The Nashville Predators get back to business this week after a longer-than-usual All-Star break, hoping to build off their recent 18-5-0 record to challenge for the Central Division lead. While they don't return to Bridgestone Arena until a Saturday night contest with a key rival, they start the week with two road games against contending teams from each conference...
The Preds have 7 home games in February - save money on tickets with the OTF Discount!
After defying pre-season predictions by leading the NHL during the opening weeks of the season, the Wild fell apart in mid-December, going 4-11-4 since December 13th. Up in Minnesota, they're already contemplating who might go if the Wild turn into sellers at the Trade Deadline, rather than load up for a playoff run.
Their best chance to turn things around might to get Dany Heatley really going. While he leads the Wild in scoring, his performance so far hasn't lived up to expectations.
A couple weeks ago, one of the Preds' more impressive wins of the month came against the Flyers in Nashville. The Erat-Fisher-Kostitsyn line led the way as the Predators took the lead and hung on for a bumpy ride down the stretch. Despite being a legit Eastern Conference contender, the Flyers boast only a 11-7-3 record on home ice, so the Predators should not be intimated at all by the challenge of gaining two points at Philly.
After missing a few games with a concussion, Claude Giroux has rocketed back up near the top of the NHL scoring ranks, second only to Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin:
Probably the most important battle of the week comes in Nashville on Saturday night, as the Blues come in to town. The interesting bit about the Blues' record so far is how widely their performance varies between home and the road. Even though they're among the top teams in the NHL standings, they'll bring just a 8-10-3 road record with them to Bridgestone Arena.
The big question is whether this guy will come down with the flu again, or will he take the ice against his former team?
So what are your expectations heading in to this week? I wouldn't call any of these games either especially tough or easy matchups. Minnesota has been up and down all season, the Flyers are strong but haven't played all that well at home, while the opposite is true of the Blues.
0 recs | 35 comments
We need 4 points vs Minnesota and St Louis
If we can do that, I’d consider it a good week. Any points against Philly would be gravy
KnightOfNi222 - January 29, 2012
Al! Where have you been?!
JBoogie22 - January 29, 2012
JBoogie!
Around, just haven’t had a chance to post in the game threads recently. Been pretty much exclusively Twitter lately, but I’m vowing to get back on my game as we start to make the playoff push!
KnightOfNi222 - January 29, 2012
yep, ur definitely missing out
JBoogie22 - January 31, 2012 via iPhone app
Just curious
I think it was Suter that announced that he wouldn’t be re-signing before the trade deadline, what are Nashville fans’ thoughts about that? Do you think he will end up traded, or signed in the off season or let go as a FA?
ProfessorOak - January 29, 2012
You can find the answer to that question if you dig around on the other postings. Most think Poile has to do something. The preferred option is to get that piece that proves we’re going for it.
DonBorvio - January 29, 2012
Oh boy. There have been SO MANY huge discussions about this…. just to bring you up to date quickly, here’s one of the most recent discussions on the matter.
davisca - January 29, 2012
Thanks, I’m an Avs fan but just figured I’d see what Preds fans thought about the situation.
ProfessorOak - January 29, 2012
my best guess
You get a lovely offer from Philly, involving Brayden Schenn, as Philly tries to make a cup push and replace Pronger.
ProfessorOak - January 29, 2012
Yeah, definitely! It has been quite the topic… a constant, constant topic… haha. I think most of us are just nervous about the fact that he hasn’t signed yet, but understand why he’s waiting (he wants our GM to bring in a top-6/3 forward to prove that this is a true Cup contending team).
davisca - January 29, 2012
Unfortunately, he may be the price of a top 6/3 forward. There are a few coming up in free agency, but Semin would never fit in in Nashville. I don’t know if he can even spell defense, let alone play it.
ProfessorOak - January 29, 2012
I think that’s the fear. Most of us don’t want to see Suter playing without Weber, and viceversa. We do have a ton a draft-picks piled up though, so that could be a nice option for trading, along with maybe someone like a Sergei Kostitysn (just tossing a name out there; I like him, but wouldn’t miss him)… if it’s a team that wants that kind of a trade, of course. I think it’s important to see what happens before and during the post-season, as in whether or not we acquire anyone for the playoffs/how far do we go in the playoffs.
davisca - January 29, 2012
agreed
and to be honest, I’m not all that impressed with Schenn. Couturier is out playing him in Philly, and now Schenn finds himself in Adirondak. I wouldn’t trade Suter for another less than the first overall pick, or a first rounder and a 4-6 forward. I honestly also believe that Suter is better than Weber, Weber just get’s all the credit. It’s hard to feed perfect passes time after time and Suter does that. I also think he is more sound defensively
ProfessorOak - January 29, 2012
Personally, I think ya’ll should trade him as a rental for picks/prospects but before you trade him, make him promise to re-sign with you guys, hahaha
ProfessorOak - January 29, 2012
I tend to think Suter is better than Weber too, but I’d rather not get rid of either haha. I’m not well versed on the free agents and all of that, but if we end up trading either of them for someone, I’d rather get a young but proven-consistent performer than a rookie who may or may not continue to play at the same level as his first year. The Preds have and have had plenty of young guys. We need someone who is more mature, but not old.
davisca - January 29, 2012
for an Avs fan
That is exactly right. I’m surprised you’ve noticed. A lot of Preds fans haven’t picked up that point.
Shawn Kehoe - January 29, 2012
really?
I feel like it’s pretty obvious
ProfessorOak - January 30, 2012
"BUT WEBER HAS AN AWESOME SLAP SHOT!"
davisca - January 30, 2012
I'd love to get 6 points out of this, but I'm feeling like we'll probably get 4.
Whatever the combination of wins that will lead to 4 points may be, I’ll be happy with it. We’ve been pretty good against Minnesota historically, so we might as well keep that trend going. I like the Wild, but not when they’re playing us :)
davisca - January 29, 2012
2 of those points needs to be StL for sure tho, especially in regulation.
JBoogie22 - January 29, 2012
I wouldn’t mind you guys taking out Minnesota, please just no 3 points games. I understand we are competing for those last 2 or 3 spots in the West playoffs, but 3 point games hurt us all, hahaha
ProfessorOak - January 29, 2012
Oh yeah. Duh. That is definitely really important.
davisca - January 29, 2012
I would love to get 8 points out of this week. but since there are only going to be 3 games, that is going to be pretty difficult to achieve
Creeping Death - January 29, 2012
Like how Tits is only allowed to shoot the puck once a game, but some how he’s had a couple of 2 goal games??
davisca - January 29, 2012
exactly!
Creeping Death - January 29, 2012
It’s magical!
davisca - January 29, 2012
we could get 9 pts out of three 3-point games, eh?
cisar - January 29, 2012
If anyone can do it, it’s Trotzy!
LuvthePreds - January 29, 2012
Haha, I just now noticed the picture for this post!
Love Honey Badger’s face. He looks hilarious.
davisca - January 29, 2012
its the “oh sh*t don’t screw this up on national tv” look
Creeping Death - January 29, 2012
And not screw it up he did!
davisca - January 29, 2012
St. Louis should be tired.
They play Friday night in L.A. , which should make for a tired Blues team. We need to get an early jump on them and while I am not predicting an easy win, I will predict a win. I am taking my Dad to the game that night, and (so far) we have always lost when he attends. Here’s to the first Predators victory for my Pops! Make it so.
Saber-tooth - January 30, 2012
The Blues may be tired
but not from playing in L.A. The game with the Kings on Friday is in St. Louis.
shoot the puck - January 30, 2012
I JUST HOPE
we didnt lose our mojo over the break.
predswilrule - January 30, 2012
THIS.
davisca - January 30, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of On the Forecheck to post a comment.