After a sweep of a home and home against Dallas, the Nashville Predators are back in a better place, tied in points for playoff position with an important four game in six night road trip beginning tonight, three of the four teams are in playoff position, the only non-playoff team on this stretch is Montreal, where the Preds find themselves tonight.
As the city continues to recover from last week’s devastating tornados, the team has really acted as a rallying point. A welcome distraction from the grim duties of mourning, clean up and rebuilding.
The big story on the ice may be the ascension of Juuse Saros to the starter’s role with the Predators. No one is saying it, but the starts say it all. Do I think that Pekka Rinne is done? Not by a long shot, I won’t judge him on the last time out… just like I didn’t judge him when he was on fire starting every third game or so. The writing is on the wall, but the reality is… a team needs two goaltenders for a playoff run.
That being said, Saros is certainly on a roll, taking a two game shutout streak into tonight’s matchup in Montreal. He was excellent on Thursday night and was spectacular on Saturday. With this kind of goaltending, combined with the solid team defense shown in the last two games…. Who knows what these team can do?
As for Montreal, they are coming into tonight’s game on a two game losing streak, returning home from a three game road trip, dropping games in Tampa Bay and in Sunrise to the Panthers.
The Habs are led by Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher with 22 goals each and of course, their captain, Shea Weber who has 15 goals and 21 assists on the season so far. The Habs captain has been his normal wrecking ball, leading the team in hits and his ever dangerous slap shot.
With the battle going on for the wild card spots in the West, every game is critical as the Preds come down the home stretch. Including tonight’s game, they have 14 games remaining and need to get at least 94 points to grab a playoff spot. That means they will need at least 18 points in the last 14 games…
Game time is 6pm central with coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game.
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Where They Stand – a daily look at where the Predators are in the playoff race.
As play opens on 3/10/2020, the Nashville Predators are in the 6 spot in the Central and 10th in the conference. They trail Minnesota by one point for the 8 slot and Winnipeg by 2 points for the first wild card. They are tied with Vancouver and lead Arizona by two points in the five team schmoozle fighting for the playoffs. The Preds trail Dallas for third in the division by 6 points.
Impact games tonight – NYR @ DAL, NYI @ VAN.
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Random Notes – Presented by
- The four major sports leagues that are in season right now have limited access to the locker rooms due to the COVID 19 outbreak. MLB, MLS, the NBA and the NHL have all started this as of today’s games and practices.
- This is the Preds last extended roadie of the season.
- If Shea Weber plays every game for the Habs from now until April 1, he will play his 1000th game on that date. Montreal will be in Nashville that night… there is a certain symmetry to that.
- Nashville has earned at least a point in 14 of their last 15
- Tonight’s games – 6pm – TBL @ TOR, NSH @ MTL, PIT @ NJD, BOS @ PHI. 6:30pm - CAR @ DET. 7:30pm – NYR @ DAL. 9pm – NYI @ VAN, OTT @ ANA.
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SlapShot Radio is back for our 12th season as Zack, Brent and I are on Monday night’s this season. The best hour of hockey talk on the longest running hockey show in the southeast … Join us Mondays at 7pm on 102.5 the Game.
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 Murfreesboro 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 Murfreesboro, Hendersonville and Cool Springs!
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