Nashville Predators must win tonight to set tone for season
The season is still young, yet tonight’s game is important. How the Nashville Predators play tonight will set the tone for the season.
It is only the fourth game on the season, but the implications are high. No, it will not keep the Nashville Predators out of the playoffs if they lose. Nor will it mean the Winnipeg Jets are winning the division. Still, the anxiety and excitement for tonight’s game is palpable.
Let’s face it. After the seven-game playoff series that was the second-round, last season still haunts the memories of Predators’ nation. The season series itself was a high-scoring affair. In five games, 42 goals were scored. Add to this the 46 goals tallied in the playoff series. So, 88 goals in 12 games. That comes out to 7.33 goals per game between the teams.
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Both teams return most of their roster from last season. For the Predators, Scott Hartnell and Alexei Emelin are gone, and the team is missing a bit of physicality. Nashville added Dan Hamhuis, a veteran defenseman who can lay the wood to opponents when needed. And, Zac Rinaldo plays with speedy and aggression as well. However, between him and Ryan Hartman, there is a risk for penalties.
For the Jets, Paul Stastny will no longer be a thorn in the Predators’ side in the series. After coming to the Jets last season, Stastny scored 2 points against the Predators in the regular season. Ten (5g, 5a) of his 15 points in the playoffs came during the second round. Stastny is now with the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Jets are looking for his replacement from within.
Also missing from last year’s roster are Toby Enstrom, Matt Hendricks, Joel Armia, and Steve Mason. Most notably is Armia, who had 29 points last season, including 4 assists against Nashville. It was the most points he had against one team on the season.
The early season tilt at Bridgestone Arena feels as important as Game 1 of a playoff series. To be the best, you have to beat the best. And these are the two best teams in the division. A win certainly sets the tone for what is to come.
Inside the Matchup
Both teams are three games into their seasons, and neither has started hot. The Nashville Predators opened with two hard-fought wins in New York but faced a Calgary Flames teams with a goalie on fire. Mike Smith saved every shot he faced during the game, including 14 high-danger chances. Viktor Arvidsson took a puck to the face early on Tuesday, meaning lines were shifted around. Statistically speaking, the Predators lead in all the important categories. CorsiFor and FenwickFor. Shots. High-danger chances. However, penalties and poor defense doomed their hopes as the Flame scored three goals.
Craig Smith and Mattias Ekholm continued to play well. Smith generated three high-danger chances on his own. The team’s FenwickFor rating was 73.08% with Ekholm on the ice, as he pushed the puck forward and kept the Flames at bay.
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However, P.K. Subban has a rough game. Even though the stats show quality play, the eye-test says otherwise. The first goal of the game for the Flames came off a penalty by Subban. Granted, the Flames had a breakaway chance, but Subban’s stick became stuck in the skates. Clear penalty call. Another goal resulted from a breakaway chance in the third. Subban pinched down to support Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg along the way, fighting for the puck. However, it left Sean Monahan uncovered. Monahan attempted to pass the puck across the ice, but it deflected off Ekholm’s skate. Ekholm was left to cover three Flames. It was an unlucky moment.
As for the Jets, their season is off to a similar start. After opening the season with a 5-1 win in St. Louis, they feel to the Stars by a score of 5-1. The Jets then returned home and defeated the Kings, 2-1. In total, the Jets have gained 24 high-danger opportunities, including 13 against the Blues. They have turned those chances into only 4 goals. With the talent on their roster, it is only a matter of time before this changes.
The power play is where the Jets excel. Even with only 2 goals so far, the Jets push the action around the net, leading to 5 high-danger chances. Kyle Connor is leading the way with three goals on the year. Patrik Laine, who had 44 goals last season, is stuck on one goal right now.
For the Predators to win, the defense must step up. We know the Jets are a physical team, especially Dustin Byfuglien. Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis must find ways to keep on their skates and push Mark Scheifele and crew away from scoring chances. Kyle Turris and Ryan Johansen will need to find open ice and control the puck in the neutral zone, then get the puck to their wingmen.
Lineup
After the low-energy performance at Bridgestone on Tuesday, the Nashville Predators look to rebound with a win tonight. Not much will change in terms of the lineup. The top two lines will be intact, leaving room to move players on the bottom-six. Look for the fourth line of Miikka Salomaki, Zac Rinaldo, and Colton Sissons.
Forwards
Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala – Kyle Turris – Craig Smith
Calle Jarnkrok – Nick Bonino – Ryan Hartman
Miikka Salomaki – Colton Sissons – Frederick Gaudreau / Zac Rinaldo
Defense
Roman Josi – Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm – P.K. Subban
Anthony Bitetto – Yannick Weber
Goaltenders
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
UPDATED 11:05 A.M: Adam Vingan reports Dan Hamhuis will return to the lineup tonight.
It appears Dan Hamhuis will return tonight against the Jets after missing the past two games.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) October 11, 2018
Storylines
- The Predators hold a 23-12-1-4 all-time record over the Jets, including 14-6-0-0 at Bridgestone.
- Ryan Ellis will play game number 400 of his career tonight.
- Pekka Rinne is 15-4-1 all-time against the Jets.
- Filip Forsberg has 14 career points against the Jets, but only 3 goals.
- Ryan Johansen has 11g, 12a in 19 games versus the Jets.
- Connor Hellebuyck has allowed 3.2 goals per game against the Predators during 12 regular season games.
- The road team won 7 of the 12 games last season.
- This is the first game of four between the two teams; however, they do not face each other again until January 17, 2019, in Nashville. They square off twice in Winnipeg in March.
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Where to watch
Fox Sports Tennessee broadcasts the game tonight from Nashville. Pre-game broadcast will start at 6:30 P.M. Central, with puck drop just after 7:00 P.M. Fans can also stream the game on the Fox Sports Go App, or listen to the call on 102.5 The Game.