Predators @ Jets: The Penultimate Preseason Preview

by Dirk Hoag on Sep 30, 2011 3:49 PM EDT in Nashville Predators Game Previews

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 24: Sergei Kostitsyn #74 of the Nashville Predators skates against Spencer Machacek #46 of the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena on September 24, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators (5-1-0) have only two games left on their preseason schedule, with tonight's 7:30 p.m. Central game at Winnipeg (3-3-0) followed by tomorrow's match with Carolina at Bridgestone Arena. For those players competing for NHL roster spots, the stakes become more elevated with each passing game.

From what I can tell there will be no live broadcast available for Nashville fans (unless you have NHL GameCenter Live), but it will be shown on tape delay at 3:00 a.m. on NHL Network, so set those DVR's!

As Amanda notes over at Inside Smashville, the original Jets were long-gone by the time the Predators joined the NHL, so this marks Nashville's first trip to Winnipeg, a coming home of sorts for Barry Trotz, from nearby Dauphin, Manitoba, Colin Wilson, who grew up there, and Jordin Tootoo, who played his junior hockey just down the road for the Brandon Wheat Kings. When they met in Nashville last Saturday night, the Preds took a 4-3 decision.

Follow after the jump for a look at the rosters for tonight's game...

For the Preds we have (according to their official Twitter account):

It's good to see Boomer back in the lineup after suffering a sliced wrist recently, he's eager to make the Opening Night roster, and it looks like he'll get a chance to show his stuff on a line with his old college buddy and SK74.

For the Jets? The Winnipeg Free Press lists their lineup for tonight (no Dustin Byfuglien), and make sure to swing by Arctic Ice Hockey, SB Nation's Winnipeg blog.

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Comments

Does anyone else feel like Boomer is a lock

to make the lineup? Given the local connection and his play so far, with exception of Willy, I kind of see him as the least likely of all the waiver ineligible to be sent down.

by Marcus Newman on Sep 30, 2011 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

I think he can still fall victim to the a numbers situation. the preds may have too many centers and it may push Geoffrion to the ahl. Or they may send him down so he can further develop his offensive game, instead of toiling on the 4th line and not getting decent ice time in the NHL.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Sep 30, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Boomer has too much of a ‘marketing’ edge … he won’t hit the AHL unless his play is so horrible it demands a demotion.

by XVIII on Sep 30, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

which would have more marketability

A geoffrion with smithson like production?
or a Geoffrion with a production level similar to wilson’s last year?

basically the more ice time they can get him at the nhl level the greater his marketing value becomes, and it may not take too long to develop his offensive game to the next level.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Sep 30, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

by Marcus Newman on Sep 30, 2011 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Craig Smith

It is really promising to see how the coaches are giving him every opportunity to succeed at the NHL level, instead of using the old “He needs some seasoning in Milwaukee” line. He may have what it takes to skip the AHL, like Wilson almost did.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Sep 30, 2011 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

I think he is the most likely of all the players to get sent down.

I think he is far from a lock on this team. The main reason he came up in the first place last season was because when everyone was getting hurt, Trotz and Poile called down and asked “Whos the best player down there right now?” and they said Geoffrion and that was that. With the injury to his wrist that has cost him most of the preseason games and the way players like Hali, Mueller. and Smith have played, I just dont see him making the opening night roster and may not even play for the Preds at all this season.

On the other end of things, I dont really get why Trotz has been splitting Blum and Klein up. They worked very well together once Blum got called up last season and I think that Laakso and Hillen played well together this preseason when they were together. After watching Ekholm on Wedesday, I’m pretty sure he played his way out of a Preds uniform, at least to start the season. Hes just not a great skater and got beat nearly every time. With only two games to go before the start of the season, I would have liked to have seen more of a finalized defense pairing and have Ellis in to see more power play time. After all, the Preds did have 6 power plays on Wednesday.

by TheEraser35 on Sep 30, 2011 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

Ekholm

IMO, just needs to get used to the rink size, and speed of the NHL game … i really hope he decides to stay in Milwaukee for a while, and not go back to the SEL.

by XVIII on Sep 30, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

they may keep him in NSH just so he won’t go back to SEL. He could probably step into Franson’s role (easy minutes with PP time) without much difficulty.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Sep 30, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry...

I do think the rink size is playing a significant role in his poor play, and that should be reason enough to send him to Milwaukee if he decides to stay in North America. He certainly has the size for a good defenseman but just isnt quite ready for the NHL yet.

by TheEraser35 on Sep 30, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

The reason Blum and Klein are being split up is that it’s preseason.

by Patten on Sep 30, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

i wonder why they haven’t done that with weber and suter?

by predwheels on Sep 30, 2011 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

They have at times.

World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on Sep 30, 2011 8:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

In other news, Magnus Hellberg played for Frolunda against the Rangers today

I can’t get any stats, other than that he went in sometime in the 2nd period and gave up 2 goals. Warm up your Google translate:
Frölunda fell against Rangers

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Sep 30, 2011 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

If Sloan got put on waivers...

how is he in the lineup for tonight??

by TitanPredBearFan on Sep 30, 2011 7:35 PM EDT reply actions

Put on waivers <> sent to Milwaukee

You have to clear waivers first, then they can send you down if they want. For now, he’s still on the Preds roster.

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by Dirk Hoag on Sep 30, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions