After a season opening doubleheader split with the Florida Panthers in Nashville. The Nashville Predators now travel to Tampa Bay for their third game.
On Tuesday night, the Nashville Predators opened preseason play with a doubleheader versus the Florida Panthers. Florida took game one, 5-3, and Nashville won game two 3-2 in OT. It was good to get a first look at the 2017-2018 Nashville Predators. Mostly the new additions and the rising youngsters.
#Preds prevail 3-2 in overtime to split doubleheader with #flapanthers and open preseason. #FLAvsNSH https://t.co/6zdH5E59Uq
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) September 20, 2017
Players to Watch
Forwards Kevin Fiala, Colton Sissons, and Miikka Salomaki were the highlights of Nashville’s first series. Fiala was back in action for the first time after his gruesome femur injury in the playoffs. He assisted on an Arvidsson goal and appeared to be 100%. Which is great for the offense. Fiala provides a spark with his speed and finesse and should be a huge part of the Nashville offense.
Sissons continues to impress fans, as he seems to get better by the game. He is slowly working his way up to be one of the better forwards in the Nashville lineup. Like Fiala, he brings an energy to the Predators. And he will be vital in the Predators attempt to make it back to the Stanley Cup.
Salomaki has been bouncing back and forth between the AHL and NHL for the last few seasons. He appears ready to make the jump to the NHL, and this time he looks like he will stay. Salomaki’s two goals lifted the Predators over the Panthers in game two on Tuesday, including the OT winner.
After the game, Head Coach Peter Laviolette said about Salomaki that “He’s strong, he’s healthy right now, and I think that showed in the other game, so we’re going to move him up the lineup even further”.
Tonight
The Predators will be playing the first of two preseason games vs. the Lightning. Like Nashville, Tampa Bay split their first series with Carolina earlier in the week.
Tampa Bay’s captain Steven Stamkos will be making his season debut tonight, so the Predators defense will have a challenge in shutting down an excellent forward. Also playing tonight is Nikita Kucherov who’s an offensive dynamo in his own right. The young, mostly AHL defensive corp will have a lot to handle tonight.
The Predators will start with Salomaki, Sissons, Jarnkrok, Weber, and most likely Trevor Murphy. Saros is between the pipes tonight, making his second preseason start. He gave up 5 goals vs the Panthers and is 0-1. So he’ll look to aim a little higher than that.
The final score isn’t the important part of these exhibition game. The development of the future talent is paramount. And letting the older guys touch up their skills before the season is an added bonus. However, a win is pretty nice.
Next: Nashville Predators: Important battles loom with two weekend games
The boys in gold are 1-1. Cheer ’em on tonight in Tampa Bay. The future is bright. 18 days until Roman Josi and Co return to Smashville.