In this bizarre playoff season, it’s either been feast or famine… there have been four series decided by a combined game score of 16-5 with two sweeps. There has been a series where the home team has won once in six games. Of the remaining four, two are going to go seven games and two have the potential to go seven. Only one higher seed has won a series and for the first time in NHL history… both conference #1 seeds are gone in the first round.
Like I said… bizarre. Crazy, loco, looney-toons... and fun as hell!
That being said… with the Nashville Predators in a 3-2 hole heading into tonight’s game six in Dallas there is precedent for a comeback for this franchise… The Predators do have a winning record in game sixes… they also are 2-1 on the road in game six. Nashville has come back from a 3-2 deficit before, winning the last two of the Anaheim series in 2016, winning on home ice in game six and taking the series at Honda Center.
All that history means bupkas if they don’t come out strong tonight.
Can Nashville burn from the drop of the puck and play the kind of “on your toes” hockey they need to. The forecheck needs to be great… not just good… the goaltending needs to be great… as it has been for long stretches of the series. Aggressive forechecking will have an impact on Dallas’ top line. Nashville’s passing needs to be crisper, the Preds need to be a little less predictable on their break outs and they have got to bring everything they have. And it is only half the battle. It's a large task... one that reminds of an old joke…
Question: How do you eat an elephant?
Answer: One bite at a time.
For Nashville it’s about playing and winning one shift at a time. The fascinating thing it that there is a certain “been there done that” feel about this team… it may be their biggest blessing and largest curse. This will be the most stern test of the season. A first round loss will be an abject disaster, there is no other way to put it.
They have too much talent, too much experience and too many expectations to lose in the first round. All due respect to Rocco Grimaldi, but when he is your leading scorer five games in, well… ummm Nashville, we have a problem.
The green shoots of breakout happened late in Saturday's game, Kyle Turris socring, the JoFa line looking better and more dangerous. It time to simplify and get to work.
I expect Nashville to come out flying… what I don’t know is if that will be enough. We will find out in just a few hours… puck drop is at 7:45pm CT… National TV coverage will be on CNBC. Locally on Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game. Radio pregame starts at 6:30pm on the Predators Radio Network, 7pm on FS-TN.
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The
Playoff Status section
The Eastern Conference
(1) Tampa Bay vs (WC2) Columbus – CBJ Wins 4-0 – Next Up – Winner of BOS/TOR
(2) Boston vs. (3) Toronto – Series tied 3-3 – Game 7, tomorrow
(1) Washington vs. (WC1) Carolina – WSH leads 3-2 – Game 6, tonight
(2) NY Islanders vs (3) Pittsburgh – NYI Wins 4-0 – Next Up – Winner of WSH/CAR
The Western Conference
(1) Calgary vs (WC2) Colorado – COL wins 4-1 – Next Up – Winner of SJS / VGK
(2) San Jose vs (3) Vegas – Series tied 3-3 – Game 7 – tomorrow
(1) Nashville vs. (WC1) Dallas – DAL leads 3-2 – Game 6 - tonight
(2) Winnipeg vs. (3) St. Louis – STL wins 4-2 – Next up – Winner of NSH/DAL
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Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update – The Ad’s best-of-5 playoff series with Iowa started with a thud, the Admiralss dropped a 7-0 decision last night. Game two is tomorrow night in Iowa.
- Wednesday Start Time – No one knows yet… It will depend on the results of the Washington / Carolina game tonight… if that one gets stretched to seven, expect a late start.
- Game Seven – A chance for FOUR! game sevens in the first round… cross your fingers.
- The bounce – Kyle Turris finally breaking through with the kind of goal that can portend a breakout… a lucky bounce that hopefully ignited him.
- Simmonds – Wayne Simmonds was on the ice for day-of-game skate today. Some interesting line combos were reported… the ones that intrigued me? Turris centering Mikael Granlund and Rocco Grimaldi and Colton Sissons centering Calle Jarnkrok and Craig Smith.
- Giveaways – 19 giveaways on Saturday… 19! A little more detail to the Preds game would be a good thing right about now.
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