Happy Halloween! And what better way to celebrate than with a game at Bridgestone Arena? The Nashville Predators host the Calgary Flames as the Preds look to extend their win streak to five and the Flames try to right the ship with their play on the road. Calgary is 2-5-1 away from the Saddledome and come into tonight’s game on the heels of a 2-1 loss at Carolina and a 2-1 loss to Winnipeg in the Heritage Classic.
The Flames are led in scoring by Elias Lindholm with eight goals… four of them coming on the power play… Lindholm is second on the team in points tied with Matthew Tkachuk and one point behind team leader Johnny Gaudreau. Lindholm has been hot the last four games with three goals and four points. Lindholm and Gaudreau lit up the Preds last season posting a total of 11 points in three games. The Flames have won their last four and seven of the last eight games inside the friendly confines of Bridgestone Arena.
So… we know where the Predators defense needs to be focused. The team needs to build off their performance against Chicago, certainly one of their better outings of this young season. They will need to take advantage of Calgary’s lack of discipline that they have shown in their first 14 games… they have a nasty habit of taking the wrong penalty at the wrong time, and it costs them. The Flames are the NHL’s most-penalized team, Nashville will need to make them pay.
The biggest question for Nashville? Will Filip Forsberg return to the lineup? He has resumed skating with the team but no official word on his return. Considering that tonight is Forsberg bobblehead night, it would be great to see him on the ice. You have to give this team credit, they have shown some really solid depth while missing Forsberg for the last six games and Matt Duchene for one of them.
The other key will be between the pipes… Pekka Rinne has been on a bit of a roll with a two game shutout streak going, no word on who gets the nod for Calgary, but David Rittich appears to have the starter’s job right now and UAH alum Cam Talbot is in the backup role.
Should be a good game and a great time at Bridgestone Arena, trick-or-treating, costume contests and all kinds of spooky fun! Gametime is 7pm, doors open at 5:30… All attendees at Thursday's game are encouraged to bring a bag of candy to donate to Treats for Troops. The Predators Foundation will also be collecting full size and travel size toiletries, new socks, jerky, lip balm, trail mix and hand warmers on Thursday and Saturday to support Room in the Inn in Nashville as part of the Collect for Vets program.
See you tonight!
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Random Notes – Presented by
- Should he be in the lineup, tonight is Rocco Grimaldi’s 100th NHL game.
- Interesting stat - Seventeen of Nashville’s 23 skaters to appear in a game have registered a point, in addition to goaltender Pekka Rinne, who tallied an assist on Oct. 19.
- Speaking of Rinne, Tuesday’s shutout was the 57th of his career. That pts him into a tie for 20th in NHL history.
- Check out the Predators Halloween costumes on Instagram.
- Exciting announcements continue as the 2022 Toyota US Figure Skating Championships were awarded to Nashville yesterday.
- The Predators will unveil the Winter Classic jersey on Saturday.
- Tonight’s NHL schedule – 7pm – CGY @ NSH (NHLN) 9pm – MTL @ VGK.
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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. Except of course for this upcoming week… we will be on Tuesday night at 7pm due to the Preds game on Monday.
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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