Game night is Western Canada as the Predators invade Vancouver for the third of their four game Canadian roadie. It is the first game of a back-to-back finishing tomorrow night in Calgary. The Predators appear to be getting well, posting points in three of their past four games and looking for their first three game win streak since October 17-22 when the Preds took down Ottawa, Tampa and Anaheim in succession.
This is the first meeting of the season between Vancouver and Nashville, these two teams tangle two more times in March. The Canucks are hurting a bit, former Predator defenseman Dan Hamhuis is still out with a facial fracture he sustained in December. Hamhuis has resumed practicing with the team and hopes to return sometime after the All-Star break. Henrik Sedin is also out tonight and won’t be back in the Vancouver lineup until after the break as well. The Canucks are expecting Brandon Sutter to return to the lineup tonight after missing 33 games with a sports hernia, he will skate on the top line in place of Sedin.
There is reason for optimism in Pred Nation. Pekka Rinne has stopped 49 of 51 shots on this road trip and allowed only one goal in each, first time he’s done that since mid-November. As these two games passed, you saw his confidence return as moved with better purpose in between the pipes and flashing the glove he is so famous for. These road wins have come the best way, with a combination of solid goaltending, opportunistic scoring and, for the most part, good defensive play from the entire team.
That trend will need to continue tonight if the Predators are to extend this little win streak. Nashville’s improved face off percentage will also help as Vancouver is not great in the circle… a stat that seems to drive the Canucks in giving up a lot of shots per game, a trend that should work in Nashville’s favor, always assuming that they continue to increase their net-front presence.
Another key for the Predators is special teams, which have dramatically improved. After struggling through much of December, the PK has really improved over the past six games, killing off 19 of 20 opportunities… since December 1st, the team has converted on 23.7 percent of their power play opportunities, a stretch that has raised their overall conversion rate to 20.6%, good for 8th in the NHL.
Brew up the coffee, it’s going to be a late one for Smashville, game time is 9pm central with coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee and the Predators Radio Network led by flagship station 102.5 the Game. Pre-game coverage on 102.5 begins at 8pm.
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Random Notes
- “Where They Stand… - Entering tonight’s play, the Nashville Predators stand 6th in the Central Division 3 points behind Minnesota (1 game in hand) and Colorado (2 games in hand,) STL by 12 points (4 GIH) Dallas by 15 points (2 GIH) and Chicago by 18 points (4 GIH.) The Predators are also currently three points out of the second wild card slot.
- Tonight is a bit of a homecoming for Preds center Ryan Johansen who is a Vancouver native. He has nine points in his first eight games with Nashville.
- All-Star Week will see some favorites back in Music City, including the first head coach in Preds franchise history, Washington bench boss Barry Trotz, he will be warmly welcomed…
- Celebrity coaches have been named for each ASG team as Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Charles Kelley and Chris Young were named to participate. They will be behind the bench with NHL head coaches Gerard Gallant, Lindy Ruff, Darryl Sutter and Barry Trotz.
- Replacing the All-Star draft on Friday night will be an hour-long live special called NHL All-Star Friday Night: Live in Music City which will be hosted by Kimberly Perry (lead singer of The Band Perry) and NHL Network’s Kathryn Tappen. The show will originate from the Bridgestone Winter Park right next to the arena and the ice rink. Lots of music and player appearances…
- Nine games on the NHL schedule tonight (all start times CT) – 6pm – ANA @ BOS, NJD @ PIT. 6:30pm – CHI @ CAR, CBJ @ MTL, BUF @ OTT, TML @ FLA. 7pm – ARI @ WPG. 9pm – NSH @ VAN, COL @ SJS.
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------------------------------------- Season eight of SlapShot Radio is on! Usually, you can join us every Wednesday night at 7 on 102.5 the Game, however this week we have a special 6pm start time. Pete Weber and I preview the upcoming week and take a look back at the week that was. We have a special All-Star Game preview as we chat with the Puck Daddy Greg Wyshynski and Sportsnet’s Mark Spector is rescheduled from last week’s show.
Remember… Special start time of 6pm this week to accommodate Preds pre-game…
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