After a weekend of fun in LA, it’s time for the NHL to get back to work. The Nashville Predators are back in action in Pittsburgh tonight with a challenging roadie against the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins. Nashville is hoping to close out January by continuing where they left off, with points in eight of their last nine games. The Penguins want to reverse their fortunes as they went into the break with a rare two game losing streak.
The road has been far kinder to the Predators over the last few weeks after a horrendous start away from Bridgestone Arena, the team can get their road record back to .500 with a win tonight, but that will be no easy task against one of the best teams in the league. I will say it… in the few times I have watched the Penguins they have looked scary good… unstoppable offensively even. Any team that boasts the firepower of this Penguin team should be considered as such.
That is not to say they are unbeatable.
Defensively, the Penguins have been OK and goaltending is still a question. On the blueline, Pittsburgh has seen some significant injuries which has impacted their chemistry (sound familiar?) Between the pipes, will it be Matt Murray, who has been inconsistent at best this season or Marc-Andre Fluery who would have to improve his game to be called inconsistent. That being said, these are still two very talented goaltenders that have shown the ability to get on a roll and carry a team.
From Nashville’s side, they continue to repair and retool pieces of their game. This is a different team defensively, much more solid than they have shown over the last 12-15 months. Once Roman Josi is able to return to the lineup, this blueline appears to be ready to live up to its reputation as one of the best in the league.
Offensively, the Preds have finally got their act together. Adding a little sandpaper to the lineup seems to have helped the team up and down the lines. Filip Forsberg is scoring regularly and James Neal seems to have fully recovered from his injury and has regained his touch. The energy of Viktor Arvidsson and the grit of the 4th line has made a real difference.
On the injury front, the Penguins list Kris Letang on IR (Letang practiced yesterday though) and Pittsburgh media is reporting Matt Cullen with a broken foot but he is still listed on the roster as of this writing. Nashville still lists Petter Granberg, Miikka Salomaki and Roman Josi on IR… but Josi participated in practice yesterday before the team left for Pittsburgh, no information available if Josi accompanied the team, we will find that out at day-of-game skate.
This is a very tough matchup to begin the stretch run with, starting off on the road… in Pittsburgh no less… A tough challenge for the Predators indeed. Game time is 6pm central. Pregame starts at 5pm on 102.5 the Game and 5:30 on Fox Sports Tennessee… game coverage begins at 6 on both media.
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Random Notes
- Where We Stand – As play resumes tonight, the Nashville Predators have 56 points in 49 games played and stand 3rd in the Central Division. Nashville trails the division leading Minnesota Wild by 13 points (-1 GIH) and 2nd place Chicago by 9 points with two games in hand. Nashville leads 4th place St. Louis by three points, the Blues are in the first Wild Card slot, Calgary is in the second slot, tied with the Blues in points, St. Louis has three games in hand over the Flames.
- Nashville has 33 games remaining in the season, 17 home, 16 away.
- The Predators have five sets of back-to-backs remaining… three consecutive weekends of them beginning on 2/11.
- I wonder what is going through David Poile’s brain right now regarding adds to this team as we approach the trade deadline? Another top six forward? Maybe… A solid seventh veteran defenseman? Maybe… I have a feeling that standing pat may be the best thing here as the chemistry just seems to be coming together, unless injuries dictate a move.
- You knew it was going to be short lived, but the Barclay Center experiment for the New York Islanders appears to be over. Now the scramble for the high ground… The Islanders hasn’t been happy there since moving… it’s a terrible arena for hockey… hopefully the Islanders get a better home, they and their fans deserve it.
- 14 games in the NHL tonight, all times CST – 6pm – WSH @ NYI, CBJ @ NYR, NSH @ PIT, PHI @ CAR. 6:30pm – BUF @ MTL, NJD @ DET, BOS @ TBL, OTT @ FLA. 7pm – WPG @ STL. 7:30pm – TOR @ DAL. 8pm – MIN @ EDM, LAK @ ARI. 9pm – COL @ ANA. 9:30pm – CHI @ SJS.
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