To say the game against the Edmonton Oilers was a disappointment is an understatement. Especially when you take into consideration what happened to them last night. The Nashville Predators should have won that game.
Enter the Philadelphia Flyers, who started this year’s campaign as bad as any team in the league, and canned their coach after only three games. However, since Craig Berube took over the bench on Broad Street, they’ve clawed back and are only two points out of a playoff spot in their division.
Be sure to head over to Broad Street Hockey for always excellent coverage of tonight’s opponent.
The Stats
| Philadelphia Flyers | Nashville Predators | |||
| Record | 11-12-2 | 21st | 13-11-2 | 17th |
| GF/Game | 2.16 | 26th | 2.31 | 24th |
| GA/Game | 2.40 | 10th | 2.69 | 18th |
| 5-on-5 Close SF/60 | 28.6 | 18th | 28.9 | 17th |
| 5-on-5 Close SA/60 | 33.2 | 26th | 29.3 | 14th |
| Fenwick Close | 48.50 | 21st | 48.80 | 18th |
| 5-on-5 Close Save % | .954 | 1st | .925 | 15th |
| 5-on-4 GF/60 | 5.7 | 19th | 7.0 | 12th |
| # of PP’s/Gm | 3.84 | 3rd | 3.12 | 25th |
| 4-on-5 GA/60 | 6.1 | 15th | 5.5 | 10th |
| # of PK’s/Gm | 4.12 | 29th | 3.23 | 11th |
The Philadelphia Flyers
In their last 10 games, the Flyers have gone 7-2-0. Struggling star Claude Giroux has gotten off the schneid a little, getting that monkey of a goalless streak off his back. Former Predators Scott Hartnell is also having some well documented struggles. He scored a goal yesterday against Winnipeg, but he only has eight points in 21 games this year. It may come as a shock to think that David Legwand has more points than anyone on the Flyers.
The biggest surprise for the team this season, though, may have to be Steve Mason. The Flyers seem to routinely have problems in net, but Mason has the goaltender he looked like he could be his rookie year in Columbus. Though he is only 8-8 in 18 starts this year, his numbers are sparkling. With a .933 SV% and a 2.10 GAA, he’s doing his part to keep the Flyers around in the standings.
The Nashville Predators
Uh oh.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-partner=”tweetdeck”><p>Kevin Klein has a "lower body" injury per the <a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Preds&src=hash”>#Preds</a></p>— JoshuaCooper (@JoshuaCooper) <a href=”https://twitter.com/JoshuaCooper/statuses/406839827095511040″>November 30, 2013</a></blockquote>
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That means, coupled with Shea Weber being day-to-day, that the two most experienced Preds defenseman are out of the lineup right now. The team has called up Joe Piskula from Milwaukee, who has five points (all assists) in 18 games with the Admirals this year.
It’s beginning to feel like deja-vu this season, with no player having luck to stay healthy for an extended period of time. The fact that the Predators top players are all out right now is really troubling. If I were David Legwand, I’d run.
This one could get interesting, ladies and gentleman. Tune in to FS-TN at 7 p.m. CST tonight to watch all the drama unfold.