Congratulations to the Villanova Wildcats on a spectacular win last night in the NCAA Championship game… Thrillanova indeed!
The last five days of the Nashville Predators regular season is upon us, playoff position is set as the Preds have the first wild card spot in the West and will face the Pacific Division champion in the first round. Tonight’s opponent has been a thorn in Pred Nation’s side this season as Colorado has won three of four against the Preds. The Avalanche have a tragic number of two… which means that a loss in regulation tonight will clinch the playoffs for Minnesota and eliminate the Av’s. Colorado is also eliminated with a regulation win from the Wild tonight or if Minnesota loses in OT and the Preds win in OT. Convoluted, but there it is.
Colorado will miss the playoffs for the second straight year and will regress in total points for the second consecutive year as well. After four straight losses at home, the Avalanche may be ready for a little road trip. The one bright spot is Matt Duchene scoring his 30th of the year in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to St. Louis, although the celebration of that milestone quickly brought the rain from Avs head coach Patrick Roy who ripped the team for their celebration of Duchene's accomplishment after the game. I expect Colorado to come out firing tonight and Nashville needs to be ready.
Ahhh… be ready to start a game… we haven’t seen that in Smashville since the Easter Eve destruction of Columbus. Funny… that was the last time the Preds posted a win as well. Four straight losses has memories of last season’s stumble to the finish dancing in Pred Nation’s heads. It’s time to banish those memories with a couple of wins to finish strong. That needs to starts tonight.
The good news is that the Predators look to get a couple of defensemen back as both Anthony Bitetto and Ryan Ellis practiced with the team. Bitetto was quoted that he would “be ready for Game 1,… but would like to get a game in before the playoffs. Ellis said that he was ready to return but was unsure that he would be in the lineup tonight. Forward Cody Bass was called up from Milwaukee as Miikka Salomaki is “day-to-day… and did not practice yesterday. We will get a better idea on lineup after this morning’s skate.
It’s time to get ready for the playoffs… Game time is 7pm central, very limited tickets remain for tonight’s showdown with coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee, 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network.
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Random Notes
- “Where They Stand… – Entering tonight’s play, the Nashville Predators are locked at the 4 slot in the Central Division with 92 points. The Predators have clinched the first wild card slot. Minnesota can clinch the second wild card slot with a regulation win tonight or a Colorado loss in regulation.
- Opponent Watch - First round opponent chances (per SportsClubStats) – Los Angeles – 53.9%, Anaheim – 45.6%. Los Angeles remaining games – Tonight @ CGY, Thursday vs. ANA, Saturday vs. WPG. Anaheim remaining games – Tonight vs. WPG, Thursday @ LAK, Saturday @ COL, Sunday @ WSH.
- While Nashville avoiding the Central Division in the first two rounds is a good thing, the travel out West is not a great thing. Especially if the Preds end up in the second round. We’ve seen this before
- Nashville first round opponent could come down to Sunday night’s makeup game between Anaheim and Washington, however… if Los Angeles wins out, the will take the division. Thursday night’s showdown in LA will be a good one.
- Injuries could be a major factor in the race for the Pacific, Anaheim has sustained a substantial amount of injuries over the past week, losing forward David Perron, goalie Frederik Andersen. Forward Rickard Rakell and blueliner Hampus Lindholm. While Lindholm and Rakell will be back in time for the playoffs, Andersen sustained a concussion with no return timetable and Perron will be out for at least four – six weeks.
- If Nashville gets LA as their first round opponent they will not play on the first day of the playoffs (4/13) as the Lakers are scheduled to play at Staples Center. I would expect the series to begin on Thursday... game two perhaps on Saturday which would put game three at Bridgestone Arena on Monday 4/18. If the first round opponent is Anaheim, I would expect a Wednesday/Friday game 1&2 and Alan Jackson is scheduled at Honda Center on Saturday 4/16. That would open up the series to a Sunday game at Bridgestone Arena.
- Eleven games in the NHL tonight, all times central – 6pm – CAR @ BOS, BUF @ NJD, NYI @ WSH. 6:30pm – TBL @ NYR, FLA @ MTL, PIT @ OTT. 7pm – COL @ NSH, SJS @ MIN. 7:30pm – ARI @ CHI 8pm – LAK @ CGY. 9pm – WPG @ ANA. ------------------------------------
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