A quick two game roadie to Western Canada results in four points and another bet paid off by head coach Peter Laviolette. As has been covered extensively, the Preds head coach wore a bull mask for his postgame presser on Saturday night as a reward to the team for sweeping the two game series in Calgary and Edmonton. Here’s the video…
For once, the postgame media scrum was speechless, and just look and listen to the reaction from the players, especially PK Subban’s post game interview with Lyndsey Rowley… he could barely focus on the camera as he saw the coach put on the head. The laughter coming from the rest of the team… all of it shows a team that seems to really enjoy working and playing with each other.
And it is showing on the ice; and in the standings.
On a weekend where the team saw their Vezina trophy goaltender go on IR during a difficult back-to-back, the team showed their belief in Juusa Saros and their belief in each other in two solid road wins over two solid playoff caliber teams. Pred Nation had to be pleased with the defensive effort, completely shutting down Connor McDavid being the highlight of the quick two game roadie.
The other big story from the weekend had to be the play of Juuse Saros. Coming into the game midway through the third period, the young netminder made a few tough saves right off the bat and certainly seemed to set the tone for what was to come. Then following it up with a stellar shutout of the Oilers. While Rinne recovers on IR, Nashville’s net seems to be in good hands over at least the next two games against San Jose and New Jersey. Rinne will be available to come off IR on Friday.
There won’t be much time for this one to marinate as the Oilers come to town on Saturday night. Taking a look at the week ahead, it’s the re-tooled San Jose Sharks coming to Smashville tomorrow night, then the Preds head up to Newark for a Thursday night tilt against the resurgent New Jersey Devils before returning home for the Edmonton rematch.
As we approach the ten game mark of this young season, you can say that this Predator team is getting points anyway they know how, but there are a few things to work on for a team that is leading the NHL in points. What would a 7-1-0 team need to work on? Two words…
Special teams.
The Predators have not been great on special teams so far this season, their penalty kill is ranked 19th in the league 77.3%... giving up 5 power play goals in 22 opportunities. That is certainly not good, but the power play… ugh.
The team is in a three-way tie for 25th in the league and just barely above the 28 and 29th ranked teams. Nashville has managed just three power play goals in 27 attempts. Now two of those have come in the last three games, so it may be on the road to recovery, but it still needs to remain a vigilance point.
So, with the boys back in their own beds, the bull mask safely tucked away and the Sharks in town tomorrow night, San Jose is off to a 4-3-1 start and are coming off a back-to-back home sweep of both sides of New York state, beating Buffalo and the Islanders.
Game time tomorrow night is 7pm, very limited tickets remain.
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Random Notes
- Eeli Tolvanen update – The youngster had a very good game yesterday as the Ad’s took down the Chicago Wolves on national TV 5-4 in a shootout. Tolvanen posted three assists and seemed to be drawing LOTS of attention every time he touched the puck. The Admirals stand at 5-1-1 on the AHL’s Central Division. Milwaukee has spent six of their seven games on the road and begin a five game homestand tomorrow vs. San Antonio.
- Filip Forsberg is continuing his point-per-game pace. Ryan Johansen and Mattias Ekholm are right behind his with seven points on the season.
- Juuse Saros in in a six-way tie for the league lead in wins, he leads the league in GAA for netminders who have played at least four games with a 1.54 goals allowed per game.
- Jordin Tootoo announced his retirement over the weekend, he was saluted in Edmonton and he will be honored in Smashville on February 2nd. Always a fan favorite in Music City, I am sure he will get a raucous ovation from Pred Nation.
- Miroslav Svoboda was the backup netminder Saturday night, expect him to be sent to Milwaukee and Troy Grosenick to be called up to back up Saros.
- Prayers to the family of Charles Wang, the Islanders co-owner passed away Sunday at age 74.
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