Game three in Smashville is an afternoon affair on the mother ship… actual NBC is in Nashville. It’s a rare occurrence, so welcome to Music City! The series between St. Louis and Nashville has been chippy, nasty and getting nastier. The play behind the play has been getting increasingly dirty from both teams and the team of referees will have their hands full keeping control of a series that has escalated quickly.
As I noted in yesterday’s blog, game three can be considered the pivotal game in a seven game series when tied 1-1… according to Elias, the winner of game three goes on to win the series 67% of the time.
I will come right out and say it… Nashville is lucky to be tied 1-1 in this series. They have been outplayed 5 on 5, shown some undisciplined play and haven’t played the game that got them to the second round. Nashville needs to get back to the speed game, the quick out, possession, establish zone time. That is the hockey that swept the Stanley Cup favorite. That is the hockey that needs to be played for the rest of this series.
Want another reason for worry Pred Nation? St. Louis has been excellent on the road since Mike Yeo took over the reins as bench boss… and since March 5th… the Blues are an incredible 12-1-1 on the road, outscoring the competition 42-21. They were undefeated in Xcel Energy Center during the first round. Now, Bridgestone Arena has been a hostile environment for road teams… including the playoffs, the Preds are 26-9-8 this season, so this is a case of irresistible force meeting immovable object.
The Blues will be focused on taking Smashville out of the game… Nashville will be focused on harnessing that energy to take a 2-1 lead in this series.
Let’s face it… St. Louis has delivered their game… Nashville has not… the Predators need to step up their game to where Smashville knows it can be… where it was in the first round. Quotes from yesterday’s practice indicate the team knows it has another gear and that it needs to be engaged… from the jump.
Game three is a 2pm start time. There’s a plaza party that starts at 11am, doors open at noon. We have a few surprises for you for pregame so be in your seats early. Coverage begins with pregame on 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network at 1pm. TV joins the coverage at 2pm on NBC, channel 4 in Nashville.
It’s going to be crazy…
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The gauntlet has been thrown down from my fellow blogger in St. Louis, Jason Millen. We will make a small wager on this series… losing team’s blogger makes a donation to the winning team’s blogger charity of choice…
Mine will be Best Buddies of Tennessee… a charity very familiar to fans of the fang…
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Round Two
Eastern Conference
NYR vs OTT – OTT leads 2-0 - Game three is Tuesday night in New York
WSH vs PIT – PIT leads 2-0 - Game three is tomorrow night in Pittsburgh
Western Conference
STL vs. NSH – Series tied 1-1 - Game three is today in Nashville
ANA vs. EDM – EDM leads 2-0 - Game three is tonight in Edmonton
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Playoff Random Notes
- The Predators called up Frederick Gaudreau as the black aces begin to take shape. Gaudreau had 25 goals for the Admirals in his 66 AHL games this past season.
- Let’s see if the Predators can finish a game with a full complement of forwards as they have played four of the six periods so far with only 11 forwards.
- Since we know that there will be a game 5 in this series, the NHL released the start time for that game… 7pm central at Scottrade Center this coming Friday.
- What a comeback for the Ottawa Senators yesterday… the Rangers are in some serious trouble right now and the Senators dark horse status is growing…
- The Washington Capitals need to charge the Pittsburgh Penguins rent for the space they are taking up in their heads… the Pens are going through the Caps like a hot knife through butter. This one may be done in four…
- Two game in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs today – 2pm – STL @ NSH (NBC). 6pm – ANA @ EDM (NBCSN)
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