Game five of the Predators six game CMA roadie is tonight in Dallas. This showdown is critical to both teams as Nashville is looking to stay in the divisional chase after surrendering their lead in the Central to the surging St. Louis Blues and the Stars are looking to right the ship as they are mired in a five game winless streak. Nashville, after an excellent start, has lost three of their past five games and are showing some developmental opportunities, especially on special teams.
Special teams is the bugaboo for both teams tonight and it is my belief that the first team to get well in this area will win tonight. The Stars are 2-23 on the power play during this streak and have dropped their season long conversion percentage to 17.4%. The Predators are worse here, only converting at 11.1%... the PK, struggling even more, only killing penalties at a 70.3% rate. This Achilles heel needs to be fixed and fixed quickly.
Expect Pekka Rinne back in net tonight after taking Tuesday night off in Winnipeg.
The Predators took the lid lifter of the season series with Dallas, a 4-1 victory that was a lot closer than the score indicated. Dallas has not been friendly historically for the Predators, but the Stars have struggled a bit at home so far this season, only posting a 1-1-4 record at American Airlines Center. One of the best beat writers in the business, Mike Heika writes in his piece today that the team is struggling to hold onto third period leads at home and there is a sense of unease, not only among the fans, but among the players as well.
The old saying “something’s gotta give…… is applicable tonight. Game time is 7:30pm with coverage on 102.5 the Game and Fox Sports Tennessee. Pregame at 7pm.
Tonight’s preview from NHL.com
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Random Notes
- On a semi-off-topic note… congratulations to huge Pred fan (and new occasional member of the broadcast team) Vince Gill on the tremendous honor bestowed on him at last night’s CMA Awards. Vince becomes only the second artist in history to be awarded the Irving Waugh Award of Excellence. Very well deserved.
- Tonight begins a critical 12 game stretch for the Stars, nine of them on home ice.
- When a team is talking about “it’s not time to panic… … chances are… there is some panicking going on.
- Reason not to panic if you are a Stars fan? Four of their five losses on this skid have come to St. Louis, Anaheim, Minnesota and LA.
- Reason to panic if you are a Stars fan? Four of their five losses on this skid have come to St. Louis, Anaheim, Minnesota and LA.
- Ten games tonight… I may stay up for the Vancouver/San Jose game… that one looks intriguing.
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