Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets Preview: Early Returns
Despite losing 4-3 to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, the Nashville Predators are feelin' good. They look to get back in the win column on Saturday night in Nashville vs. the Jets.
What is with this schedule? We've played some of the teams in the Central Division (Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars) several times in a few weeks time and have yet to see the other teams (Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche) even once. This isn't the Walking Dead or Game of Thrones, NHL Scheduling Committee... you don't need to pack all the episodes into a two month span.
At any rate, after Saturday, we won't see the Jets again until February 12th. Could this be the last time these two teams meet in a meaningful game in the regular season?
The Winnipeg Jets
The last time we saw the Jets, we lost 3-1 in a disappointing Tuesday night effort. Since then, the Jets are 2-1-1 with wins over the Hurricanes and Senators. So, we can expect another quality, defensive hockey game with a team that boasts some great young talent.
Because we just recently saw the Jets and they are basically the same team as when we last saw them, I will devote the rest of the Jets section to tweets made about Filip Forsberg aimed at the Washington Capitals and their fans...
Filip Forsberg has 15 points in 14 games. Good trade, @washcaps
— Coop Cooper (@SalvaDeBoer) November 9, 2014 @AGretz what's martin erat up to
— Fear The Fin (@fearthefin) November 13, 2014 Filip Forsberg is on pace for an 82-point rookie season. Awesome, @washcaps. Just awesome. #CapitalsTalk
— Jonathan Cribbs (@Jonathan_Cribbs) November 7, 2014 Imagine if @washcaps had a prospect like Filip Forsberg. Just imagine.
— Andrinho™ (@KamikazeSwede) November 14, 2014 Greatest monument to McPhee is hearing "Filip Forsberg, former first-round pick of the Washington Capitals," at least once every Preds game.
— Adam Gougeon (@AdamGougeon) November 14, 2014 Washington Capitals fans worst nightmare= Filip Forsberg on Nashville
— Ricardo Lawlor (@ricardohockey87) November 14, 2014 Filip Forsberg is incredible. Good job @washcaps
— pjstock42 (@pjstock42) November 14, 2014
<logs on> <sees Filip Forsberg scored, has as many goals as Ovechkin> <logs off>
— Japers' Rink (@JapersRink) November 14, 2014
Good job indeed, @washcaps
The Nashville Predators
You had to like the way the Preds kept fighting back in that game on Thursday. This team has another level when they go down a goal or two, which is more than we can say for previous Predator teams. If that game was 15-30 seconds longer, I bet we tie it and come out of there with at least 1 point.
But lets talk more about Filip Forsberg, shall we? For instance, this:
You have to give James Neal all the credit for the incredible bank pass look, but that's a helluva one-timer there...
And then there's this:
I'm counting three Blues skaters that Forsberg avoids to set up a nice layoff pass for Weber to slam home. Quick hands, great vision, and unselfishness from Forsberg right there.
Reasons To Watch
- Uhh, did you watch those gifs? That's why.
- Because the Predators have FINALLY landed a player of James Neal's caliber, and yet they also have a rookie that is currently seven points better.
- To see who Ryan Ellis randomly fights tonight. My guess is either Michael Frolik or Adam Lowry.
The Important Details
Early Saturday night start! Puck drops at 6pm, TV is FS-TN, Radio is 102.5 The Game.
Music For Your Pre-Game Enjoyment
You've seen some pretty amazing stuff from the Nashville Predators so far, but Jake Bugg is wondering if you've really seen it all yet...