It is Game Night in Smashville as the Nashville Predators get their first look at the Calgary Flames. A team that has been on a tear lately after a very poor start to the season. Winners of five straight and seven of their last ten, the Flames are looking to even up their record at .500 and close in on a playoff position that they are only two points out of going into tonight’s play.
The Predators, on the other hand, are looking for some consistency in their game. It is fairly simple… come out with some jump… start fast… and good things happen. Come out flat, and this team has shown that it struggles a bit to overcome it. Never was that more clear than the last two games. Against Chicago, the Preds burned from bar one and exerted their will on the defending Stanley Cup champs. Saturday, well… not so much against the bottom of the division.
The Falmes offense has woken up over the past five games at home, scoring an average of 4.44 goals per game. Led by Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monihan, this team, when it is firing on all cylinders plays a run and gun style that is exciting to watch and difficult to contain. While the Preds have been maddeningly inconsistent on both ends of the ice.
Expect Kari Ramo back between the pipes for Calgary, the Flames netminder missed their last two games fighting the flu. Pekka Rinne should start for Nashville. Game time is 7pm and some tickets remain. Coverage on 102.5 the Game and Fox Sports Tennessee, pregame on both starts at 6:30.
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Random Notes
- All-Star Voting Update - Shea Weber remains at #24 in overall vote getters and remains 6th in the Central race for captain of the team. Other Preds… Roman Josi is up to #47 (+1) , Pekka Rinne remains at #56, Filip Forsberg down to 89 (-2) and James Neal down to 100 (-1). You can vote up to 10 times a day at the NHL’s All-Star Voting Site
- Mike Fisher and Gabriel Bourque remain on injured reserve, Colin Wilson did not practice yesterday either.
- Anthony Bitetto was tried at wing in yesterday’s practice, filling in for James Neal who was given a maintenance day.
- So, last night’s game proved to everyone that the coaching was the problem in Pittsburgh… wait what?
- The Edmonton Oilers have now won six straight and have moved into third place in the Pacific Division. That’s right, the Oilers are in playoff position… ummm hang on… (dialing phone) Hello Satan? What’s the temperature down there?
- Eleven NHL games tonight (all start times CT) – 6pm – NJD @ BUF, FLA @ NYI, EDM @ NYR, CAR @ PHI. 6:30pm – TBL @ TOR, SJS @ MTL. 7pm – CGY @ NSH, VAN @ MIN, STL @ WPG. 7:30pm – COL @ CHI, CBJ @ DAL.
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