Doug Pensinger - Getty Images
4 months ago: DENVER, CO - JANUARY 10: Patric Hornqvist #27 of the Nashville Predators takes a shot at goalie Semyon Varlamov #1 of the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on January 10, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 4-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The Nashville Predators will try to follow up Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Colorado with another win over the Avalanche tonight at Bridgestone Arena. Now that we're into the second half of the season it's time to look ahead to playoff probabilities, and when you consult SportsClubStats.com, their model says that a win in regulation would push the Preds' playoff chances up to a healthy 67.8%. It's not just about earning the two points for Nashville, but keeping Colorado from earning any, as well.
Follow after the jump for more!
Tonight's game is not on local TV! Save money on tickets by taking the OTF Discount!
| Nashville (23-15-4) at Colorado (23-20-1) | |||||||
| NSH Offense vs. COL Defense | COL Offense vs. NSH Defense | ||||||
| 5-on-5 | |||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| NSH Offense | 2.2 (20th) | 26.6 (27th) | 8.3 (14th) | 2.4 (11th) | 30.7 (23rd) | 922 (11th) | NSH Defense |
| COL Defense | 2.6 (16th) | 29.6 (13th) | 914 (16th) | 2.0 (27th) | 29.7 (12th) | 6.9 (29th) | COL Offense |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
| Special Teams | |||||||
| NSH PP vs. COL PK | COL PP vs. NSH PK | ||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| NSH 5-on-4 | 7.7 (3rd) | 51.0 (13th) | 15.1 (5th) | 6.8 (21st) | 52.9 (22nd) | 872 (17th) | NSH 4-on-5 |
| COL 4-on-5 | 6.4 (19th) | 40.1 (2nd) | 841 (28th) | 6.6 (8th) | 53.6 (5th) | 12.2 (15th) | COL 5-on-4 |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
Can the Nashville power play keep on trucking against an Avs team that doesn't give up many shots on the PK, but have the 3rd-worst save percentage in the league there?
The Avalanche will presumably try to build momentum off the final two periods from Tuesday night, as they carried the flow of play (only after falling behind 3-0, of course). They'll still be without Shane O`Brien (knee injury), but Peter Mueller may well return, after missing 40 games with a concussion. He played in only 3 games back in October, after missing the entire 2010-2011 season with another one. If he is able to play tonight, he deserves some recognition from the fans for persevering on a long road back to the ice.
According to the Denver Post, it looks like Semyon Varlamov will be back in goal for the Avs. UPDATE: It turns out that J.S. Giguere will take the ice instead...
The only lineup question we really have is whether Jerred Smithson will be ready to play after missing Tuesday's game with a lower body injury. Practice was canceled yesterday, so we'll have to wait until at least the morning skate to find out whether he's fit for duty.
Expect Pekka Rinne to suit up again in goal, given the day off between games. He boasts a career 8-3-0 record against Colorado even though his save percentage is just .909 in those 11 contests. For the Preds, tonight is all about keeping the hot streaks rolling. They've dominated the Avalanche lately (six straight wins against them), have played well on home ice (8-2-0 in the last 10) and Patric Hornqvist feasts on the Avs (6 goals & 6 assists in 10 games). Can the good times stay alive tonight?
0 recs | 20 comments
Once more, with feeling
Funny
NashVol_PredHead - January 12, 2012
Great title, haha.
Looking forward to winning this one!
davisca - January 12, 2012 via Android app
No local TV?
Is there some awful college basketball again that’s somehow more important?
Old Kentucky Shark - January 12, 2012
How close to a sellout is this one?
Gotta keep the streak alive
TitanPredBearFan - January 12, 2012 via mobile
Hope so!
Have a feeling some may be scared off by the weather.
Josiah2729 - January 12, 2012 via Android app
Mostly Single Seats Available Throughout The Arena
However, there are still rows of seats available in Sections 302-332
Predaceous - January 12, 2012
Just under 600 tix left as of 2 pm
Usually there’s a huge college student walk up crowd on Thurs nights so expect sellout #9 in a row tonight(I hope). Next 2 home games against Philly and Chicago are gtd sellouts so we gotta keep the streak alive tonight.
TSCinSFO - January 12, 2012
Go Preds!
cisar - January 12, 2012
Speaking of O'Reillys
Cal O’Reilly just was put on waivers! Would we bother taking him back?
DonBorvio - January 12, 2012
Why?
2g 3a in 21 games with Phoenix. The Preds have a surplus of non-scoring forwards as it is.
shoot the puck - January 12, 2012
I probably should have said “low-scoring forwards”.
shoot the puck - January 12, 2012
Snow or not
I’ll be there tonight even if I have to use my snowmobile to get there. Had sooo much fun watching on Tuesday, I can’t wait to see them keep the pressure on tonight. Go TOOTS!!!
predzfan22 - January 12, 2012
You have a snowmobile in Tennessee?
DonBorvio - January 12, 2012
Doesn’t everyone?
predzfan22 - January 12, 2012
Um…erm… (something about it only snowing once or twice a season).
DonBorvio - January 12, 2012
Just an FYI
Giguere is in net. Mueller is playing, along with Yip and Johnson. Jones, Porter and Hunwick are out. Should be a good game. Hoping for a different outcome, of course. =)
Cheryl Bradley - January 12, 2012
Thanks, I'll update above
Glad to see those creepy eyes disappear.
Dirk Hoag - January 12, 2012
Pff puny inch of snow i laugh at you and give rude jestures to the idiots who think they can drive in snow and ice because “i have a four wheel drive truck and its like driving in mud” yeah no. Look guys if your going to the game leave earlier if possible and take your time go slower then usual and assume that the “wet road” is ice because it probably will be. If you drvie like you normally would on the highways (75-85 we all do it) your gonna end up in a ditch. Being from the northeast i dont want to see my fellow preds fans miss out on the game or get hurt so be careful
Shadow23 - January 12, 2012 via iPhone app
Problem is everyone’s going too slow, someone speeds up, gets stuck or crashes, and backs up traffic for miles.
DonBorvio - January 12, 2012
Yeah very true people down here freak out about even the prediction of snow
Shadow23 - January 12, 2012 via iPhone app
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of On the Forecheck to post a comment.