I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday and were surrounded by food, fun and the love of family. We have so much to be grateful for in this world of ours, it is always nice to take a moment and reflect upon that.
The Predators are in St. Louis for a Gold Friday match up against the Blues, completing the back half of their home and home. Wednesday night’s game was an interesting affair. One that had some odd quirks, including three consecutive unassisted goals, some… shall we say, creative officiating… and a lot of fun had by the sold out Smashville crowd. Nashville will be looking to sweep the home and home and take their fourth consecutive win.
New coach Craig Berube had to be happy with the effort the Blues put forth on Thanksgiving Eve, but some key flaws remain on this team. The first and foremost one… attitude. You could see it… the Blues believed they were in the game until Filip Forsberg’s shortie in the second period… at that point, the Blues began looking for the roof to cave in… that happened on Austin Watson’s third period goal.
Twenty-two games into this season, the Predators seem to be approaching this season with a workman-like attitude. They are just doing the work… something doesn’t go their way? Go back to work… A losing streak hits? Work your way out of it… It is an attitude that will serve them well, especially come playoff time.
Pekka Rinne should be in net tonight for the Preds, Jake Allen, who has been pretty solid for St. Louis recently should be manning the net for the Blues.
I expect this one to get chippy early as these two teams showed no love for each other as Wednesday’s game progressed, division brothers going at each other. It has some real potential to get nasty tonight. Game time is 7pm, pregame gets going on the Predators Radio Network at 6pm, Fox Sports Tennesse gets going at 6:30pm. Game coverage on both media starts at 7. After tonight the Predators come home for another home stand, this one is five games, starting Sunday night at Bridgestone Arena against the Anaheim Ducks.
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American Thanksgiving is the next milepost when looking at playoff contention… a team in playoff position on Turkey Day is very likely to be there in April.
The playoff positions right now in the east are owned by Columbus, New York Rangers, Washington, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Buffalo, Boston and Montreal. In the West it’s Nashville, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Calgary, San Jose, Anaheim, Colorado and Dallas.
Bookmark this one… we’ll compare the results come playoff time.
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Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update – The Ad’s are back in action tonight after a Thanksgiving Eve win over Iowa ina shootout. Eeli Tolvanen was held off the scoresheet. Make sure to check out the SlapShot Radio podcast for an interesting interview with Ad’s head coach Karl Taylor as part of our “Down on the Farm… segment, sponsored by The Patrick J Brown Agency of Farmers Insurance. The Ad’s are in Grand Rapids tonight and host Rockford tomorrow night on their Hockey Fights Cancer night.
- Nice to see Ryan Ellis get his first of the year. Same with Austin Watson.
- Really good to see Freddie Gaudreau get his first regular season goal. When I was told that on Wednesday night, I had a hard time believing it.
- Pekka Rinne’s 320th career win points out something else… the 36 year old netminder is the defending Vexzina Trophy winner and if keeps up the level of play he has shown this season, he may do it again!
- The Big Finn is currently leading the NHL in Save Percentage at .944 and in Goals Against at 1.64, is third in wins and third in shutouts.
- NBC has the usual Thanksgiving Classic today… Philadelphia hosts the New York Rangers today… it’s a noon game time on Channel 4 locally.
- OK… I said that Buffalo was going to be better… but I didn’t expect this. They are one point out of the Eastern Conference lead! And only 3 points behind the Preds.
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ICYMI - Here is Tuesday's SlapShot Radio with a great interview with Karl Taylor, Admirals head coach.
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