Fresh off the trade sending Matt Hendricks to the Edmonton Oilers for veteran goaltender Devan Dubnyk, the Nashville Predators are in Philadelphia tonight to take on the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. There has been a decidedly mixed reaction to the trade on both sides of the fence. Some reaction on the Nashville side has reflected an opinion that Dubnyk is not much of an upgrade, an opinion I do not share. A lot of reaction from Oil Country indicates a lot of confusion on a move that was eventually going to happen… I think Dan Tencer’s take in the Edmonton Journal may be the best summary, “disappointing but necessary.…
That may be an apt description from the Predators side as well as the Predators shed a long contract from a player that didn’t appear to be working out on the ice. Hendricks is a great guy… frankly, I’ll miss our little penalty box chats, but his performance on the ice really didn’t appear to be there.
So, tonight’s game in Philly is an important one for Nashville, after a win Tuesday night, this team has to put some momentum on to ensure that there is something to play for after the Olympic break. The Preds road record hasn’t been good, posting an 8-13-3 record away from Bridgestone Arena so far this season. Wednesday’s practice session was spirited and much needed to clean up a few things, polish some of the “details… missing from their game. Getting a little mojo going would certainly help launch this team into the final pre-Olympic push, including a western Canada swing and a few critical Central Division matchups. Including tonight, they have 11 games left until the break.
The injury situation remains stagnant for the Predators, Philadelphia lists Zac Rinaldo and Marc-Andre Bourdon on IR, Scott Hartnell is listed as questionable due to an injury sustained trying to block a shot in the Flyers last game.
Game time is 6pm central time, Willy Daunic and Stu Grimson have the call on 102.5 the Game and the Predators Radio Network, TV on Fox Sports Tennessee with the Voice of the Predators, Pete Weber and Terry Crisp calling the action.
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Random Notes
- Dubnyk is on the roster for tonight’s game… a goaltender will be sent down tomorrow.
- OK… gotta give it up for Jim Diamond for the headline on his Examiner piece on the Preds/Oilers trade… “Dub Steps Into Nashville Crease…… A tip of the hat to ya sir!
- The Western Conference may be racking up points vs Eastern Conference teams, but not Philly, they are 4-1 in their last five against the West.
- The CHL/NHL Top Prospects game was last night in Calgary.
- Eleven games tonight – 6pm – Red Wings @ Rangers, Predators @ Flyers. 6:30pm starts – Canadiens @ Senators, Islanders @ Lightning, Sharks @ Panthers. 7pm starts – Kings @ Blues, Oilers @ Wild. 7:30pm start – Bruins @ Stars. 8pm starts – Devils @ Avalanche, Jets @ Flames, Canucks @ Coyotes.
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