The Nashville Predators come into tonight’s game with the Vancouver Canucks in control of their home ice destiny. Win their last two and they get home ice for round one… get a little help while winning their last two and they could take their second straight Central Division title.
There is a lot on the line tonight in Smashville.
It’s the rubber game of the season series between these two clubs, They played two back in December with each team holding serve on home ice. Vancouver hits two on a bit of a late season roll, once the pressure of the playoff race was lifted, the Canucks have gone 3-0-0 with wins over LA, Dallas and San Jose. They finished their home schedule on Tuesday night with their win over the Sharks.
It may seem really obvious, but the real key to tonight is scoring first… Vancouver is 24-5-3 when scoring first… Nashville is 35-4-1. It doesn’t get more stark than that.
You have seen the Preds ramping up their play over the past few games, players like Ryan Ellis, PK Subban, Craig Smith and quite a few more. The second line looks ready for a break out after one of their best games of the season on Tuesday night… You get the feeling that a garbage goal, a fortunate bounce is all this line needs to go from dangerous to lethal. The Preds will need that staring next week so might as well get it going now.
Vancouver is a team with some good young talent. Rookie Elias Pettersson has cooled somewhat since his torrid start to the season, but has posted Calder-worthy numbers with 27 goals and 38 assists on the season. Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser rounds out the Canucks 20+ goal scoreres… A little help on the blueline and this team will be in the playoff mix as soon as next season.
Game time is 7pm at Bridgestone Arena. Coverage begins on 10-2.5 the Game with pregame at 6pm, FS-TN pregame gets going at 6:30pm and game coverage on both media begins at 7.
Very limited tickets remain… see you at the Bridge!
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Last night's SlapShot Radio
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The
Where We Stand section
The games-in-hand are done… it’s a two game race to the finish with all three teams competing for the Central Division in action today and Saturday. As play begins today, Nashville is tied with the Winnipeg Jets in points and in the second slot in the Central, the St. Louis Blues trail by a single point and is in third place.
Nashville has clinched their playoff spot and currently holds the 4 seed in the Western Conference playoff race. Here is the way the Western Conference playoffs would look if they started today, the team with home ice advantage is listed first…
1W Calgary vs WC2 Colorado
2W Winnipeg vs. WC1 Dallas
2C Nashville vs. 3C St. Louis
2P San Jose vs 3P Vegas (This series is already locked in as the teams have clinched these slots)
Last night’s results shook up the percentages again… According to SportsClubStats.com, the Predators chances of playing St. Louis went up slightly to 41.1% (from 40.8%.) Dallas is now at 39.9% (up from 32.2%) and the chances of playing Winnipeg in the first round dropped to 17.7% (from 26%.)
Getting four points in their last two games gives the Predators a 77% chance of winning the division.
Who’s In – Who’s Close
East – Tampa Bay, Washington, Boston, the New York Islanders and Toronto have punched their playoff ticket. The Pittsburgh Penguins have still not clinched but remain in third place in the Metro. Carolina and Columbus are in the Wild Card slots but Montreal is tied in points with the Blue Jackets.
West – Calgary, Winnipeg, Nashville, San Jose, Vegas, St. Louis and Dallas are in. Colorado is in the catbird seat for the last playoff spot… the only way they lose that 8 seed is to lose out (with no points) and for Arizona to win out.
Impact Games Tonight
Two big ones going on while the Predators play the Canucks…
7pm – PHI @ STL (NHL.tv) – After a shootout loss to the Blackhawks in Chicago, the Blues are back home to play a Flyers team that seems incredibly disinterested. I have to say, I question Craig Berube’s choice of goaltenders last night, but rookie sensation Jordan Binnington will go tonight for the Blues who have gone to overtime in their last three games since their loss to the Rangers last week.
8pm – WPG @ COL (NHL.tv) – A Colorado win punches their ticket to the playoffs and Winnipeg needs to get their team back on track and fast. Immovable object… meet irresistible force. Should be a good one at the Pepsi Center tonight as the Jets finish their season on the road, they are 5-5 in their last ten and have lost four of their last five. The Av’s are 4-0-2 in their last six, 7-1-2 in their last ten and seem to be peeking at just the right time. This will be a good one…
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Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update – The Admirals won their sixth straight last night, 3-1 over San Antonio. Milwaukee got goals from Cole Schneider, Colin Blackwell and Jarred Tinordi… Troy Grosenick got the win between the pipes. The Ad’s are back in action tomorrow night at home against Chicago.
- Record Watch – Viktor Arvidsson has 33 goals so far this season, the franchise record is 34.
- Wine Time – The Nashville Predators Foundation annual Wine Festival is tomorrow night at the Arena.
- Home Connections – Four Nashville players are from the Vancouver area, Ryan Johansen, Colton Sissons, Kyle Turris and Dante Fabbro.
- Playoff Watch – The Pittsburgh Penguins have had trouble clinching their playoff spot, they lost to Detroit Tuesday and have them again tonight… but no worries… if they lose tonight they play the Rangers at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday…
- Playoff Watch Part Deaux – The Columbus Blue Jackets can only sit and watch tonight as the Montreal Canadiens are in Washington. A win for the Habs will put them in the final wild card slot in the East. The Blue Jackets finish with a road back-to-back in New York to take on the Rangers Friday and in Ottawa on Saturday.
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