When asked recently what the Nashville Predators need to do as a team to challenge powerhouses like Detroit and Chicago for the Central Division title, captain Shea Weber had a simple, two-word answer: "Beat them."
Tonight at Bridgestone Arena, the Preds get just such a chance as they welcome in the Chicago Blackhawks for their first visit of the season. The team that knocked Nashville out of the 2010 playoffs is once again among the NHL's best, and the Predators get two cracks at them here in the final days before the All-Star Break, as they make a trip up to the United Center on Tuesday.
Follow after the jump for today's preview!
Tonight's game may well be the hottest ticket of the season so far - check out the resale market!
| Chicago (29-13-6) at Nashville (27-16-4) | |||||||
| CHI Offense vs. NSH Defense | NSH Offense vs. CHI Defense | ||||||
| 5-on-5 | |||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| CHI Offense | 2.9 (4th) | 31.6 (6th) | 9.2 (8th) | 2.5 (13th) | 28.7 (8th) | 912 (20th) | CHI Defense |
| NSH Defensec | 2.3 (8th) | 31.1 (28th) | 925 (8th) | 2.2 (20th) | 26.9 (26th) | 8.1 (16th) | NSH Offense |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
| Special Teams | |||||||
| CHI PP vs. NSH PK | NSH PP vs. CHI PK | ||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| CHI 5-on-4 | 6.0 (16th) | 53.4 (6th) | 11.2 (17th) | 7.5 (25th) | 56.0 (29th) | 866 (22nd) | CHI 4-on-5 |
| NSH 4-on-5 | 6.2 (19th) | 52.7 (20th) | 882 (15th) | 7.4 (2nd) | 49.5 (14th) | 14.9 (4th) | NSH 5-on-4 |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
While the Hawks are a pretty terrific 5-on-5 team, their Achilles Heel (the penalty kill) matches up quite nicely with Nashville's strength (the power play), so look at those special teams battles to play an especially key role tonight.
The Blackhawks are once again positioned to contend for the Central Division title and/or first place in the Westernc Conference, led up front by no-names such as Marian Hossa, Jonathon Toews, and Patrick Kanen (Patrick Sharp is also having a strong season, but is out with an injury). After a four-game stumble to start the new year, they've cranked it back up again, going 5-0-1 in their last six heading into tonight's game.
Perhaps most impressively, they've racked up an impressive record so far while getting sub-par goaltending. Corey Crawford has not exactly torn it up:
The gang from Second City Hockey is making the road trip to come down for this one, so with any luck we'll have a dramatic show for the home fans like on January 15, 2011, when a large contingent of Blackhawks fans were on hand to see the Preds pull off a late-game comeback:
For two periods, things looked bleak in Smashville. A huge crowd of Chicago fans had infiltrated Bridgestone Arena, cheering on as the Blackhawks manhandled the Preds, posting a 2-0 lead heading into the third. In one of the most remarkable games of this season, however, it all turned around from there forward. A Jerred Smithsongoal sparked the crowd, leading to the first "TV timeout standing ovation" of the season.
Then, in a moment that no Nashville Predators fan who was in attendance will ever forget, Shea Weber blasted home the tying goal just seconds afterward, silencing the Chicago rowdies. Pekka Rinne fought off some dangerous chances down the stretch and particularly in overtime, then stuffed all three Chicago shooters to secure the shootout victory.
Welcome to Smashville, guys. Have a good time while you're here, but leave the two points at Bridgestone.
The Preds are riding what may be their strongest sustained period of play all season long, with a 9-2-0 record in their last 11. The lineup uncertainty for tonight centers on the new addition to the team, Brandon Yip, who was claimed off waivers from Colorado on Thursday. He's expected to suit up, so which forward does he bump out of the lineup? Gabriel Bourque or Craig Smith are the likeliest candidates, so stayed tuned later this morning to see if word comes out of the morning skate.
Just to hazard a guess, I'm going to say Smith might watch tonight. Bourque has proved to be the feisty, high-energy winger we'd hoped for, while Smith's production has dropped off the map over the last several weeks (one goal & one assist in his last 14 games). One can wonder if his confidence and aggressiveness are slipping a bit as the long grind of the NHL season wears on him, but as you can see below he's still generating shots for himself at pretty much the same rate as he did earlier this season:
The data points here represent the number of Shots On Goal that Smith took, prorated to 60 minutes of hockey. The black line is a 5-game moving average, to smooth out some of the noise and give a sense of the trend.
Now I'd agree by the "eyeball test" that Smith hasn't seemed like quite the same player that we saw back in October and November, and we shouldn't be entirely surprised at that. The NHL schedule is much more arduous than the college one (practice all week, then play Friday & Saturday), so a mid-season funk is hardly surprising. While it's nice to see him get some recognition as part of the rookie group at the upcoming All-Star Weekend, perhaps it would be better for him to get those days off and let his mind and body rest up for the chase to the playoffs.
So look at it this way, if Smith does get scratched tonight, there could be a bright side. It could be the break from competition that the rookie needs to get his game back on track.
0 recs | 59 comments
GO PREDS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Creeping Death - January 21, 2012
Being at that game last year there were two big things i took away from it. One being that we can play with anyone in the league at anytime we are no longer a team where we ca. Sometimes compete rather we are a team that people circle and say this game is one we have to fight to win and will be a good measuring stick for us. Weird because while we are absent someone like a kane or towes the studs on the back end all 29 teams would go bonkers to have (weber suter pekka even josi has started to work his way up there). The other thing was something that made me sick and that was the fans for chicago cheering during the anthem. Now i know its their tradition to do that in the united center but when you travel to another arena something like that should stay at home. There were many many people around me who were disgraced by that. The chants and what not bring them on we will drown you out with ours but during the anthem have respect for that buildings tradition.
Shadow23 - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
As far as Blackhawks fans disrespecting our National Anthem, I think the Hansen boys said it best......
901predfan - January 21, 2012
I went to a game at the United Center for the first time earlier this year and the standing ovation during the National Anthem was one of the most moving moments I have ever experienced as a fan. Seeing it on TV doesn’t do it justice. It is done out of total admiration and respect of our country and those who have served it.
Griz-ATL - January 21, 2012
I also went to a game at United Center last year, and agree 100%.. It was an amazing experience.. Loved it..
Weintraut - January 21, 2012
I was at United Center on Halloween. I hardly would call a bunch of folks WITH hats on head, clapping and screaming “go hawks” during our anthem patriotic. I guess I am old fashioned, but I would preferred if they weren’t singing……please see picture above.
901predfan - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
i agree with 901 on this one. i can’t stand the lame gimmicks during the National Anthem. whether it’s screaming throughout or yelling certain words you pretend pertain to your team, it’s a bit disrespectful. but i guess it’s a sign of the times.
robjustice - January 21, 2012
singing?
So you also hate it when all of the Canadian fans all sing their anthem in unison? I think that’s more moving than any usa national anthem I’ve ever heard. So much passion, it’s great.
kypredsfan - January 21, 2012
I agree with this. Preds should have at least one night a year where the crowd takes the anthem.
cisar - January 21, 2012
My fave college bball team, UK, did this a couple of weeks ago. Crazy. Had 24,000 plus all singing the entire US national anthem. Quite moving indeed. I can provide a youtube if anyone is interested.
kypredsfan - January 21, 2012
note "weren't"
Singing your anthem is great.
901predfan - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
Yeah, the Canadian national anthem is pretty awesome. And its more crowd friendly since the vocal range required to sing it isn’t near as wide.
Stormyt - January 21, 2012
I’ve been there twice. The national anthem is unbelievable up there. Loved it both times. It also helps that their singer sings it just right for the applause. I’d prefer them not do it here, or Stars fans yell stars here, but I’m not gonna get tore up over it or anything.
kypredsfan - January 21, 2012
disrespect? predators fans have class?
The tradition has taken place since the 80s and the wars going on at the time. Its most recognized rendition was in 1991 during the gulf war. The NHL all star game in Chicago was the first large public broadcast since the start of that war.
Any chanting and jeering is always done in patriotic fashion. Sorry if you dont like it, the other 29 arenas can stay quiet for all I care.
But to diss us with the slapshot image- is just retarded.
The team has always had respect for those who fight for the country, americas freedoms, and its people.
Let’s leave the respect talk out of this convo. As it can very easily be turned right back onto predators fans
Talk about ‘respect’ Hey – YOU SUCK is respectful?
Predators fans booing Mike Modano when he scored the most goals in USA Hockey history- is respectful? Admit it preds fans- yes- you did it.
Preds need to change their goal song to hall and oates- maneater.
Still love ya Smashville, some of you became predators fans when I turned you onto hockey before the teams expansion was announced years ago… but its no matter. I guess there will always be wars across the mason-dixon line, no matter what century it is.
Make it a good game- hawks win 4-2 is my prediction.
BlackhawksFan54 - January 21, 2012
if Preds fans yelled “Hey – YOU SUCK” during the National Anthem, you’d have a point. at least the Preds logo isn’t a racial stereotype.
Preds win 4-3 in OT. thanks for stopping by!
robjustice - January 21, 2012
Racial sterotype?
C’mon, that’s lame.
Grizzledbear - January 22, 2012 via mobile
Yeah, lame.
cisar - January 22, 2012
Modano
Preds’ fan were booing the refs for the crap call. They thought Modano should have gone to the box for roughing. It had nothing to do with the record.
Can’t disagree with the ‘YOU SUCK’ chants being disrespectful. Especially when we win and it’s just our team on the ice.
Personally I don’t have a problem with the cheering during the anthem, but I’d prefer it stay at United. The Stars making the anthem about them though… that’s lame.
Preds Fanatic - January 21, 2012
I was about to say the same thing about the Modano booing, I just couldn't remember exactly what had happened to instigate it...
I just remember knowing that it WASN’T about the Milestone, and that we got some crap about it because out of context, it reflected very poorly on us. Plus, I would NEVER believe that Nashville fans would boo someone like Mike Modano for setting a new record. Ever. Say what you want about Nashville, but from my experience, we are very, vey rarely disrespectful. (The “YOU SUCK” thing has been argued both ways, so I’m not including that; I’m talking about actions that would be blatantly disrespectful, such as booing a Milestone, cheering for an opposing player that got injured, showboating, trash-talking, and everything else that is pretty much universally consider ‘classless’. You can always find exceptions to the rule, but from what I’ve experienced AND heard from other fans, Predators fans are some of the classiest around.)
davisca - January 21, 2012
I’ve never cared for the you suck chants
Lil cutie - January 21, 2012
We boo’ed Modano because he swung his stick, overhand, and hit Tootoo in the back/shoulder and was acting like a general ass that game.
Were you not there?
Dallas fans tend to get upset because our announcer didn’t announce it. Who’s right?
WE are for booing Modano after he swung his stick overhand at Toots.
You cannot JEER in a patriotic fashion during the anthem.
Panama? Granada? The bombing of Libya?This guy sees it differently:
Thanks for joining up so you could join the conversation.
cisar - January 21, 2012
Don’t forget Modano called for the Preds to be contracted
Shawn Kehoe - January 21, 2012
Yeah, that too. Though that wasn’t why I was booing him at the time.
cisar - January 21, 2012
Can't wait to see everyone freak if/when Smith sits.
I think it may do him some good. He has not been producing lately, maybe this can give him some motivation to get back on his game.
Josiah2729 - January 21, 2012
Perhaps, but no one can deny that the kid has hit more posts and had more weird bounces than anyone. Maybe he should put a Jobu doll in his locker or sacrifice a chicken…….
901predfan - January 21, 2012
Poile and Trotz
both know this is why you never pin all your hopes and dreams, and in this case, our playoff push, on the shoulders of a rookie. there are just to many ups and downs in the nines months of play it takes to win a Cup.
jeffery101y - January 21, 2012
he could probably use a few games off where he isn't just ill
he probably isn’t used to this much hockey at this pace in a single season…. though since Yip seems to pretty much play like Borque i could also see him being sent back down so it doesn’t endanger counting as a year in the pros
Herzausstein - January 21, 2012
Smith has already played in 45 games this season, so I think that ship has sailed. I think if you play 40 games it counts as a NHL season.
Stormyt - January 21, 2012
40 games counts as an Accrued Season towards earning Unrestricted Free Agency down the line, yes. Although since he’s already 22, Smith would hit the “age 27” criterion before the 7-year service mark anyway. Of course, that’s under the existing CBA…
Dirk Hoag - January 21, 2012
I think he meant so it wouldn’t count as a year for Bourque.
E-Sco - January 21, 2012
Yet Poile does sell that to the fans during the summer.
Grizzledbear - January 22, 2012 via mobile
I'd be sad, but wouldn't freak out.
I would like to see him play, but he’s also coming straight out of the college schedule, like Dirk said, and he’s also just coming back from being sick for a few days. I was checking out his game log stuff on NHL.com, and it was right around the 40 game mark when Trotz started decreasing his TOI. That makes me think it is indeed related to the upcoming, and much more strenuous, 2nd half of the season. Granted, he also stopped producing as much around then, which could also be part of it (but is also probably related to the tiring schedule). So all in all, it might not be a bad thing. It’d be sad, but not necessarily bad.
davisca - January 21, 2012
6-1 since they sent Blum down to MKE
…Just sayin’
BradPerala - January 21, 2012
1-1-0
Without suter…
Shadow23 - January 21, 2012 via iPhone app
I was actually just wondering what that stat was…. I haven’t missed Blum AT all, not like I would miss Josi if they sent him back.
davisca - January 21, 2012
Obviously.
cisar - January 21, 2012
Poor Blum. He really needs an otoplasty.
davisca - January 21, 2012
Or an Odoplasty
Stormyt - January 21, 2012
Haha. Well played.
davisca - January 21, 2012
Indeed.
cisar - January 21, 2012
HA, here’s an even better comparison…
davisca - January 21, 2012
Ponikarovsky
got traded to the Devils yesterday.
Low cap hit, 6’4, 220 pounds, averaged 20 goals a year as a secondary scorer after the lockout up until last year’s disaster (which led to his bargain salary this year).
A 4th and a mid level prospect was all it cost.
Their other grit guy with some hands Ruutu is likely also for sale. I think he would hit everybody in sight, and contribute offensively. And probably the cost will be reasonable, if GMDP buys early.
PekKarlsson - January 21, 2012
hate that guy … but I do wish we had a bit more sandpaper in our lineup … lost some of that over the summer … put him on a line with Toots – I see the refs arm raised already but would be fun to watch.
el pucko - January 21, 2012 via Android app
Perhaps Yip
adds sandpaper? IMO, Yip may be another of the ‘bottom 6’ type of solid player the Preds already have. Poni may be a big bruising winger with some hands that we don’t….Fisher, Hornqvist, Toots, it be nice to have another guy that drives the net, throws the body around, makes hard life for the other goalie.
PekKarlsson - January 21, 2012
Is there an updates of Suter yet?
Herzausstein - January 21, 2012
He's out for tonight
Josh Cooper tweeted that he’s targeting Monday.
Dirk Hoag - January 21, 2012
I wonder what's wrong with him.
davisca - January 21, 2012
Not that I know of.
But Eklund is reporting that Jason Blake is headed out of Anaheim and the Preds are interested.
TootooReigns - January 21, 2012
E4 or E5?
Why is Paul McCann associated with that website? There are a few interesting bloggers on that site, admittedly. Still, being tied to Ek….and the epic homerism, I suppose, though that is partially excused since his cheques are signed by the team……McCann would be better of being one of OTF’s contributors.
PekKarlsson - January 21, 2012
Well there are mulitiple rumors. LeBrun reporting Hemsky to Preds or Wings. Ek has us interested in both Jason Blake and Tuomo Ruutu. We’ll see.
kypredsfan - January 21, 2012
That KHL skills competition ‘puck on a string’ is awesome.
Puck on a string
cisar - January 21, 2012
That's sick.
TootooReigns - January 21, 2012
Haha. That's awesome.
davisca - January 21, 2012
We just might have a trading partner for Ryan Suter deal.
We package him and a first-rounder to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber and a first-rounder and considerations.
It’s a win-win.
Shea gets a partner with the capabilities of Ryan Suter, and Suter gets to go to a team that is a perennial playoff team and is on the upswing.
cisar - January 21, 2012
this is the kind of deal that makes complete sense
everyone wins
Herzausstein - January 21, 2012
Nashville has a hockey team?
Stormyt - January 21, 2012
Yeah! They play at the Brückenstein Wild Orchid arena.
cisar - January 21, 2012
D’oh! Reply fail.
cisar - January 21, 2012
How many times can we re-post this?
1. Welcome to Smashville, guys. Have a good time while you’re here, but leave the two points at Bridgestone.
LuvthePreds - January 21, 2012
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