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Nashville Predators: After loss, Predators looks to improve against Columbus

By Nicholas Layne

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 19: Nashville Predators forward Emil Pettersson (65) is shown during the first preseason game between the Nashville Predators and the Florida Panthers, held on September 19, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 19: Nashville Predators forward Emil Pettersson (65) is shown during the first preseason game between the Nashville Predators and the Florida Panthers, held on September 19, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Nashville Predators, coming off a loss in Tampa Bay, hope to record their second win of the pre-season against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Friday night, the Predators took on the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road in Tampa. The Lightning prevailed by a score of 3 -1. Nashville Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette opted to play a young roster, the majority of whom were competing for roster spots. This youthful group had the chance to play a Tampa Bay roster that featured many prominent starters like Steven Stamkos, Chris Kunitz, and Nikita Kucherov. Despite a loss, the coaching staff had the opportunity to see a competitive game and make some decisions on personnel. Austin Watson scored the lone Nashville goal in the waning minutes of the third period.

What To Watch For

In the final road game of the pre-season, Peter Laviolette will likely start a young group of players again. There remain two home games against Columbus and Tampa Bay to finish the pre-season. You can expect these games to exhibit the projected regular season lineups with some impressive youngsters thrown in.

Filip Forsberg, Craig Smith and Matt Irwin will be some of the veterans in the lineup today. The coaching staff might learn a little more about some of the bubble players by pairing them up with the older guys.

Austin Watson will be absent from the ice tonight but Colton Sissons will be back, looking for even more momentum. Sissons has continually impressed since the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His role will likely expand with the Predators this season. Take note of his confidence on the ice and how he commands the line he centers.

Emil Pettersson, Vladislav Kamenev, and Yakov Trenin represent players that look to make their first NHL rosters out of camp. Kamenev looks to be the most NHL ready thus far and has two games of NHL experience. Pettersson is the only one among these three with a goal this pre-season.

Look for these players to be paired with older guys and watch how they keep up with the pace of play. Coach is looking for young players that can both deliver and receive the puck at opportune times on lines with NHL veterans.

Today

The Predators will be facing the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first of two pre-season match-ups. The Blue Jackets will be starting their first line of Artemi Panarin, Alexander Wennberg, and Cam Atkinson. The high-powered attack from this line will give Nashville coaches a look at young defensemen like Alexandre Carrier, Jack Dougherty, and Samuel Girard.

Sergei Bobrovsky will be starting the game between the pipes for Columbus and Anders Lindback expects to get some time in net for the Nashville Predators.

Next: Making the roster not a guarantee for one player

The puck drops in Columbus, OH at 2 p.m. (CT). The game can be heard on 102.5 FM The Game and the Predators Radio Network. All fans in the Predators/Fox Sports Tennessee viewing area may also stream the game on NashvillePredators.com.

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