Quite a few lessons learned last night in Nashville 1-0 win over Vegas. The primary one could be that this Predators team does learn… after two losses to the expansion darlings, they played rope-a-dope last night with Vegas… matched their skating, matched their work ethic, then flipped the script on them and converted an opportunity when it presented itself. Kevin Fiala’s “johnny-on-the-spot… goal 8 minutes into the third period was exactly what the doctor ordered.
And frankly… it frustrated the hell out of the Knights. I’ve watched quite a few Vegas games and I really haven’t seen them get frustrated, but as last night’s game went deeper into the frigid Nashville night, the Knights lost a little of their structure, got chippy and showed… at least to this observer… that they may not have another gear to kick it into. That may not be good news for a market whose expectations are being raised through the roof. Granted… it’s only one data point, but it was the first real chink I have seen in the Knight’s … ummm… ok… I’ll go here… it the first real chink in the Knight’s armor (sorry… couldn’t resist.)
And let’s face it… Juuse Saros was the main frustration point for Vegas… just another example of how Nashville “out-Vegas’d… Vegas last night. Saros was masterful in net, calm, cool and completely playing within himself. Nashville is watching their next starting goaltender mature before their eyes.
The other lessons learned last night? Well, Nashville’s resilience is back… the team started the game with 2/3 of the JOFA line on IR… and ended it with the third member of their top line unable to return to the game… didn’t matter… next man up. Oh… and to those who texted me that the arena may be empty last night due to the snow… nope… full house. Another lesson learned… a little snow and ice ain’t keeping Smashville away.
One more… Peter Laviolette is a brilliant head coach. It was reconfirmed through his decision to start Saros last night. While the team was on the bye week, Saros was in Milwaukee, playing three games and staying sharp. While a lot of folks were scratching their heads as to why Saros started last night and Rinne didn’t… it was a decided advantage to have a sharp netminder. Rinne will have a few practices under his belt and by the time he takes the net tomorrow night, he will be rested, sharp and ready for the final 39 game sprint. Watch this tactic get used by other coaches going forward.
So the good news is that Nashville used one of their games-in-hand to pick up two critical points on Winnipeg, giving Nashville a chance to take over the top slot in the Central before the Jets get back from their bye week on Saturday.
I suppose we need to get to the bad news. Ryan Johansen’s status… which as of this writing… is unknown. I didn’t get a good look at the play live… but, in watching the replay later... I didn't like the way Joey went down, it just didn’t look good. I am only hoping that it looked worse that it actually was. You can debate the hit… there was head contact, no one can question that. It looked a lot like the hit that the Duck’s Andrew Cogliano got two games for, but that one is up to the league.
The Predators continue their payback homestand tomorrow night against the Arizona Coyotes and they will be looking for a little revenge from their loss in Glendale two weeks ago.
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“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 stand second in the Central Division with 58 points, one point behind Winnipeg (3 GIH) and one point ahead of St. Louis (4 GIH) … the Preds lead Dallas (3 GIH) by three points and Los Angeles (1 GIH) by five points.
Impact games tonight (all times Central) – 9pm – PIT @ ANA.
Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are now at 97.1% after yesterday’s play.
The Playoff Point Line - I look at the point level needed for a 75%+ chance to make the playoffs… right now, it stands at 96-97 points.
Western Conference Teams on Bye Week - Winnipeg, Calgary, Minnesota, Chicago, Edmonton, Vancouver.
Playoff odds and playoff point line courtesy of SportsClubStats.com
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Random Notes
- No SlapShot Radio tonight, the player show takes over… we will be back on Saturday morning at 8am.
- But there will be hockey talk… I will be joining Ryan Porth for the whole hour tonight on Preds Insiders… tune in at 6pm on 102.5 the Game or listen online at thegamenashville.com … then the player show at 7pm and Penalty Box Radio at 8pm… no one in middle Tennessee knows or covers hockey like 102.5 the Game.
- There is a real possibility that the entire JOFA line may end up on IR at the same time. Forsberg’s return is still looking like post-All-Star break… Arvidsson’s return can come as early as Thursday, but no timetable has been given.
- You can’t say enough about Saros’ performance over the last few months. Last night was his second 40 plus save shutout of the season. In his past nine appearances, Saros is 5-0-3 with a 1.53 GAA and a .956 Save Percentage. (S/T to Adam Vingan for the stats)
- Saros has four shutouts in four of his last six appearances.
- Vegas has posted back-to-back losses for the first time since the end of November.
- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit team is in action today. Tolvanen has 17 goals and 16 assists in 42 games.
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------------------------------------- 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.
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