First off, have a happy and safe Halloween.
The annual CMA Road Trip continues with a matinee in Los Angeles today as two of the hottest teams in the West matchup at Staples Center. After an 0-3 start, the Kings have reeled off six straight wins and rocketed to the top of the Pacific Division, led by Jeff Carter’s nine points and excellent goaltending from Jonathan Quick. After a season of discontent in LA, the Kings are looking to get back to the playoffs and make a run at a third Stanley Cup in the past five seasons, their defense is still suspect, but they certainly have firepower, the potential for excellence in net and a knowledge of how to win in the NHL.
The Predators swept the Kings last season, winning on in LA and two at Bridgestone Arena, two games went to overtime with one of them being decided in a shootout. Nashville comes off a great effort in the Shark Tank on Wednesday night, showing their resilience and versatility again with a 2-1 win over San Jose. Expect a very similar lineup to Wednesday night for Nashville, Pekka Rinne will look to build off his league leading GAA and get his seventh win of the season.
On the injury front, Matt Green s close to a return to the Kings lineup, he has missed the entire win streak with an upper body injury; Dwight King is still listed on IR as well as per the game notes posted this morning. The Predators injury list is fairly clean… game time is 3pm CDT, coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game.
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Random Notes
- The news of Jeff Cogen leaving Smashville was not entirely unexpected, the ascension of Sean Henry to CEO was also expected for quite awhile. This orderly transition had been planned for quite a few years now. Jeff will do an amazing job in Tampa in a market struggling to get fans out to games. Sean will continue the progress and great work he has done over the past five years as COO/President of the team.
- Don’t forget to turn your clocks back tonight as Daylight Savings Time ends.
- This Is game one of the first game of a back-to-back, the first of 12 back-to-backs this season and the only one on this road trip.
- Is it true, or just the dreaded “vote of confidence?… Bob Murray, GM of the Anaheim Ducks was quoted… “I’m not inclined to make rash changes. I’m going to be patient. That said, we are severely under-performing as a group. I can’t recall a time where a vast majority of our players have underachieved simultaneously, and I fully expect a turnaround.…
- Anaheim has 4 points and according to SportsClubStas.com, the Ducks have a 6.2% chance t make the playoffs. The only team with a worse chance? Calgary at 5.1% and Columbus with a 2.8% chance
- Good one last night between Chicago and Minnesota… The Blackhawks have only 12 points after last night’s loss and are 6-5-0 on the season, good for sixth in the Central. That would be good for 4th in the Metro, and Second in the other two divisions.
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