Nashville Predators @ Phoenix Coyotes Preview: Admirals Aplenty

by Chris Burton on Jan 18, 2011 6:01 AM EST in Nashville Predators Game Previews

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The Nashville Predators take their road trip to the desert tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes, who have earned one more point than the Preds, albeit in one more game. Both squads, though, are fairly hot - Nashville is 7-3-0 in their last ten; the Coyotes 6-2-2.

It might be beating a dead horse, but Nashville needs the two points tonight in the worst way - Phoenix is a direct competitor for that 4/5 playoff spot, with the "winner" getting home ice. Sure, its a ways to April, but the more points now, the easier it'll be later.

After the jump, more on tonight's matchup.

Lineups

Nashville

To say that Anders Lindback had a rough go of things on Sunday would be putting it rather lightly. Time for Trotzy to return to the man who's 2nd in the NHL in goals against average and third in save percentage.

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	29	1687	14	11		60	2.13	827	767	.927	3

Without Matthew Lombardi, Cal O`Reilly, Steve Sullivan, Jordin Tootoo, Francis Bouillon, and perhaps Marek Svatos, you can expect the Preds' lines to look somewhat like this.

Forwards

Wilson - Legwand - Erat (A)

Kostitsyn - Goc - Hornqvist

Ward - Spaling - Smithson

Halischuk - Mueller - Dumont

Defense

Suter (A) - Weber (C)

Klein - Sulzer

Franson - O'Brien

Phoenix

Ilya Bryzgalov was recently named the NHL's "3rd Star of the Week".

Ilya Bryzgalov

#30 / Goalie / Phoenix Coyotes

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Born: Jun 22, 1980

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Ilya Bryzgalov	33	1942	17	8		83	2.56	1018	935	.918	2

Against the Sharks yesterday, the Coyotes were without Michal Roszival, Ed Jovanovski, and Vernon Fiddler.

Forwards

Upshall - Belanger - Doan (C)

Whitney - Hanzal - Vrbata

Korpikoski - Turris - Bissonnette

Pyatt - Fiddler (A) - Stempniak

Defense

Yandle (A) - Morris

Ekman-Larsson - Aucoin

Schlemko - Lepisto

Thoughts

If you take a quick glance at Nashville's roster this evening, you'll see that there are six players on the team that we did not expect to be here at the beginning of the year: Alexander Sulzer, Chris Mueller, Nick Spaling, Matt Halischuk, Marek Svatos, and Anders Lindback. Of those, three have spent time in Milwaukee this year, and one in the KHL. The fact that the Predators are even in the playoff hunt, let alone the home-ice hunt, is pretty amazing, and a testament to the organization's ability to prepare prospects and operate in a system that allows even the most meager NHL talents to succeed.
The Preds have, statistically speaking, one of the best team defenses and goaltenders in the NHL. Failing to protect a lead, no matter how large or small, is inexcusable. What happened Sunday in Chicago cannot happen again.
We've said it before, but it bears mentioning again - with a completely healthy Ryan Suter, Shea Weber might be playing the best hockey of his career. His 9 game point streak is the longest in franchise history by a defenseman, and 4th longest in Predators' history. Since New Year's Eve, Nashville's captain has 13 points, tied for most in the entire league with Vancouver's Daniel Sedin.
The SB Nation story editor ate my entire preview at 10:00 last night, so, uh, this is your final bullet. Enjoy the game.

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Comments

Since the Yotes are playing back-to-backs…I wonder if we see LaBarbera instead of Bryzgalov??

by Boom Boom Belak on Jan 18, 2011 9:59 AM EST reply actions

Still no announcement yet from the Coyotes on who is starting in goal.

Also, the fact that I haven’t heard anything about a call up probably means that they have 6 relatively healthy d-men ready to go tonight. After yesterday’s game that was a big question mark.

The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.

by Carl Putnam on Jan 18, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

Of course not but minutes after my last post, one of the local paper scribes is reporting the team is calling up Defenseman Chris Summers from the AHL.

The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.

by Carl Putnam on Jan 18, 2011 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

It’s offcial now. Summers has been recalled.

The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.

by Carl Putnam on Jan 18, 2011 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks for the update, Carl. In for Schlemko?

On the Forecheck: Spals to the wall.

by Chris Burton on Jan 18, 2011 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure yet. Word is Jovo & Rozy took the morning skate. If one of them can go I’m sure that would be the preferred option.

The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.

by Carl Putnam on Jan 18, 2011 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

Also, we like to joke about it being Milwaukee vs. Phoenix tonight, but its looking more like Milwaukee vs San Antonio at this point. Turris, MacLean, OEL, Boedker, Summers, all could be in for the Yotes, as opposed to Sulzer, Spaling, Mueller, and Halischuk for the Preds.

On the Forecheck: Spals to the wall.

by Chris Burton on Jan 18, 2011 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

Big difference there in terms of amount of games played in the NHL. 231 games for the Coyotes you listed compared to 128 games for the Preds guys.

The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.

by Carl Putnam on Jan 18, 2011 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

I doubt it. We are one point behind the yotes… I bet they go with Bryz

by Creeping Death on Jan 18, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

""The fact that the Predators are even in the playoff hunt, let alone the home-ice hunt, is pretty amazing, and a testament to the organization’s ability to prepare prospects and operate in a system that allows even the most meager NHL talents to succeed.""

Amen.

by HartnellsMop on Jan 18, 2011 10:59 AM EST reply actions

The prospect of a Klein-Sulzer tandem is just scary. Here’s hoping that “system that allows even the most meager NHL talents to succeed” proves out tonight.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Jan 18, 2011 11:21 AM EST reply actions

That’s just a guess, because Franson/O’Brien are familiar with each other. They could also go Klein/SOB, but that’s even scarier. I’d say break up Batman and Robin, but they’ve been too otherworldly to tinker with now.

On the Forecheck: Spals to the wall.

by Chris Burton on Jan 18, 2011 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Sulzer & Franson are familiar with one another, too, having played together in Milwaukee for a long time.

I’d expect SOB/Klein, then Sulzer/Franson.

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Preds. I can save you a few $$$ on Nashville Predators tickets, or just catch me on Twitter and Facebook.

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 18, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

I’mma close my eyes when the de facto second pairing hits the ice, then.

On the Forecheck: Spals to the wall.

by Chris Burton on Jan 18, 2011 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with ya there

O’Brien’s game seems to have slipped a little bit lately.

by pete schweddy on Jan 18, 2011 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

Problem with that is the Coyotes don’t have traditional 1-4 lines. Keeping those two together as a shutdown pair would work better against teams that are top loaded offensively I would think.

The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.

by Carl Putnam on Jan 18, 2011 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

Belated thanks to folks at Five for Howling for giving us advice before our trip to see the Preds there in November. The game fell apart for us, but my lady got to swoon with Anders Lindback over lunch.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Jan 18, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks. Hope you enjoyed your time here minus the game.

The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Contributor at Five For Howling.

by Carl Putnam on Jan 18, 2011 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

Who made those lines?

Why isn’t EKG together and why are Erat and Legwand on the same line?

by Lil cutie on Jan 18, 2011 12:45 PM EST reply actions

cause the Goc, Kostitsyn, Hornqvist line is better

by Creeping Death on Jan 18, 2011 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

Here’s to wishing them success !!

by XVIII on Jan 18, 2011 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

Then enjoy that proven Erat/Legwand chemistry!

by Lil cutie on Jan 18, 2011 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

don't get me wrong

I like the EKG line as well – I’m just wanting the Pred’s to get as many goals as they can

by XVIII on Jan 18, 2011 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn’t put Erat on a line with Lewand. I would have Wilson and Svatos when he comes back on that line. I would tell Erat to have fun playing with JP and Mueller… which they should give a try

by Creeping Death on Jan 18, 2011 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

This is what I wanted to see when Erat came back but then Svatos has been out. Hopefully this is what we see tonight if Svatos is back or whatever game he returns.

by Joel Ward is my Homeboy on Jan 18, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

exactly. Dumont still has some moves and can score but he is kind of buried down there on the 4th line. But throw in Erat who can handle the puck decent and Mueller who can be the physical one on the boards, and maybe that line can produce

by Creeping Death on Jan 18, 2011 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

I Agree

by cisar on Jan 18, 2011 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

Erat is good on D but he’s one of our top offensive threats and it doesn’t seem right to put him on a line like that. That’s why EKG still seems like a good idea with Hornqvist on Legwand’s line. Haven’t those two had some success together?

by Lil cutie on Jan 18, 2011 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

And you might be right that HQ with Kostitsyn and Goc is more effective than EKG. My point is that Erat and Legwand is a time tested failure and there’s no point in going down that dead end again.

by Lil cutie on Jan 18, 2011 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with you all theway there!

by Creeping Death on Jan 18, 2011 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

I dunno about those lines

Trotz changed up midway and put Erat back with Goc and moved HQ up with Leggy. Let’s hope he sticks with those lines because those are 2 semi-dangerous lines…Erat and Leggy? Meh, not so much.

by TitanPredBearFan on Jan 18, 2011 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

If I'm not mistaken...

Wasn’t Theodore named the 3rd star of the week and then we lit him up for 4 before being pulled?!

by predhead33 on Jan 18, 2011 12:50 PM EST reply actions

you are not mistaken, you are correct

by Creeping Death on Jan 18, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

all we have to do

is come out firing tonight and not have a meltdown like we did in Chicago.

by Creeping Death on Jan 18, 2011 1:12 PM EST reply actions

But do we need more than Admirals?...

Great point with the Preds use of our prospects from the Admirals, but my concern is that it is now time that we need more than what our prospects bring to the table. The Sharks launched the first volley in the west today by picking up Ben Eager and Kyle Wellwood, while we don’t need grinders we could use an offensive threat. Svatos was good I would like to see more… or the strides being made in attendance could suffer if we don’t make the cut.

by Rajmahall on Jan 18, 2011 1:44 PM EST reply actions