Nashville Predators: Players of the Week on the Canadian Trip

The Nashville Predators had a three game stretch on the road this past week and came away with three wins in convincing fashion.

If you didn’t think that the Predators were one of the best teams in hockey before this week started, they proved to you this week that they are in fact one of the hottest teams in hockey. Everything seemed to be clicking for the Predators this week, as they were able to score a ton of goals, play great defensively, and have outstanding goaltending in all three of their games. 10 different players scored goals for the Predators this week.

Game Recaps

The Nashville Predators started their three-game stretch in Vancouver as they took on the Canucks last Wednesday night. The Predators seemed to control the game from the get go, as P.K. Subban scored on a slapshot just over a minute into the game. Later in the period, Viktor Arvidsson scored on a shorthanded goal to put the Predators up, 2-0.

In the second, Subban unloaded on a shot from half-ice and bounced off Nilsson’s glove and into the goal. That’s just how the night was for the Predators as they had many lucky bounces.

Forsberg continued his hot streak as he added his 15th goal of the year on the power play in the 2nd period. The Fiala-Turris-Smith line continued their hot streak as both Craig Smith and Kevin Fiala added goals. Jarnkrok added another goal for the Predators as he made it, 7-1, which ended up being the final score.

The Predators then headed to Edmonton on Thursday to take on the struggling Oilers. The Oilers threw many shots at Saros during the 1st period, but Saros didn’t fold at all. The Predators had an action packed 2nd period, as they scored all four of their goals during the period.

Aberg added a goal early on in the 2nd period to put the Predators ahead. The Fiala-Turris-Smith line continued their streak as well, as Kyle Turris and Fiala added goals. Roman Josi added a goal later in the 2nd period to put the Predators ahead 4-0. Juuse Saros had an amazing game in goal for the Predators as he stopped all 46 shots that faced.

The Predators continued their road trip through Canada as they headed to Calgary on Saturday night to take on the Flames. They continued their great defensive play throughout the game, as well as getting some production from their offense. Ryan Johansen scored a great goal as he was falling down to put the Predators up 1-0. Fiala then added his third goal in as many games to put the Predators up by 2 goals.

The Nashville Predators came away with three big road wins, all in convincing fashion, getting 6 points. The next few pages will show my picks for players of the week for the Nashville Predators.

 #2 – Fiala-Turris-Smith Line

Ever since the Nashville Predators acquired Turris, Fiala and Smith have put up some amazing numbers. Both Turris and Fiala are on seven game point streaks, which is good for 3rd in all of hockey. This line has clicked ever since Turris arrived in Nashville. Not only has Turris played great, he has also helped Fiala and Smith put up even better numbers.

Just this week alone in three games, this line produced 11 points, with five goals and six assists. Fiala alone scored a goal in each of those games this week. Turris has been on the Predators for just 17 games, and has put up a total of 17 points in those games. Smith has put up 16 points in those games, with eight of those being goals. Fiala has also contributed a ton as he has also put up 16 points.

The Predators have been playing great hockey over the last few months, and a big reason for that is because of this line. They are all just feeding off each other, and helping this team just play better overall hockey.

In the seven games that the Predators have played so far this month, Fiala has been on fire. He has nine points in those games, and goals in six of the seven games. The only game he hasn’t scored in is the only game that we have lost in those seven games.

It is great to see this line tear it up like they are right now. If they continue to play like this, the Predators have a chance to make yet another deep playoff run.

#1 – The Goaltenders

It is no doubt that the Predators played great offensively last week, but the reason they played so well is because of how excellent Rinne and Saros played. They held opponents to just one goal over the course of the three games, and held opponents scoreless over the past 7 periods. Over the three games last week, Rinne and Saros faced a total of 104 shots, saving 103 of them.

Rinne has played great so far this season, and has played exceptionally well over his last 16 starts, with 13 wins, 2 losses, and one shootout loss. The Predators have fed off of his excellent play in goal during their hot streak.

Saros has continued to play great as of late after a slow start to the year for him. He really struggled at the start of the year, as he started the year off with 3 bad losses. But over his last 4 games, he has three wins and one shootout loss.

Against the Oilers on Saturday, Saros faced a ton of shots during the 1st period, and continued to face tough shots throughout the game, but never broke, as he had 46 saves over the course of the game. Those 46 saves are good for a franchise record for most saves in a shutout.

Next: Predators Smother Flames In a Shutout Win

Watching both Saros and Rinne play excellent right now is fun to watch, and is something that is promising to Predators fans. If they can keep this up, it’ll be a fun year for the Predators.