Nashville Predators: Players of the Week
The Nashville Predators had a successful week, as they came away week with four much-needed points.
The Nashville Predators only had two games this week but came away with a victory in both games. They’re on a four-game win streak, and I’m sure Predators fans would love to see them keep that up. With the two victories last week, it put the Predators record on the year at 9-5-2, with 20 points. The Predators are 3rd in the Central division, behind Winnipeg and St. Louis.
After the west coast trip, the Predators had a few days of rest for they headed to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. Nashville struck first in the 2nd period on a goal from Matt Irwin. The 3rd period featured much more scoring than the first two periods. The Blue Jackets got a goal from Pierre-Luc Dubois to tie the game up early in the 3rd period. Calle Jarnkrok broke the tie with a goal at the 14:25 mark in the 3rd period. Viktor Arvidsson also added a goal late in the 3rd period, good for his 6th goal of the year.
Here are my predictions on players of the week for the Nashville Predators.
Honorable Mentions
Viktor Arvidsson
Viktor Arvidsson has been one of the most consistent players for the Nashville Predators all season. This week alone, he picked up two assists and one goal, bringing his season total to 10 points. Arvidsson’s 10 points is good for third on the team, behind P.K. Subban and Filip Forsberg.
Arvidsson assisted on Matt Irwin’s goal, the first goal of the night for the Predators. He also scored an empty net goal at the end of the Blue Jackets game, as the Predators won 3-1.
Arvidsson also picked up an assist against the Penguins as he assisted on P.K. Subban‘s power play goal.
Miikka Salomaki
Miikka Salomaki has played great for the Nashville Predators over the past three games. He had a goal against the Kings on the last game of the west coast trip a week ago. In the two games this week, he had three assists. All four of his points this year have come in the Predators last three games.
Salomaki had two assist in the game last Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He got his first assist of the night on Calle Jarnkrok’s goal in the 3rd period. Salomaki picked up his second assist of the night on Arvidsson’s empty netter.
Salomaki picked up his third assist in two games, as he assisted on Kyle Turris’ goal early in the 2nd period. The Predators would love to see these numbers continue from Salomaki.
#3 – Craig Smith
Craig Smith has been a very consistent player for the Nashville Predators this season. He only has seven points on the year for the Predators, but five of them have been goals. Of his five goals, four of them have come on the power play, including his goal on Saturday night against the Penguins. The Predators have two players in the top 3 list of power play goals. Filip Forsberg is tied for 2nd in the league with five power play goals, and Smith is tied for 3rd in the NHL with four power play goals.
Smith picked up two points in the Predators win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored a power play goal at the 5:29 mark of the 2nd period, as Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen picked up an assist. Smith also got an assist on Calle Jarnkrok’s goal in the 3rd period.
The Predators would love to see Smith keep up these goals. He is third on the team in goals scored, so the Predators and fans would like to see him keep this up. It is especially good to see the number of power play goals that Smith has scored on the year. If he keeps this up, he could be one of the top goals scorers on the team at the end of the season.
#2 – Kyle Turris
Kyle Turris, in his first game as a Nashville Predator, scored the Predators first goal of the game. The goal came on an assist from Miikka Salomaki. Not only did Turris score a goal in his debut, but he also picked up an assist on Calle Jarnkrok’s goal in the 3rd period. Turris is one of the few Predators to score a goal during their debut with the team. Cody McLeod scored a goal in his debut last season as well.
I personally believe the trade for Turris was an excellent trade, and that showed in the game against the Penguins on Saturday. The second line for the Predators looked excellent on Saturday night, as it featured Smith – Fiala – Turris. That line seemed to play very well all night as Turris and Smith both picked up one goal and one assist each. Predators fans would love to see the second line play like this all year. Both Smith and Fiala had been playing well before the trade, but with the addition of Turris to that line will only boost confidence and also bring along scoring.
#1 – Calle Jarnkrok
Many people during the offseason questioned why the Predators and GMDP protected Calle Jarnkrok, who last year was a fourth line center, over someone like James Neal. Jarnkrok has shown why GMDP kept him this season, especially over the Predators last two games.
Jarnkrok scored two goals over the past two games, scoring one goal in both games. He helped the Predators take the lead on a goal at the 14:25 mark of the 3rd period against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. Jarnkrok also helped break the tie during the Predators game against the Penguins on Saturday night. He scored a goal at the 4:46 mark of the 3rd period to put the Predators lead at 4-3. Jarnkrok’s goal was a beautiful toe drag coming off a turnover, as Turris and Smith picked up assists on the goal.
Jarnkrok has five points over the Predators last five games, as he has two goals and three assists. The Predators would love to see him keep those numbers up all season long, as he will see time as the Predators third line center.