm, coverage starts with pregame on 102.5 the Game at 6pm, Fox Sports Tennessee gets pregame going at 6:30pm.
------------------------------------
“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 95 points, leading Winnipeg (0 GIH) by six points and twelve points ahead of Minnesota (1 GIH) … The Predators lead the Western Conference, holding a six point lead over Vegas (0 GIH.) The Predators trail Tampa Bay (1 GIH) by one point in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.
Impact games tonight (all times Central) – 6pm – WPG @ NJD. 6:30pm – VGK @ DET, NYR @ TBL.
Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are at 99.997%, they need 1 point in their last 16 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 numbers are becoming more volatile… right now, 96 points gets you at 76.7% chance of making the playoffs, 95 gets you a 54.1% chance.
Playoff odds and playoff point line courtesy of SportsClubStats.com
------------------------------------
Random Notes
- The Predators surpassed last season’s point total with their win on Tuesday.
- During this nine-game win streak, the Preds are averaging 4.33 goals per game, 37.4 shots per game and have converted on 24% of their power play opportunities.
- There will be a pre-game ceremony to honor David Poile’s amazing achievement of setting a new wins record for NHL GM’s.
- There has been a lot of talk about Vezina for Rinne… but the Predators also have two contenders for the Norris. Both PK Subban and Roman Josi deserve consideration. Subban leads all NHL defensemen in goals and holds the 4th spot in points among NHL blueliners. Josi is first among NHL defensement in power play goals and fourth in shots on goal.
- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit team took game four in their best of seven against HC Sochi. Jokerit now leads the series 3-1. Tolvanen tallied his third of the playoffs in the 3-2 OT win. Jokerit can close out the series tomorrow night at the Bolsoi Ice Dome in Sochi.
------------------------------------
------------------------------------- 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 at 8am due to Predators Live on Wednesday at 7pm.
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.
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.
-------------------------------------
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