It’s Game Night in New Jersey as the Predators are in Newark to take on the Devils. The Predators will be trying to wash the taste of a third period collapse out of their mouths and get back on the winning track, the Devils are also looking for a little redemption by putting the brakes on a two game losing streak. The big story of this game could be the injury situation for both teams.
New Jersey may be missing five key players as Travis Zajac and Corey Schnieder are questionable for tonight along with Devils on IR Jesper Bratt, Steve Santini and Ben Lovejoy. The Predators IR list is growing as Pekka Rinne and now Dan Hamhuis are on the list. Rinne left last Friday’s game in Calgary in the third period and Hamhuis left Tuesday’s loss to San Jose after playing three shifts in the second period. No details on either injury have been shared.
The best insight into this game may have come from some discussions that former assistant coach Brent Peterson had with several members of the Devils hockey ops department. ON last night's SlapShot Radio he shared that it’s all about the work ethic with the Devils. Their wins have come when they have simply outworked their opponents, an effort that is difficult to replicate night after night.
The Devils are led in scoring by … let me check that… really? Kyle Palmieri? Nah… I mean Palmieri is a solid player but... (checks stats) well I’ll be… Palmieri has scored seven times in six games and Taylor Hall only once? Strange days indeed. The Devils are also getting some solid production from Brian Boyle and Keith Kincaid has been very, very good filling in for Corey Schnieder.
The Predators have one of the hottest lines in hockey as the JoFA line has 28 points in their first nine games. The FiST line is starting to round into shape and Juuse Saros has been really good so far this season. The defense has been solid, but still not quite where they need to be when it comes to managing the puck and the occasional ill-advised pinch. And… of course, I went into the special teams issues in yesterday’s blog.
I know I will be watching for how this team responds to Tuesday night’s third period meltdown. These are the kinds of lessons a team needs to learn as a season goes on if they are to make a deep playoff run, let alone a championship. Learn that lesson and Tuesday night’s loss has worth.
Game time is 6pm central time, pregame gets going at 5pm on 102,5 the Game, 5:30pm on Fox Sports Tennessee. Game coverage begins on both media at 6pm. This is a one game roadie as the Preds are back in town for a Saturday matinee against Edmonton.
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Last night’s SlapShot Radio
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Random Notes
- Nice to see the love being shown to Jordin Tootoo as he announces his retirement from the NHL. Always a great guy and I am looking forward to his return to Smashville on 2/2.
- Heck of a hockey game last night in Winnipeg. The Leafs are a scary team right now.
- Finally a few losses in the Central as both Colorado and Winnipeg lost last night. Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis and Minnesota are in action tonight.
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