The Predators won convincingly on Tuesday and slightly-less-convincingly on Thursday. Tonight, they face the New Jersey Devils. The Predators last faced New Jersey in October on the road.
New Jersey Devils
The Devils are 10-13-6 on the season. They sit dead last in the Eastern Conference. This is not the same team that made the playoffs last season.
Taylor Hall leads the Devils with 31 points (8 goals, 23 assists). Kyle Palmieri has 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists), and young star Nico Hischier has 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists).
Captain Andy Greene has been struggling lately, too. The veteran defender is not getting any faster and has 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) this season.
Starting goaltender Keith Kinkaid has a .903 Sv% over 23 games. Since returning from offseason hip surgery, Cory Schneider has looked shaky in the six games he’s started. He has a .862 Sv% and has only won 1 game (in OT) as the starting goaltender.
The Devils fought back from a 0-3 deficit against Vegas last night to secure an OT win.
Nashville Predators
It was excellent to have Kyle Turris back in the lineup after missing 8 games with an undisclosed injury. He looked great alongside Craig Smith and Calle Järnkrok, even scoring an assist on Thursday.
P.K. Subban is probably the closest to returning of the remaining players on IR, but we might not see him until next week. Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson remain sidelined.
Ryan Hartman notched his 9th goal of the season on Thursday, Nick Bonino added his 5th, and Järnkrok scored his 7th.
Pekka Rinne has a .929 Sv% over 21 games with a 1.96 GAA (both League-leading numbers). We’re more than aware that Juuse Saros has been struggling lately, but he has the talent to be doing better once he gets his confidence and some good habits back. It looks like he’ll be getting another chance tonight.
The Predators required overtime to beat a hot Vancouver squad on Thursday. Two late goals by the Canucks—one on the power play, the second shorthanded—tied the game, but Colton Sissons scored in OT for Nashville. That was Sissons’ 7th goal of the season.
Tonight’s game is the last in Bridgestone Arena until after Christmas.
Memories and Feelings
- It’s the last pre-Christmas game in Bridgestone! Make sure to purchase a gift for the Preds fan in your life at the team store!/
Reasons to Watch
- I’d like another helping of Järnkrok-Turris-Smith, please.
- A rare Juuse Saros sighting!/
Devils Social Media
- @NJDevils
- @AATJerseyBlog : The Devils’ SB Nation site is All About the Jersey. /
Tonight’s Theme Song
“Runnin’ With the Devil” by Van Halen
Tonight’s Drink of Choice
St. Nikolaus Bock Bier from Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh.
How to Watch
Fox Sports-TN will have the TV broadcast and 102.5 The Game will have the radio call. Puck drop is at 7 Central.