The Nashville Predators will take the ice in Bridgestone Arena tonight to face off against the Montreal Canadiens. The Predators are currently coming off a heartbreaking OT loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, with a final score of 5-4.
The Predators stayed in that game thanks to the offensive heroics of Filip Forsberg’s hat trick, and the Predators will definitely need him in tonight’s matchup. Let’s take a look at who the boys in gold are up against.
How do the Canadiens Stack Up Against The Preds?
The Nashville Predators are currently sitting at 36 points in the standings. This leaves them 3 spots out of a wildcard spot by 6 points and good for 6th place in the Central Division.
On the other hand, the Montreal Canadiens are sitting at 33 points in the standings. The Canadiens are dead last in the Atlantic Division, leaving them 7 spots out of a wildcard spot.
Both the Nashville Predators and the Montreal Canadiens have been struggling this season, and this game could go either way. If the offense can show up and if goaltender Juuse Saros is his normal self, the Predators can absolutely win this matchup.
Players to Watch for Canadiens
As for players to watch, the first would be Forward Cole Caufield. Caufield leads the Canadiens in goals with 21 on the season and a point total of 30 thus far. The Predators defense will need to help Saros to keep the 22 year-old forward in check.
Next up is former Chicago Blackhawk Kirby Dach. Kirby Dach leads the team in assists, and has a point total of 23. Kirby Dach can dish the puck to open space, and the Predators desperately need to cut off seam passes so Dach doesn’t have the option to pass it an open man cross-ice.
Finally, Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki. Suzuki leads the team in scoring with 15 goals and 17 assists, good for 32 points. Suzuki is the player to watch, he can find a way to turn the game around if he needs to. Once again, the Preds need to keep the center in check if they have an aspirations of winning this game.
Closing Thoughts and Final Score Prediction
The Nashville Predators have this game in their hands if the offense shows up and the team comes in focused and ready to play. They absolutely cannot come in believing this will be an easy win. If the Preds come in focused with sound defense, a stellar Saros performance, and their offense firing on all cylinders, I can see the Preds taking this game.
On the flip side, however, if the team comes in looking slow, the Canadiens will make them pay quickly. The Canadiens may be low in the standings, but have talent that can win them this matchup. The Preds must come in with their best game and be ready for the challenge when it arises.
This should be a fun one to watch, and we’ll have you covered on our Twitter page as the game goes on. As always, Let’s Go Preds!
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: 4-3 Preds