Avalanche @ Predators Preview: Once More, With Feeling
by Dirk Hoag on Jan 12, 2012 9:57 AM EST
in Nashville Predators Game Previews
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The Nashville Predators will try to follow up Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Colorado with another win over the Avalanche tonight at Bridgestone Arena. Now that we're into the second half of the season it's time to look ahead to playoff probabilities, and when you consult SportsClubStats.com, their model says that a win in regulation would push the Preds' playoff chances up to a healthy 67.8%. It's not just about earning the two points for Nashville, but keeping Colorado from earning any, as well.
Follow after the jump for more!
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Tale Of The Tape
| Nashville (23-15-4) at Colorado (23-20-1) | |||||||
| NSH Offense vs. COL Defense | COL Offense vs. NSH Defense | ||||||
| 5-on-5 | |||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| NSH Offense | 2.2 (20th) | 26.6 (27th) | 8.3 (14th) | 2.4 (11th) | 30.7 (23rd) | 922 (11th) | NSH Defense |
| COL Defense | 2.6 (16th) | 29.6 (13th) | 914 (16th) | 2.0 (27th) | 29.7 (12th) | 6.9 (29th) | COL Offense |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
| Special Teams | |||||||
| NSH PP vs. COL PK | COL PP vs. NSH PK | ||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| NSH 5-on-4 | 7.7 (3rd) | 51.0 (13th) | 15.1 (5th) | 6.8 (21st) | 52.9 (22nd) | 872 (17th) | NSH 4-on-5 |
| COL 4-on-5 | 6.4 (19th) | 40.1 (2nd) | 841 (28th) | 6.6 (8th) | 53.6 (5th) | 12.2 (15th) | COL 5-on-4 |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
Can the Nashville power play keep on trucking against an Avs team that doesn't give up many shots on the PK, but have the 3rd-worst save percentage in the league there?
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche will presumably try to build momentum off the final two periods from Tuesday night, as they carried the flow of play (only after falling behind 3-0, of course). They'll still be without Shane O`Brien (knee injury), but Peter Mueller may well return, after missing 40 games with a concussion. He played in only 3 games back in October, after missing the entire 2010-2011 season with another one. If he is able to play tonight, he deserves some recognition from the fans for persevering on a long road back to the ice.
According to the Denver Post, it looks like Semyon Varlamov will be back in goal for the Avs. UPDATE: It turns out that J.S. Giguere will take the ice instead...
Nashville Predators
The only lineup question we really have is whether Jerred Smithson will be ready to play after missing Tuesday's game with a lower body injury. Practice was canceled yesterday, so we'll have to wait until at least the morning skate to find out whether he's fit for duty.
Expect Pekka Rinne to suit up again in goal, given the day off between games. He boasts a career 8-3-0 record against Colorado even though his save percentage is just .909 in those 11 contests. For the Preds, tonight is all about keeping the hot streaks rolling. They've dominated the Avalanche lately (six straight wins against them), have played well on home ice (8-2-0 in the last 10) and Patric Hornqvist feasts on the Avs (6 goals & 6 assists in 10 games). Can the good times stay alive tonight?
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Great title, haha.
Looking forward to winning this one!
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
by davisca on Jan 12, 2012 10:40 AM EST via Android app reply actions
No local TV?
Is there some awful college basketball again that’s somehow more important?
by Old Kentucky Shark on Jan 12, 2012 10:43 AM EST reply actions
How close to a sellout is this one?
Gotta keep the streak alive
by TitanPredBearFan on Jan 12, 2012 10:43 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Hope so!
Have a feeling some may be scared off by the weather.
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
by Josiah2729 on Jan 12, 2012 11:42 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Mostly Single Seats Available Throughout The Arena
However, there are still rows of seats available in Sections 302-332
Just under 600 tix left as of 2 pm
Usually there’s a huge college student walk up crowd on Thurs nights so expect sellout #9 in a row tonight(I hope). Next 2 home games against Philly and Chicago are gtd sellouts so we gotta keep the streak alive tonight.
Speaking of O'Reillys
Cal O’Reilly just was put on waivers! Would we bother taking him back?
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Why?
2g 3a in 21 games with Phoenix. The Preds have a surplus of non-scoring forwards as it is.
The truth is neither libelous nor slanderous.
Reason and logic instead of hope and faith.
Pro athletes--it's not what they say, it's what they do.
General managers--it's not what they say, it's what they do.
by shoot the puck on Jan 12, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
I probably should have said “low-scoring forwards”.
The truth is neither libelous nor slanderous.
Reason and logic instead of hope and faith.
Pro athletes--it's not what they say, it's what they do.
General managers--it's not what they say, it's what they do.
by shoot the puck on Jan 12, 2012 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
Snow or not
I’ll be there tonight even if I have to use my snowmobile to get there. Had sooo much fun watching on Tuesday, I can’t wait to see them keep the pressure on tonight. Go TOOTS!!!
You have a snowmobile in Tennessee?
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Just an FYI
Giguere is in net. Mueller is playing, along with Yip and Johnson. Jones, Porter and Hunwick are out. Should be a good game. Hoping for a different outcome, of course. =)
Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120
Mile High Hockey
The Hockey Writers
Thanks, I'll update above
Glad to see those creepy eyes disappear.
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and a guy who can help you save money on all things hockey-related at Hockey Gear HQ.
Pff puny inch of snow i laugh at you and give rude jestures to the idiots who think they can drive in snow and ice because “i have a four wheel drive truck and its like driving in mud” yeah no. Look guys if your going to the game leave earlier if possible and take your time go slower then usual and assume that the “wet road” is ice because it probably will be. If you drvie like you normally would on the highways (75-85 we all do it) your gonna end up in a ditch. Being from the northeast i dont want to see my fellow preds fans miss out on the game or get hurt so be careful
by Shadow23 on Jan 12, 2012 2:00 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Problem is everyone’s going too slow, someone speeds up, gets stuck or crashes, and backs up traffic for miles.
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Yeah very true people down here freak out about even the prediction of snow
by Shadow23 on Jan 12, 2012 2:28 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
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