I’ve looked at the other seven series… time to look at the one that really matters to Pred Nation…
(1) Nashville 47-29-6, 100 points vs. (WC1) Dallas 43-32-7, 93 points – The two-time Central Division champ vs. the team that has been absent from the playoffs since winning the Central in 2015-16. Both teams come into the series playing well and on a bit of a roll. This is a bit of a mirror match as both teams have stout defenses, both teams have excellent goaltending tandems and both teams can have trouble scoring. Let's break it down...
Offense – Both teams have great first lines that have produced for most of the season, secondary scoring is an issue for both teams. Help is on the way for the Stars as trade deadline acquisition Mats Zuccarello is supposed to be back in the lineup for the Stars come 8:45 tonight, but he has yet to play a complete game in a Stars uniform. The Stars will need to get production from Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin and hope for contributions from their high scoring blueline. For Nashville, the focus will be squarely on the second line of Kyle Turris, Craig Smith and Mikael Granlund… who have looked better in the last few games but hasn’t generated much on the scoring side. The third line of Nick Bonino, Colton Sissons and Austin Watson has been clicking since Watson returned to the lineup and the JoFA line has been outstanding all year long. Don’t underestimate the rest that Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson got while injured mid-season… they should have plenty left in the tank for a long playoff run.
Advantage - Nashville
Defense – Dallas’ defense has been outstanding all season long and there is no reason to expect that won’t continue. Their blueline led the league in scoring and they have a great combination of youth and experience. Nashville has been up and down through the season but since the calendar turned to March, you have seen this blueline ramp it up and lock it down defensively. Nashville’s blueline can also light the lamp, coming in fourth in the league in blueline scoring. This is a tight one, whoever limits the giveaways will have an edge.
Advantage – Even
Goaltending – Pekka Rinne vs. Ben Bishop, current Vezina winner vs. a potential future Vezina winner. Bishop has had an outstanding season, posting a 1.98 GAA and a .934 save percentage. He also missed 16 games due to injury. Not to give Pred fans nightmares, but his backup, Anton Khudobin has a better record against the Preds and Stars coach Jim Montgomery won’t be afraid to go to him. Rinne has a chip on his shoulder, after subpar performances in the Cup Final two seasons ago and in last year’s second round. His workload has been carefully managed and missing some time in the season due to injury is a positive. Juuse Saros has had a solid season and will be ready if needed. The Predators have beaten both Stars goaltenders in the regular season, the Stars went 2-1 against Rinne and 0-2 against Saros.
Advantage - Even
Special teams – If Dallas has a decided advantage it is here. Their penalty kill ranked fifth in the league at 82.8% and their power play was 11th in the league, converting at a 21% clip. The Preds PK ranked sixth ion the league at an 82.1% kill rate and only allowed 2 power play goals in their last 32 opportunities… but… the power play has been bad for most of the season, even though it looked better over the last two games. Nashville is the better five-on-five team… but this series could very well turn on how whistle-happy the referees are… and if Nashville can up their power play game.
Advantage - Dallas
Health – Dallas is missing a couple of players… Martin Hanzal is out along with key blueliner Marc Methot… the Predators have an empty IR list going into the playoffs, Rocco Grimaldi has been nursing an upper body injury and hopes to be ready for tonight.
Advantage - Nashville
X-Factor – The X-Factor in this series maybe Smashville. Home ice advantage has not be such a large advantage for the Preds. Their home record in game one and two of a series combined is a paltry 7-5. They have an overall .500 record in game ones. If the Predators can harness the energy of Bridgestone Arena (which is sure to be off the chart tonight) without going over-the-top in trying to do too much… then Nashville will be in fine shape for this series… if not… wellllll…
Prediction – The Predators come into the playoffs playing well and seeming to be on an upswing to their game. They are deep, they are experienced, and they have a chip on their shoulder. That should be enough to win this series, but the nagging voice keep repeating… “but what about the power play?” I’m thinking they overcome it…
Predators in six.
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Game one drops the puck at around 8:45pm, doors will open at 6:30pm. Coverage begins on 102.5 the Game at 7:30pm live from Barrel House. Game coverage is on Fox Sports Tennessee inside the Preds viewing area and on USA Network in the rest of the country, in Canada the game will be carried on Sportsnet.
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The
Playoff Status section
The Eastern Conference
(1) Tampa Bay vs (WC2) Columbus – Game 1, Tonight
(2) Boston vs. (3) Toronto – Game 1, Tomorrow
(1) Washington vs. (WC1) Carolina – Game 1, Tomorrow
(2) NY Islanders vs (3) Pittsburgh – Game 1 - Tonight
The Western Conference
(1) Calgary vs (WC2) Colorado – Game 1 - Tomorrow
(2) San Jose vs (3) Vegas – Game 1 - Tonight
(1) Nashville vs. (WC1) Dallas – Game 1 - Tonight
(2) Winnipeg vs. (3) St. Louis – Game 1 - Tonight
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Random Notes
- Milwaukee Update – The Admirals dropped an overtime decision to Rockford but got an important point in the AHL’s Central Division race. They are back in action on Saturday night for their home finale. The Ad’s have two games left in the regular season
- Anthem – The guessing game has begun for who will sing the anthem tonight… and I have no idea who it will be yet.
- Playoff debut – If the D pairings hold from practices, rookie Dante Fabbro will make his Stanley Cup Playoff debut tonight.
- Home Ice - Nashville has earned 30 of its 49 all-time playoff wins at Bridgestone Arena (61.2%).
- Streak – The Predators have taken a point from Dallas in nine of their last 11 meetings.
- Party on the Plaza – Doors will open at 6:30pm tonight, but there is a party on the Bridgestone Arena plaza at 5:30pm with live music, games and the Smash Car
- Lottery – Wow… a more suspicious person would wonder… how did two original six teams and the New Jersey Devils beat the odds to get the top three picks in the upcoming NHL Draft. The Devils pick first, Rangers second and Chicago picks third.
- First game indicator – Teams that take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series at home own an all-time record of 327-106 (75.5%).
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