Starting tonight, the Nashville Predators begin one of tougher back-to-backs in the 2015-16 season as they take on Boston tonight and Chicago tomorrow on the road. The Preds then return home for the back half of the home and home with the Blackhawks. Nashville, barely hanging on to the last playoff spot in the West, are on a streak of hockey that has seen them go 3-5-2 over their last ten and have caused alarm bells to sound across Pred Nation.
I have been trying to remember that every team will hit this kind of a skid during an 82 game season and frankly… I’d rather see it now than in March, but that is cold comfort. This team can be maddening to watch. A penalty kill that is bordering on inept, a frustratingly inconsistent blueline and an offense that goes cold as a group. That has been the fate of Predator fans watching this team over the past few weeks.
So… what does this team need to do, starting tonight against a Bruins team that has been playing some very solid hockey over the past few weeks. The advice may be a little conflicted, but here we go…
- Frankie Say… Relax – One of the issues with this team has been squeezing the stick, as evidenced by the number of posts hit over the last ten games, certainly a sign of a team that is pushing a little too hard. This group of Preds simply don’t seem to be having any fun out there… offense needs to flow, from hard work… and fun.
- Tighten Up - So, while the team needs to relax offensively, they need to tighten up a lot defensively. The penalty kill has been horrid, the break out sloppy and missed assignments have led to way too many bad goals.
That’s it… those two things solve a world of issues for Nashville. If it were only that simple.
The Bruins come into tonight’s game having earned points in their last eight games, going 6-0-2 in that span, but the B’s have a sub-.500 record at home and have lost 2 of their last three in OT. The Bruins power play is lethal, converting at a 30%+ clip, so staying out of the box will be key for a Predators team giving up power play goals in bunches.
This is Boston’s first game home after a western Canada trip. Game time is 6pm and coverage is on Fox Sports Tennessee, 102.5 the Game and the NHL Network.
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Random Notes
- All-Star Voting Update - Shea Weber has moved up to #27 in overall vote getters which is good for 6th in the Central race for captain of the team. Other Preds… Roman Josi at 51, Pekka Rinne at 55, Filip Forsberg at 82 and James Neal at 98. You can vote up to 10 times a day at the NHL’s All-Star Voting Site
- Shea Weber’s hat trick on Saturday was a real bright spot for the Preds, blowing a two goal lead wasn’t though…
- The Wild will be without Devan Dubnyk tonight against Colorado with what is being termed as a “mild groin sprain.… Is there such a thing? :-)
- The NHL Board of Governors will meet today and tomorrow with expansion and a few rules changes expected to rule the agenda.
- I do expect the BOG to take up the much maligned compensation rule for fired executive personnel. Any changes to that rule would not take effect until after 1/1/16.
- Three NHL games tonight (all start times CT) – 6pm – NSH @ BOS. 8pm – MIN @ COL. 9pm – BUF @ VAN.
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