Predators vs. Sabres preview: Home cooking? How about BBQ Buffalo?
by Dirk Hoag on Dec 3, 2011 3:42 PM EST
in Nashville Predators Game Previews
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The Nashville Predators open a crucial stretch of home games tonight against the Buffalo Sabres (7:00 p.m., no local TV). The joint should be jumping tonight, and Bridgestone Arena should be sold out, as is becoming pretty typical on Saturday nights (if you want to look for tickets available for resale, check out the Tickets link on the top bar).
Follow after the jump for the Tale Of The Tape and more!
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Tale Of The Tape
| Buffalo (13-11-1) at Nashville (12-9-4) | |||||||
| BUF Offense vs. NSH Defense | NSH Offense vs. BUF Defense | ||||||
| 5-on-5 | |||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| BUF Offense | 2.5 (12th) | 30.1 (14th) | 8.2 (15th) | 2.4 (13th) | 30.7 (23rd) | 922 (14th) | BUF Defense |
| NSH Defense | 2.3 (10th) | 32.1 (29th) | 928 (8th) | 2.2 (22nd) | 25.2 (28th) | 8.9 (7th) | NSH Offense |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
| Special Teams | |||||||
| BUF PP vs. NSH PK | NSH PP vs. BUF PK | ||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| BUF 5-on-4 | 6.3 (12th) | 59.4 (3rd) | 10.7 (19th) | 4.9 (10th) | 47.4 (9th) | 896 (11th) | BUF 4-on-5 |
| NSH 4-on-5 | 6.2 (18th) | 54.5 (24th) | 885 (15th) | 6.5 (8th) | 49.5 (14th) | 13.0 (11th) | NSH 5-on-4 |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
The Sabres are a mediocre 5-on-5 team, but the danger lies on special teams, where they've been above-average on both sides of that battle. Just as a series of penalties helped to give up that early lead the Preds built in Vancouver the other night, they need to stay out of the box against Buffalo. The key will be not to fall victim to Patrick Kaleta's antics, as it's his job to agitate the other team in much the same way that Jordin Tootoo does for Nashville.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres come into this one on the heels of a 4-1 loss last night at Detroit, a game in which they lost forward Nathan Gerbe when a teammate's skate came up and hit him in the face. He's out for tonight, but fortuantely the injury doesn't appear to be nearly as bad as it could have been, and he shouldn't be out long.
As a team, Buffalo is struggling right now, having won only two of their last 8 games. The Sabres do boast one of the league's hottest rookies so far in Luke Adam, but the main guy to keep an eye out for is one of the least-discussed great goal-scorers in the game, Thomas Vanek:
It's also possible that we'll see Ryan Miller in goal for the Sabres, making his first appearance since taking a hard hit from Boston's Milan Lucic back on November 12. Miller ranks among the game's top netminders, but the question will be whether there's any rust to shake off there.
Nashville Predators News
There will be a couple lineup shuffles for the Predators in tonight's game, their first at home since that November 22nd loss to Edmonton. The Preds have dropped their last two on home ice when you include the Columbus game, and that's a trend they'll want to reverse quickly, as 6 of their next 7 games take place at Bridgestone Arena.
As Josh Cooper reported earlier today, Chris Mueller has been called up from Milwaukee, and Sergei Kostitsyn is still out. Perhaps most interestingly, Anders Lindback gets the start in goal after helping lead the Predators to victory in Vancouver, entering the game after the Preds fell behind 5-3 in the second period.
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AtG deserves the start tonight
Rinne needs time to relax and clear his head. We have pushed him a bit too hard, I think, so far this season. He hasn’t been his spectacular self lately, so hopefully this will help him.
Suter, He's a home boy, and we be kickin' it all the time.
I dont think its so much that Pekka hasnt been as good I think its mostly our D in front of him have not been as good. We seem to be just relying on him to always make the save instead of just playing like normal and trying to stop the shots before they get to him. I see this as a message to the team saying “DAMN IT PLAY BETTER IN FRONT OF GOAL NO MATTER WHO IT IS”
I can see where you are coming from for sure
We aren’t playing as well in front of him as we should be, but he has also let in a few really soft goals. He admits that his game isn’t where it should be right now.
Per Josh Cooper:
“I think that Anders deserves this game. He came in last game — we didn’t play a good game and we stole those two points, and he was a big part of that," Rinne said. "It’s good for him and also for me to get a breather. I have to get my game back where it’s been."
Suter, He's a home boy, and we be kickin' it all the time.
by Preds of State on Dec 3, 2011 4:21 PM EST up reply actions
Pretty much 6 of one, half dozen of the other. The D doesn’t play as well in front of Rinne, Rinne had to work extra hard and is worn out. Get the D to play better in front of Lindy, and give Rinne a chance to rest.
by DonBorvio on Dec 3, 2011 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Very good point
Suter, He's a home boy, and we be kickin' it all the time.
by Preds of State on Dec 3, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
Who said "don't bet on Lindy starting"?
I would seriously doubt it
by Dirk Hoag on Dec 2, 2011 6:22 PM CST
LOL
Somebody must've hacked my account
Yeah, that’s the ticket…
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of Hockey Gear HQ, a site devoted to helping you save on hockey equipment, accessories, and NHL apparel.
Trotz comment on SK74
The Predators called up Buffalo native Chris Mueller for tonight’s game. Trotz said Sergei Kostitsyn (upper body) is out. When asked about the length of Kostitsyn’s injury, which Trotz said he suffered in Calgary, the coach said this: "Don’t know and don’t care right now. I just care about tonight."
I know he is injured, but hopefully tits sees he is in the doghouse, and his play is not living up to expectations. All he does when he gets a break-away is get into the offensive zone and skate in circles like he forgot what he was doing at the time.
Suter, He's a home boy, and we be kickin' it all the time.
don't care
forget the doghouse. maybe under the bridge.
Lindback starting follows with Trotzy’s tradition that if the last goaltender gets a shut out then he starts the next game. I believe that this may be the first time that it happened when the netminder did not play the entire game. But of the four goaltenders in that game he one the only one who came out of it with a decent GAA for that game.
really, cause I loved Deerrr and Luo’s GAA
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Dec 3, 2011 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
Sidenote here…WTH is with this LSU kid trying to take OUR nickname for Smith. There can be only ONE Honey Badger….and thats OURS!
That annoyed me too. I saw “Honey Badger” trending and got all excited only to discover that it was an imposter.
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.
"Breathe deep. Think of smiley puppies"--@FakeLindback
WILL THE REAL HONEY BADGER PLEASE STAND UP!?
“Here I am!” he says.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
I’m sick and tired of our home games not being carried by FOXtn!! The owners need to get their act in gear and make sure ALL home games are televised! I have CI, but I hate hearing the opposing feed! arrrrggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I am you, you are me, and we are all together" Beatles
At least all the road games are on FS-TN this year. Slowly but surely, they’re making progress towards full coverage.
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of Hockey Gear HQ, a site devoted to helping you save on hockey equipment, accessories, and NHL apparel.
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