Predators Game Day Preview: Nashville @ Los Angeles

by Dirk Hoag on Nov 6, 2010 7:00 AM EDT in Nashville Predators Game Previews

Can the Nashville Predators reverse a 3-game losing streak against the league-leading Los Angeles Kings? Hey, nothing focuses the attention of a team than a major challenge. The Kings are 5-0 on home ice so far, and welcomed star defenseman Drew Doughty back into their lineup by shutting out the Tampa Bay Lightning 1-0 Thursday night.

Follow after the jump as we take a look at tonight's matchup. It's a 9:00 Central start, with no TV coverage in Nashville. If you have the Center Ice package, however, it does look like at least a standard-definition feed will be available (DirecTV says it will be on channel 784, but not the HD equivalent 784-1). While you're reading, be sure to check out the latest 303:30 podcast, which features Matt Reitz, an L.A. blogger at View From My Seats...

Key Matchup

vs.

Kevin Klein will have likely to handle one of hockey's most rugged crease-crashers, Ryan Smyth. "Captain Canada" will be playing his 1,000th NHL game tonight, and will give Klein all he can handle as he thunders down the left wing.

Nashville Predators

Injuries have really taken their toll as the Preds have faltered over their last three contests, getting outscored by a total of 12-5 against St. Louis, Detroit, and then Phoenix. The return of Marcel Goc restores a bit of stability to the center spot, and allows Colin Wilson to return to the wing. From there, he can concentrate more on generating scoring chances, which are sorely needed on the league's 29th-ranked attack.

The Preds will celebrate a milestone of their own as Barry Trotz ties Toe Blake for 5th place on the all-time list of games coached with a single franchise, at 914.

In Goal

Can Pekka rebound from a poor effort Wednesday night at Phoenix? Barry Trotz may have glossed over some of the goals, but there were many other plays where he got caught way out of his crease, and his defense bailed him out. The real test of a #1 goalie is whether he can put a game like that behind him quickly, so keep an eye on big #35 tonight:

Pekka Rinne

#35 / Goalie / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 207

Born: Nov 03, 1982

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Pekka Rinne	7	407	2	3		18	2.65	223	205	.919	1

Projected Lineup

We don't expect any changes from what we saw against the Coyotes, so...

Forwards

Sullivan - O'Reilly - Hornqvist

Ward - Legwand - Wilson

Kostitsyn - Goc - Tootoo

Dumont - Spaling - Smithson

Defense

Bouillon - Weber

O'Brien - Klein

Sulzer - Franson

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are pretty much the darlings of the Western Conference this year, the sexy pick to be the next Chicago Blackhawks-type breakthrough. They boast a dynamic group of forwards led by offensive dynamo Anze Kopitar and industrious workhorse Dustin Brown, whose ability to draw penalties is legendary. The disciplined Preds will need to be at their best to avoid giving the Kings excessive power play opportunities.

On the back end, Drew Doughty was a Norris Trophy finalist last season, and Jack Johnson has as many assists (8) as Shea Weber and Cody Franson combined. They've been complemented with the acquisition of Willie Mitchell as a free agent. Mitchell was Vancouver's top all-around defenseman before a concussion ended his season early last year, and he could ultimately prove to be the most pivotal free agent pickup in the Western Conference as a minute-chomping reliable presence back there.

In Goal

Jonathan Quick shut out the high-flying Lightning on Thursday, and will presumably get the start tonight:

Jonathan Quick

#32 / Goalie / Los Angeles Kings

Height: 6-1

Weight: 212

Born: Jan 21, 1986

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Jonathan Quick	9	549	8	1		15	1.64	258	243	.942	1

Prediction

What do I look like, a fortune teller?

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Comments

Realistically

not looking good. Except for shots on goal, the Kings are statistically superior in every team category I could find. Quick is playing lights out while Rinne is heading in the opposite direction. If the Kings bring their A game this could be uglier than the loss to the Wings a week ago. Hope I’m wrong.

by shoot the puck on Nov 6, 2010 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

I couldn't confirm this yet

but I think you guys are going to see Jonathan Bernier in goal for the Kings tonight. He’s 1-2 with a 2.68 GAA so far this year. That will up your chances for a W.
However, Bernier isn’t playing to his potential yet. He was the AHL goaile of the year last year and some were saying he would have Quick’s job by Jan/Feb. He usually has great fundamentals but he’s had some trouble controlling rebounds which lead to some ugly goals.
Should be a good game. Too bad most of you won’t see it. It was blacked out in LA too until a local network picked it up after the Kings started winning. (Had to get that in there)

by Hambone* on Nov 6, 2010 1:15 PM EDT reply actions