Game Night in Smashville as the Predators host the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena. It is the beginning of a crucial four game home stand may determine the make-up of this team as this season proceeds as the NHL’s holiday roster freeze kicks in at midnight tonight.
There is clear frustration at 501 Broadway, that is to be sure. This four week November – December swoon is eerily similar to the February – April dive the team took heading into the playoffs last season… the main difference is in the stats… maybe this is the exception that proves the #fancystats are legit…
Tonight’s showdown with Minnesota has direct impact on the divisional and playoff races, the Predators are clinging to the last playoff spot in the West, but their cushion is almost completely gone. When this started, the Predators had a nine point cushion on Colorado… that’s down to three. They were tied with the Wild, they now trail Minnesota by four points and the Wild have 2 games in hand. All of that is not even considering the improvements the Pacific Division have made, Vancouver is only four points back, Arizona and Edmonton (!) are only 6 back. The Predators now have gone negative in goal differential.
OMG… just pack it in and go home… wait, what? There’s 50 games left in the season heading onto tonight? Well… that’s a horse of a different color.
Turning the corner gets more important with each passing game… tonight the Preds take on a Wild team that has posted points in their last nine games, scored 11 goals in their past two games… including five (count ‘em) five power play goals. Given the team’s rather inept PK lately… they HAVE to stay out of the box tonight.
The Predators are on a three game losing streak and should be desperate to avoid a season long four game stretch. I have to admit… I like the more vocal Shea Weber lately… he got vocal before the Chicago game last Thursday and the team responded… let’s hope they do the same tonight.
Game time is 7pm with coverage on 102.5 the Game and Fox Sports Tennessee.
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Random Notes
- All-Star Voting Update – Shea Weber drops to #26 in overall vote getters and has dropped to 8th in the Central race for captain of the team. Other Preds… Roman Josi is at #48, Pekka Rinne at #57, Filip Forsberg at #89. You can vote up to 10 times a day at the NHL’s All-Star Voting Site
- Free golden beanies tonight!
- Adam Vingan has a really solid breakdown comparing last season’s 21 game slump to this season’s 15 (so far.)
- The Preds four day holiday break that begins after the Habs game Monday could be just the ticket for this team to recover…
- SlapShot Radio is now on twice a week. Wednesday at 7pm and catch the replay at 8am Saturday mornings on 102.5 the Game.
- Ten NHL games today (all start times CT) – Noon – CHI @ BUF. 2pm – CGY @ STL. 6pm – LAK @ TOR, ANA @ NJD, CAR @ PIT, PHI @ CBJ, MTL @ DAL. 7pm – MIN @ NSH. 8pm NYI @ ARI. 9pm – EDM @ COL.
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