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Game Night in Smashville

December 10, 2019, 12:32 PM ET [5 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It’s Game Night in Smashville as the San Jose Sharks hit town for what is shaping up to be a crucial tilt between two teams struggling to get back into playoff position. Heading into tonight’s contest both teams are within 4 points of a wild card slot. The Sharks lead the Preds by one point, but Nashvile has played four less games than San Jose.

I think that is why I am not as worried as I guess I could be about the Predators positioning predicament. The Preds have played 28 games so far, the fewest amount of any Western Conference team. Starting this week, that gap will begin to close as Nashville plays eight games over the next two weeks.

The Sharks have been a weird bunch… they lost their first four of the season… floated for a bit… got hot in November then have lost their last four games. They have been wildly inconsistent in all aspects of their game.

Tonight’s game concludes the season series between these two teams. The Preds are 1-0-1 so far…

It’s time for this Nashville team to start realizing it’s potential, to play to their capabilities and start playing the way that most observers expected in this season. A little upward pressure on the lineup wouldn’t be a bad thing. Yakov Trenin is showing well so far on this latest callup and is making a case for more playing time. Trenin might make a nice little spark in the top six… just saying.

Upward pressure may be coming from a Milwaukee team that has been dominating in this AHL season. Plenty of Ad’s are playing well and making a case to get to the big club. After a slow start, Eeli Tolvanen has nine points in his last seven games.

San Jose may come into town angry… they had their heads handed to them in Florida, dropping games to the Lightning and Panthers by a combined score of 12-2… that ain’t good.

So… what team is angrier? We will find out tonight, game time is 7pm at Bridgestone Arena. Coverage on 102.5 the Game and Fox Sports Tennessee.

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Random Notes – Presented by

- Tonight is Roman Josi bobblehead night.

- The 2020 Team Calendar is now on sale and benefits the Nashville Predators Foundation.

- Players to watch tonight? Ryan Johansen has 24 points in 25 games against the Sharks, Matt Duchene has six points in his last five against San Jose.

- 23 of 25 skaters to appear in a Preds game this season have posted at least a point.

- News breaking this morning that the Dallas Stars have fired their head coach for “unprofessional conduct inconsistent with the core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the National Hockey League"… wow!

- Saturday’s game just got a whole lot more interesting.

- Tonight’s games – 6pm – TBL @ FLA, MTL @ PIT. 6:30pm – STL @ BUF. 7pm – SJS @ NSH, ANA @ MIN, DET @ WPG. 7:30pm – NJD @ DAL. 8pm – CAR @ EDM, CGY @ ARI. 9pm – TOR @ VAN, CHI @ VGK. 9:30pm - NYR @ LAK.

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SlapShot Radio is back for our 12th season as Zack, Brent and I are now on Monday night’s this season. The best hour of hockey talk on the longest running hockey show in the southeast … 7pm Mondays on 102.5 the Game. Our next show will be Monday December 30th.

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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