After an extremely disappointing loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Predators look to salvage their Canadian road trip tonight against the resurgent Winnipeg Jets. The Preds are 1-1-1 on this trip, capturing three of a possible six points so far and tonight they have the unenviable task of playing the Jets at MTS Center during the Jets’ hottest streak of the season.
And Pred Nation responds… typical.
It has seemed that this Predators season has been full of catching teams as they are their hottest. The Jets have won six of their last seven including wins over Chicago and Anaheim in that stretch.The Predators on the other hand, after coming off a late game collapse against Calgary and a horrible loss to Edmonton, need to jump back on the horse quickly to avoid falling deeper into the Central Division basement.
Despite giving away a couple of points on this trip, the Predators, amazingly, remain eight points out of the last wild card slot. Tantalizingly close… but incredibly far away. Let’s face it, .500 hockey just won’t cut it. With only five games remaining until the Olympic break, Nashville needs to start a run… now… not tomorrow… not Friday night… tonight.
The Predators injury list has grown from the standard Pekka Rinne on IR, both Viktor Stalberg and Matt Cullen are questionable for tonight’s 7pm faceoff. The call up of Colton Sissons to join Taylor Beck with the big club is an indicator that we may not see the two vets in the lineup… and frankly, we saw that the seven “D… lineup from Sunday was a disaster. Winnipeg has it’s own injury issues as Matt Halischuk, Grant Clitsome, Paul Postma, Eric Tangredi and Jim Slater are all out for tonight’s game.
Coverage for tonight’s game is on Fox Sports Tennessee with the Voice of the Predators, Pete Weber and Stu Grimson, ably filling in for Terry Crisp. Willy Daunic has the radio call on 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network.
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Random Notes
- My apologies for inconsistency in my blogging recently… unfortunately, my day job occasionally gets in the way of my writing. Hopefully things are balancing out and I can write a little more consistently.
- Not sure if Sissons will get in the lineup tonight, he is leading Milwaukee in scoring with 16 goals and 12 assists. Colton may see the ice as both Cullen and Stalberg were absent from this moring’s skate per Josh Cooper’s Twitter feed.
- Reports from Milwaukee – documented by Section303.com’s Jeremy Gover indicate that Pekka Rinne may be getting close to a rehab stint in Milwaukee. Keep your fingers crossed gang!
- Friday night’s game is against Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils… If the Devils lose will Brodeur complain about the ice again?
- The NHL is leaving open the possibility on not sending players to Sochi due to security concerns and is not real keen on maintaining their involvement past this year’s games.
- Trade talk is heating up, I am one of those that expect a flurry of trades before the Olympic break.
- Eleven games tonight – 6pm start – Panthers @ Bruins, Lightning @ Maple Leafs, Red Wings @ Flyers, Senators @ Blue Jackets. 6:30pm starts – Capitals @ Sabres, Hurricanes @ Canadiens. 7pm starts – Devils @ Blues, Predators @ Jets. 8pm start – Kings @ Coyotes. 8:30pm start – Blackhawks @ Flames. 9pm start – Wild @ Ducks. --------------------------------------
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