SlapShot Radio’s photographer captured the action, the fans and the color last night at a sold out Bridgestone Arena, here are today’s Sunday Shots.
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| From Predators vs Senators January 11, 2014 |
Now… on to last night…
The shootout frustration is building a bit as the Nashville Predators dropped another skills competition loss, this time a 2-1 decision to the Ottawa Senators. It has been almost a calendar year since the Predators have won in a shootout, their last SO victory happened on February 2nd of 2013. Picking up the point is nice, but this team is leaving way to many points on the table in these overtime losses.
Last night was Nashville’s seventh overtime loss, fifth loss in the shootout. The team is eight points out of the final playoff spot… you do the math. This Nashville team is playing good hockey since Christmas, they just aren’t getting fully rewarded for it.
Here are your highlights from last night…
Enough about last night, the team turns it right around with the second of back-to-back home games, a critical divisional tilt against the Minnesota Wild. A classic “four-point… game, a Predators win in regulation pulls them to within six points of the Wild, who currently hold the last Wild Card slot. A loss drops the Preds back ten over their divisional rival.
The Wild rivalry has been building over the past few seasons, beginning when former Predator owner Craig Leipold bought the team, then the news of the divisional realignment stepped it up another notch, but the real spark was Minnesota’s signing of Ryan Suter in a messy situation that left a LOT of hard feelings in Music City.
Minnesota got into town early this morning after a home loss to Colorado last night, a loss that snapped a four game win streak for the Wild, who will be looking to maintain their road win streak which stands at two, but they will be doing it without Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Josh Harding, all on injured reserve and listed as out for tonight’s tilt. The Predators will be missing Pekka Rinne, but the good news is that it looks like Patric Hornqvist, who has missed the last two games with a “lower body injury… will be in the lineup.
The teams have split their season series so far, both holding serve at home. Seven of their last eight have been decided by one goal. So expect a tight one tonight at Bridgestone Arena. The Wild and Predators have been streaky this season, Minnesota’s four game win streak followed a six game losing streak.
Early faceoff time tonight, 6pm at Bridgestone Arena, coverage on the Predators Radio Network (flagship station is 102.5 the Game in Nashville) and Fox Sports Tennessee.
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Random Notes
- Eric Nystrom certainly gave the crowd and the team a jolt last night with a really good scrap. That was a textbook case of where fighting can ignite a team, perfect timing on that one.
- In the “Waiting for this one to happen… department – Winnipeg fired Claude Noel this morning, a move tantamount to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… they may be wearing different uniforms with different ownership in a different city… this is still the Atlanta Thrashers. If ever an organization needed to be blown up… Paul Maurice has been named as the new bench boss.
- Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard has a hip flexor injury suffered last night in Detroit’s 3-1 win over LA. You have to wonder if this may jeopardize his spot on Team USA.
- More bad news for the Wings as Daniel Alfredsson was scratched last night due to back spasms.
- Former Pred tough guy Brian McGrattan got into last night for the Flames, dropping Penguin enforcer Deryk Engelland with one punch. Check out the video…
- Seven games today – 2pm start – Sabres @ Capitals. 5pm start – Islanders @ Stars. 6pm starts – Devils @ Maple Leafs, Flyers @ Rangers, Oilers @ Blackhawks, Wild @ Predators. 7pm start – Red Wings @ Ducks.
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