Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars Preview: Hal Gill's Preds Debut
by Dirk Hoag on Feb 19, 2012 11:56 AM EST
in Nashville Predators Game Previews
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PrintThe Nashville Predators get to try out the newest piece to their puzzle today against the Dallas Stars (6:00 p.m. Central on FS-TN), as veteran defenseman Hal Gill makes his Preds debut. The Stars have beaten Nashville in their two previous meetings this season, so the Predators should have a little extra motivation to come out of Dallas with two points this evening.
Follow after the jump for the breakdown!
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Dallas Stars
Despite being close to 8th spot in the Western Conference (3 points out with a game in hand over Calgary), the Stars are taking the long view, as evidenced by their trade of defenseman Nicklas Grossman to Philadelphia for a pair of draft picks. Word has it that other players could be on their way out of town over the next few days as well, giving GM Joe Nieuwendyk the opportunity to put his stamp on the team over the summer. If they do make the playoffs, that will just be pure gravy to the franchise and its new owner, Tom Gagliardi.
While I've poked some fun at the Predators for figuratively crowning themselves Stanley Cup champions, the Stars organization seems to be going in the other direction, lauding themselves for the most meager of achievements. This comes from the pre-game notes supplied by their media relations team:
STARS ONE WIN SHY OF ANOTHER 30-WIN SEASON: Dallas is looking to secure their 15th consecutive 30-win season with a victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night. The Stars have one of the longest active streaks in the NHL right now:
Active Consecutive 30-Win Seasons
* Includes 2011-12 season
1. Detroit Red Wings: 21 straight
2. Colorado Avalanche: 18 straight (one victory shy of 19 straight)
3. New Jersey Devils: 16 straight
4. Toronto Maple Leafs: 15 straight (one victory shy of 16 straight)
5. Dallas Stars: 14 straight (one victory shy of 15 straight)
Winning 30 games in an 82-game season isn't exactly a remarkable feat. In each of the last two seasons, only one team has failed to reach that mark. Party on, Dallas!
Nashville Predators
From the sound of things being reported at the morning skate (by Jim Diamond and Josh Cooper via Twitter), Gill will pair up with Roman Josi, with the likely scratches being Jack Hillen and Ryan Ellis. Josi's a mobile puckhandler who likes to jump into the rush, so pairing him with the safe and steady Gill seems like a natural way to start.
In terms of who's had some success against the Stars? It's none other than the other new guy in the lineup, Brandon Yip, who has 4 goals and 4 assists in 8 career games against Dallas. With Patric Hornqvist still out of the lineup, will he continue to get power play opportunities in front of the net?
Expect Pekka Rinne to get the start in net, and we'll see you later today for the Game Thread!
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I wish Trotz would scratch Cube instead of Ellis.
Howard, Howard, Howard, You Suck! It's all your fault!
ugh... agreed. Cooper says that Gill and Josi are likely the second pairing
that means our defensive pairing from hell, 8 and 51, will be back together again tonight. Could be a long night
by Predator119 on Feb 19, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
I think Klein was a -11 back in early December. He is a – 11 now. So after some early weeks of bad games this season, he has played even for a couple of months and STILL has only 4 penalty minutes.
World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer
he has played a lot better lately. I haven’t yelled “F*** you, Klein!!!” nearly as much as I have in times past.
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Feb 19, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
I really like the idea of
Ellis/Klein
I think Klein has been somewhere between Kleintastic and Kleinerific this year, especially for the money. His early season numbers were in part with guys like Blum/Laakso/Hillen/Cube. Looking much better with a decent partner out there.
Also, our PK should be really solid with Gill. With him clearing the crease in PK1 and Weber on PK2.
by Marcus Newman on Feb 19, 2012 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
ya that could be good
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Feb 19, 2012 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
+3
(there are 3 people in my kitchen who concur)
by Marcus Newman on Feb 19, 2012 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
Do scratches count then? Maybe that’s why he’s being scratched if he’s not eligible to play that game – it doesn’t count toward the total.
"We want to keep beating them...to break their pride and break their season...is a huge thing for us." - David Legwand
Need Dirk's help
I know the number is 40 but don’t know the details after that. It would make sense that it would only be games played not games on the NHL roster. However, most CBAs have some crazy language.
It's 40 games on the Active Roster
So yes, scratches count.
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.
Of course...
we’re going to have a new CBA next season, so this whole issue is subject to change.
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.
Who knows, but it could change the combination of age & accrued seasons required for UFA, making this season’s result moot. I don’t think we’ve seen any indication how this issue might be affected.
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.
Lineup
I say dress 7 D so Ellis can play point on the power play and double shift Smith.
4th line doesn’t burn up minutes anyway and Smith is a young guy with alot of energy.
Of course Trotz would rather dress Smithson and sacrifice offense of course.
Poile and Trotz need to get over their mental block of non scoring barely essential forwards. No Ellis against the Hawks, no 2 points!
Just a thought
Morrow ($4.1 thru 12-13), Burish (UFA July 1), and a conditional pick (based on the games that Morrow plays during the 2012 calendar year) for Blum, Mueller, K. Wilson and our 1st. Would be fantastic if you could get away with Hillen rather than Blum but I don’t see it.
Provides a potential top 6 in Morrow (assuming he can get healthy). Allows for Bourque to go back to Milwaukee. Adds depth to our bottom 6 with Burish.
Playoff lines of
74-12-10
Morrow-15-27
33-11-22
24-13-Burish/Yip/Smithson
we don't need any more bottom 6
and if this did happen smithson for sure oughta be gone
by Herzausstein on Feb 19, 2012 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
IMO Burish is an upgrade over Yip and Smithson, but also I have a hard time seeing the justification of Blum and a 1st for a guy like Morrow who can’t stay healthy this year. He is a guy that if healthy could be a legit top 6 guy.
i'm skitish about taking the risk with someone that breaks often
yip is looking pretty descent so far seems to fit in the system quite well
by Herzausstein on Feb 19, 2012 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
Here's another thought.
Hillen and Cube combine for 2 million. We can use them in a trade since one is a restricted and one an unrestricted free agent after this year to help the team we trade with clear up some cap room. Add Blum and Lindy and maybe a pick and we should be able to garner some intrest from a cash strapped team with a top 6 forward they are willing to part with.
Howard, Howard, Howard, You Suck! It's all your fault!
also, that 30wins milestone is pretty lame
at least Nashville is not satisfied with anything but the Stanley this year.
If Gill wants to stay
I bet we re-sign him instead of Cube.
it'd be cool if gill liked it here enough to stay
by Herzausstein on Feb 19, 2012 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
maybe if he gets his friends mater suite he will stay
60% of the time it works every time
by Creeping Death on Feb 19, 2012 4:35 PM EST up reply actions
Is he married?
Maybe he can find a country star?
Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson
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