Please join us for SlapShot Radio tonight at 8pm on 102.5 the Game…
The first two games of the 2019-2020 season are in the books for the Nashville Predators and I think we already know a couple of things… the offense is much better, the third D-pairing is struggling a bit and head coach Peter Laviolette’s record against Detroit as the Preds head coach is really strange.
In his first two games as a Nashville Predator, Matt Duchene has been all that he was billed to be, and maybe a little more. He has tied an NHL record for assists in his first two games with a new team with five. He has been involved with 62.5% of the teams goals so far. Duchene is off to a solid start. The team is winning faceoffs and has a power play that actually looks like it will be very good. Offensively, this team is off to a great start.
Defensively… well, that is more of a mixed bag. The top pairing of Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis is looking good, the second paring appears to have been unleashed as Mattias Ekholm has been outstanding, showing his offensive upside in a way he couldn’t being paired with PK Subban. The third pairing of Dan Hamhuis and Yannick Weber was just OK on opening night, and was downright bad on Saturday night against Detroit. This pairing is a combined -6 on the young season, the rest of the blueline is a combined +8, that is a stark contrast. The Red Wings speed exposed the third pairing and they need to step it up or there may need to be some adjustments.
And then there is the strange record of Peter Laviolette as the head coach of the Nashville Predators… 1-10 against the Red Wings… that is just crazy. Pekka Rinne’s record isn’t much better… Perhaps that is why Juuse Saros got the start, but Saros didn’t look very good at times on Saturday evening.
Look, no reason to panic at all… it is such a small sample and we will get a lot more data points over the next few weeks. This week’s schedule should reveal a little more about what this team may be going forward. With games versus San Jose and Washington at home before heading out for the Preds first road trip of the season.
There are some real positives to build on with this team… offensive output and special teams seem to be on the right track. One so-so performance from Saros doesn’t really worry me at all, but… defensively, this team does need to lock it down a bit.
San Jose has been in town since Sunday, taking a day off before resulting practice today. This Sharks team has started badly, 0-3 badly, featuring back-to-back losses to Vegas. Game time is 7pm tomorrow at Bridgestone Arena. Very limited tickets remain.
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Random Notes – Presented by
it will be interesting to see where he fits in
- Mattias Ekholm was all over the ice… in a good way, on Saturday night, being rewarded with his first goal of the year. His D partner, Dante Fabbro has looked really solid as well.
- Six different goal scorers so far on the season, Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson lead the team with two each.
- Another positive to note for this team… Kyle Turris is off to a very good start to the season. The Turris – Grimaldi – Jarnkrok line were one of the most dangerous lines on the ice… Turris had several sweet setups that simply weren’t finished.
- The much discussed break up of the JoFA line has shown some real results… With two top scoring lines, this team will give opposing coaches nightmares to scheme against.
- Tonight’s NHL schedule – STL @ TOR – 6pm – NHL Network. BUF @ CBJ – 6pm.
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SlapShot Radio is back for our 12th season as Zack, Brent and I will be moving the show to Monday night’s this year. The best hour of hockey talk on the longest running hockey show in the southeast will begin the season at 8pm and will settle into our normal 7pm slot after Thanksgiving… Monday’s on 102.5 the Game. Tonight, we will be previewing tomorrow night’s Sharks game with San Jose radio play-by-play man, Dan Rusanowski.
Our sponsor list continues to grow. Not only are we welcoming back
Drs. Jane Bacon and Aileen Kruger at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762 and our good friend Carter Church, Your Mufreesboro real estate expert with Weichert – The Andrews Group. And our newest sponsors…
Cool Springs Wines and Spirits! The largest spirit store in all of middle Tennessee! And La-Z-Boy Nashville! Three locations, locally owned and operated, check out La-Z-Boy in Mufreesboro, Hendersonville and Cool Springs!
The new season promises to be the best yet!
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