The Week Ahead For The Nashville Predators
by Dirk Hoag on Jan 29, 2012 9:00 PM EST
in Nashville Predators News
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PrintThe Nashville Predators get back to business this week after a longer-than-usual All-Star break, hoping to build off their recent 18-5-0 record to challenge for the Central Division lead. While they don't return to Bridgestone Arena until a Saturday night contest with a key rival, they start the week with two road games against contending teams from each conference...
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Tuesday at Minnesota (7:00 p.m. Central on FS-TN)
After defying pre-season predictions by leading the NHL during the opening weeks of the season, the Wild fell apart in mid-December, going 4-11-4 since December 13th. Up in Minnesota, they're already contemplating who might go if the Wild turn into sellers at the Trade Deadline, rather than load up for a playoff run.
Their best chance to turn things around might to get Dany Heatley really going. While he leads the Wild in scoring, his performance so far hasn't lived up to expectations.
Thursday at Philadelphia (6:00 p.m. Central on FS-TN)
A couple weeks ago, one of the Preds' more impressive wins of the month came against the Flyers in Nashville. The Erat-Fisher-Kostitsyn line led the way as the Predators took the lead and hung on for a bumpy ride down the stretch. Despite being a legit Eastern Conference contender, the Flyers boast only a 11-7-3 record on home ice, so the Predators should not be intimated at all by the challenge of gaining two points at Philly.
After missing a few games with a concussion, Claude Giroux has rocketed back up near the top of the NHL scoring ranks, second only to Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin:
Saturday vs. St. Louis (7:00 p.m., no local TV)
Probably the most important battle of the week comes in Nashville on Saturday night, as the Blues come in to town. The interesting bit about the Blues' record so far is how widely their performance varies between home and the road. Even though they're among the top teams in the NHL standings, they'll bring just a 8-10-3 road record with them to Bridgestone Arena.
The big question is whether this guy will come down with the flu again, or will he take the ice against his former team?
So what are your expectations heading in to this week? I wouldn't call any of these games either especially tough or easy matchups. Minnesota has been up and down all season, the Flyers are strong but haven't played all that well at home, while the opposite is true of the Blues.
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We need 4 points vs Minnesota and St Louis
If we can do that, I’d consider it a good week. Any points against Philly would be gravy
"Be quick, but don't hurry. Do not let what you can't do interfere with what you can." - John Wooden
JBoogie!
Around, just haven’t had a chance to post in the game threads recently. Been pretty much exclusively Twitter lately, but I’m vowing to get back on my game as we start to make the playoff push!
"Be quick, but don't hurry. Do not let what you can't do interfere with what you can." - John Wooden
by KnightOfNi222 on Jan 29, 2012 10:43 PM EST up reply actions
yep, ur definitely missing out
by JBoogie22 on Jan 31, 2012 1:48 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Just curious
I think it was Suter that announced that he wouldn’t be re-signing before the trade deadline, what are Nashville fans’ thoughts about that? Do you think he will end up traded, or signed in the off season or let go as a FA?
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
You can find the answer to that question if you dig around on the other postings. Most think Poile has to do something. The preferred option is to get that piece that proves we’re going for it.
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Oh boy. There have been SO MANY huge discussions about this…. just to bring you up to date quickly, here’s one of the most recent discussions on the matter.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Thanks, I’m an Avs fan but just figured I’d see what Preds fans thought about the situation.
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 29, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions
my best guess
You get a lovely offer from Philly, involving Brayden Schenn, as Philly tries to make a cup push and replace Pronger.
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 29, 2012 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, definitely! It has been quite the topic… a constant, constant topic… haha. I think most of us are just nervous about the fact that he hasn’t signed yet, but understand why he’s waiting (he wants our GM to bring in a top-6/3 forward to prove that this is a true Cup contending team).
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
Unfortunately, he may be the price of a top 6/3 forward. There are a few coming up in free agency, but Semin would never fit in in Nashville. I don’t know if he can even spell defense, let alone play it.
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 29, 2012 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
I think that’s the fear. Most of us don’t want to see Suter playing without Weber, and viceversa. We do have a ton a draft-picks piled up though, so that could be a nice option for trading, along with maybe someone like a Sergei Kostitysn (just tossing a name out there; I like him, but wouldn’t miss him)… if it’s a team that wants that kind of a trade, of course. I think it’s important to see what happens before and during the post-season, as in whether or not we acquire anyone for the playoffs/how far do we go in the playoffs.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
agreed
and to be honest, I’m not all that impressed with Schenn. Couturier is out playing him in Philly, and now Schenn finds himself in Adirondak. I wouldn’t trade Suter for another less than the first overall pick, or a first rounder and a 4-6 forward. I honestly also believe that Suter is better than Weber, Weber just get’s all the credit. It’s hard to feed perfect passes time after time and Suter does that. I also think he is more sound defensively
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 29, 2012 10:01 PM EST up reply actions
Personally, I think ya’ll should trade him as a rental for picks/prospects but before you trade him, make him promise to re-sign with you guys, hahaha
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 29, 2012 10:10 PM EST up reply actions
I tend to think Suter is better than Weber too, but I’d rather not get rid of either haha. I’m not well versed on the free agents and all of that, but if we end up trading either of them for someone, I’d rather get a young but proven-consistent performer than a rookie who may or may not continue to play at the same level as his first year. The Preds have and have had plenty of young guys. We need someone who is more mature, but not old.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
for an Avs fan
I honestly also believe that Suter is better than Weber, Weber just get’s all the credit. It’s hard to feed perfect passes time after time and Suter does that. I also think he is more sound defensively
That is exactly right. I’m surprised you’ve noticed. A lot of Preds fans haven’t picked up that point.
hockey connoisseur. t-shirt addict. not famous. nerd.
by Shawn Kehoe on Jan 29, 2012 10:36 PM EST up reply actions
really?
I feel like it’s pretty obvious
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 30, 2012 12:33 AM EST up reply actions
I'd love to get 6 points out of this, but I'm feeling like we'll probably get 4.
Whatever the combination of wins that will lead to 4 points may be, I’ll be happy with it. We’ve been pretty good against Minnesota historically, so we might as well keep that trend going. I like the Wild, but not when they’re playing us :)
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
I wouldn’t mind you guys taking out Minnesota, please just no 3 points games. I understand we are competing for those last 2 or 3 spots in the West playoffs, but 3 point games hurt us all, hahaha
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 29, 2012 9:57 PM EST up reply actions
Oh yeah. Duh. That is definitely really important.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
I would love to get 8 points out of this week. but since there are only going to be 3 games, that is going to be pretty difficult to achieve
60% of the time it works every time
Like how Tits is only allowed to shoot the puck once a game, but some how he’s had a couple of 2 goal games??
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
exactly!
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Jan 29, 2012 10:15 PM EST up reply actions
Haha, I just now noticed the picture for this post!
Love Honey Badger’s face. He looks hilarious.
Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-
its the “oh sh*t don’t screw this up on national tv” look
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Jan 29, 2012 10:51 PM EST up reply actions
St. Louis should be tired.
They play Friday night in L.A. , which should make for a tired Blues team. We need to get an early jump on them and while I am not predicting an easy win, I will predict a win. I am taking my Dad to the game that night, and (so far) we have always lost when he attends. Here’s to the first Predators victory for my Pops! Make it so.
The Blues may be tired
but not from playing in L.A. The game with the Kings on Friday is in St. Louis.
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 30, 2012 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
I JUST HOPE
we didnt lose our mojo over the break.
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Dirk Hoag is the Forechecker, churner of NHL stats & analysis, and managing editor of On the Forecheck.
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