Let me take you back, Saturday, April 24, 2010. The Western Conference Quarter Finals. The Nashville Predators had the series tied at 2 and had the Chicago Blackhawks on the ropes in front of 22,000 plus at the United Center. A 4-3 lead on the strength of Martin Erat’s pair of third period goals had the Predators on the brink of returning to Nashville with a 3-2 series lead and the chance to close out their northern nemesis. Marian Hossa takes an ill-advised boarding major with 1:03 to go in the game… Pred Nation could almost taste it…
Then, the unthinkable… Patrick Kane shores a shorty with 14 seconds to go, Hossa comes out of the box and converts a turnover into an overtime winner… game over… series over… well, there was one more game, but for all intents, that was the dagger for a series that the Predators believe to this day that they should’ve won. Only four players remain on this Predators team from that 2010 team, Pekka Rinne, Shea Weber, Colin Wilson and Cody Franson… the leaders remember…
The intensity of a rivalry depends on who usually wins. The team that comes out on the losing end more often usually feels it more intently… at least the fan base does… and Pred Nation has no love lost for this Original Six team. The Blackhawks have replaced the Red Wings as public enemy number one in Smashville and the run up to this series feels a lot like the run up to the 2012 WCQF against Detroit. The Blackhawks could care less about the Predators, they have a successful franchise that after a long dark period, is winning and filling their barn. If you've bben reading a lot of the national websites, this series is just s speed bump on the way to a coronation. In the opinion of this writer... things are a LOT closer than that!
There are no surprises, no real secrets between these two teams, they have played each other too often over the years, but there is a unique twist to this series. They haven’t faced each other since December 29th… at that point, the Predators were trailing the Blackhawks in the division by three points and were one of only five teams with single digit regulation losses. The Predators ended up finishing ahead of the the Hawks for home ice advantage in this series.
So, the teams will reacquaint themselves tonight at Bridgestone Arena for game one of a series that, frankly, no one knows what to expect. Both teams stumbled into the playoffs. The goaltending matchup is a pick ‘em… Offensively I give the edge to Chicago, defensively give the edge to Nashville, experience goes to Chicago, coaching is a pick ‘em, health-wise… the Hawks getting Kane back gives them a major advantage, the Preds have a few day-to-day's.
Take a look at the analytics from NHL.com The analytics favor Chicago… special teams, pick 'em. Speed, pick ‘em. This has the potential to be a fire wagon hockey series with plenty of up and down… The revenge factor favors Nashville, both for 2010 and Laviolette losing the Cup to Chicago when coaching Philly.
The almost universal sentiment among the hockey intellegencia is that the Blackhawks roll through this series… my head is inclined to agree… but my heart says Nashville in six…
I always go with my heart…
The injury situation for game one, for Nashville, Eric Nystrom is out, Cody Franson is day-to-day, Mike Fisher is listed as day-to-day. The Blackhawks are almost completely healthy.
Game one starts at 7:30pm central time tonight. There’s a party on both plazas beginning at 5pm with live music and fun for the entire family. Game coverage locally on Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game, flagship station of the Predators Radio Network. National coverage on NBCSN.
Here is the game one preview from nhl.com
------------------------------------
Random Notes
- Tonight is a key game for Nashville. A home team that wins game one goes on to win the series 70% of the time (stick tap to TSN Research for that nugget.)
- The referees for tonight, Brad Meier, Dan O’Halloran and Francois Charron (one is a backup.)
- In 29 Central Division games, the Chicago Blackhawks have gone 15-14-0, their worst record against any other division. The Predators went 15-9-5 against the Central.
- Kevin Fiala is still up with the team, he was used as an extra in yesterday’s practice. Given the breakneck pace this series should achieve, I would not be surprised to see the young speedster in the lineup at some point.
- If Patrick Kane plays tonight, expect Antoine Vermette to be a healthy scratch.
- The “flip the switch… question is now being applied to the Blackhawks since LA proved that they couldn’t in the regular season…
- I can’t recall a playoff season where there were so many goaltending questions coming into the second season. Not only questions in Nashville, but also in Vancouver, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and a slew of goaltenders getting their first taste of the playoffs as starters, Ondrej Pavelec, Devan Dubnyk, Ben Bishop, Petr Mrazek… it will bear watching…
- There will be a few Predators prospects playing in the upcoming World Championships including recently signed Steve Moses and Harvard forward Jimmy Vesey for Team USA. Excellent experience to be sure for these future Preds.
Four series start tonight, here are the games and national coverage options… - Game One – Ottawa @ Montreal – 6pm CDT faceoff – Coverage on CBC, NHLN-US - Game One – NY Islanders @ Washington – 6pm CDT faceoff – Coverage on USA Network, SN - Game One – Chicago @ Nashville – 7:30pm CDT faceoff – NBCSN, SN360 - Game One – Calgary @ Vancouver – 9pm CDT faceoff – CBC, USA Network
--------------------------------------
You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! 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.
-------------------------------------
SlapShot Radio’s playoff preview podcast is posted… Our guests included Blackhawks radio voice John Wiedeman and Columbus radio play-by-play man Bob McElligott along with Puck Daddy’s Josh Cooper. Listen here… Our premier, day one sponsor is Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at 615-872-7762.
We’ve got room for your business to be part of the SlapShot Radio family with effective and affordable playoff advertising packages for every budget. Be part of the excitement of Nashville hockey… Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base via email at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
Radio station owners/programmers, join the SlapShot Radio Network, the perfect companion to hockey play-by-play… it helps to not only entertain, but deepen your listeners knowledge and enhances their enjoyment of the game… contact me using the email above to carry SlapShot Radio on your station, we are satellite delivered every week via SkyView on the SlapShot Radio Network. Each show contains two full breaks for your usage.
-------------------------------------
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.