The Predators are in Pittsburgh tonight to take on the red hot Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Center. The Preds are looking to avoid a three game losing streak and also looking to clinch their playoff spot with any kind of win.
The Predators played a very solid game on Tuesday night in Dallas, subtract the Stars two goal spurt in the second and we are looking at a radically different result… but, unfortunately that ain’t how the NHL works.
Given all drama going on in Chicago, the chance to overtake the Blackhawks is still there, but the Predators are rapidly running out of runway, the team needs to win four out of their last five to make that even close to a possibility and the Hawks would have to lose four of their last five… like I said, the Preds are running out of runway.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand has really stepped it up. More remarkably, they have done it without Evgeny Malkin in the lineup. They have gone from barely hanging on to a Wild Card slot to pushing for home ice advantage in round one.
The question for Nashville is Ryan Ellis’ status, although the call up of Stefan Elliott from Milwaukee gives you an indicator. Ellis will be missed on the power play, but you have to give Victor Arvidsson credit, he stepped in and stepped up on the power play unit Tuesday night, drawing the Preds to within one with his first career power play goal.
Game time is 6pm central tonight with coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee, 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network.
-----------------------------------
Random Notes
- “Where They Stand… – Entering tonight’s play, the Nashville Predators are 4th in the Central Division with 91 points, trailing 3rd Place Chicago by 4 points. The Predators are in the first wild card slot, leading Minnesota by 4 points.
- The Predators clinch scenario tonight… Nashville needs any kind of win to clinch their playoff spot.
- If the playoffs started today, the Predators would be crossing over to the Pacific and playing the Anaheim Ducks.
- Ten games in the NHL tonight, all times central – 6pm – TOR @ BUF, CBJ @ NYI, NSH @ PIT, NYR @ CAR. 6:30pm – MTL @ TBL, NJD @ FLA. 7pm – OTT @ MIN. 7:30pm – ARI @ DAL. 9:30pm – CGY @ LAK, VAN @ SJS. ------------------------------------
------------------------------------- Season eight of SlapShot Radio is on! Join us every Wednesday night at 7 on 102.5 the Game. Pete Weber and I preview the upcoming week and take a look back at the week that was. This week’s podcast is posted with guests San Jose Sharks broadcaster Dan Rusanowski and legendary Penguins radio voice Mike Lange.
SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the mid-south delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio. Our premier, day one sponsor is Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762. Also, our newest member of the SSR Sponsorship family is Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799.
Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base via email at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1 … Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.
-------------------------------------
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Predators Buzz, a one-stop feed for all things Predators-related on HockeyBuzz. Your subscription includes a free 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month thereafter. For more information, click here.