It’s the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy day, with all 32 teams in action over the course of the evening. But the big one is here at home where a suddenly-streaking Nashville Predators team takes on the Vancouver Canucks in a late start.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks come to town with a 3-2-0 record, and at first glance, their recent results might give Nashville fans some pause. To open the season, Vancouver did something that seems like an impossibility for Predators faithful – beat the Edmonton Oilers twice in a row. On October 11th, the Canucks steamrolled Edmonton 8-1 behind Brock Boeser’s FOUR goals (a first in his career). Also of note to Nashville fans (and fans of the rumor mill in general), the game’s opening goal was scored by rumored trade bait Connor Garland.
In the second matchup just three days later, the Canucks were able to weather goals from Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl before breaking the 3-3 tie with a 3rd period goal from Sam Lafferty.
With a three-game winning streak, the Canucks would stumble last week, dropping two in a row to Philadelphia (2-0 loss) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (4-3 loss) before regaining form with a 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers last Saturday.
Vancouver Player to Watch
Forward Brock Boeser. I talked about his four goal explosion in the season opener against Edmonton, but in the ensuing four games, he’s put up just two goals and one assist. Usually one would think that this means that he just got hot in Game 1 and now he’s coming down to Earth, but somehow I feel players tend to find a “comeback game” against Nashville. Look for Boeser to get involved early and often – Juuse Saros and the Nashville defense will have their work cut out for them.
Nashville Predators
The Predators enter tonight’s contest 3-3-0, and despite the embarrassing 6-1 loss to Edmonton just a week ago, Andrew Brunette and Nashville responded by steamrolling the New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks by a combined score of 9-2. The Predators took advantage against Peter Laviolette’s Rangers with a surprising offensive weapon – two early Cole Smith goals, and then the team’s top line added the finishing touches behind goals from Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg. Against the San Jose Sharks, it was all about the kids – new acquisition Sam Fagemo scored his first goal in gold to open the game, then team-leading goal scorer Tommy Novak added two goals to widen the lead. But the young guns weren’t done yet, as Kiefer Sherwood (who assisted on Novak’s first) picked up a Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a fight against former Predator Luke Kunin and a goal of his own. After a meaningless goal from Hertl in the 3rd, Luke Evangelista and equipment manager Pete Rogers provided the highlight of the early season Predators with a quick stick change and goal to seal a 5-1 win.
Nashville Predators Player to Watch
Defenseman Roman Josi – despite being tied for 3rd on the team with three points, the captain has yet to score a goal on the season, and hasn’t looked like his usual dominant self. In fact, he’s not only third in points, but also penalty minutes with six. I don’t see this “slump” lasting long – in fact, tonight is the night our Swiss leader bounces back and gets on the scoreboard.
Prediction
Vancouver has the ability to score in bunches, but even before the last two Predators victories, Nashville under Andrew Brunette has shown flashes of what this team could be on offense – and they finally got the results they wanted against NY and San Jose. I think Juuse Saros is more than up to the challenge tonight, and with 7 different goal scorers in the last two games, Nashville’s depth should help them outpace the Canucks – but it’s going to take some effort. I think Vancouver takes Nashville to overtime tonight, but the Predators will prevail 5-4 in the extra frame.
How to Watch
Tonight’s game can be seen on Bally Sports and heard at 102.5 the Game. The puck drops at Bridgestone Arena at 8:15 pm.