Battle on the ice
Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders come to Nashville riding high. On Monday night, they shutout the San Jose Sharks, 4-0, at the Barclay Center. It was the only game they played since losing to the Predators on Saturday. Even with the level of competition, the Isles only drew 8,790 fans to the game, 3,500 fewer than against the Predators.
In the previous matchup, Nashville only peppered goalie Thomas Griess with 21 shots. Good thing four found the back of the net. However, it was Robin Lehner that shut down the Sharks for the Isles. Lehner is 2-0-2 in his career against the Predators, and may get the start tonight.
As for Nashville, the shutout win against the Jets spoke volumes. A complete team effort propelled the Predators to victory. Ryan Hartman led the charge, turning two intercepted passes into points. While the top lines worked to score the final goal of the game, it was the effort of Kevin Fiala, Craig Smith, Colton Sissons, and Hartman that pushed the action. They accounted for 10 of the team’s 18 scoring chances.
The Islander come in as the third-worst team in CorsiFor percentage at 5v5, rating at 38.67%. Should Nashville control the shot-shares on the night, it could be a long game for the Isles.