Frederick Breedon - Getty Images
8 months ago: NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 01: Tuomo Ruutu #15 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against Jordin Tootoo #22 of the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena on October 1, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
The Nashville Predators hope to get back to their winning ways at Bridgestone Arena against the Carolina Hurricanes, the 14th-ranked team in the Eastern Conference. Carolina comes into this one with a 4-11-4 record on the road this season, so it's essential for the Preds to re-establish their dominance on home ice, where they had won seven of eight before losing to Dallas on Thursday.
Follow after the jump for more on this matchup!
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| Carolina (14-21-7) at Nashville (21-15-4) | |||||||
| CAR Offense vs. NSH Defense | NSH Offense vs. CAR Defense | ||||||
| 5-on-5 | |||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| CAR Offense | 2.3 (17th) | 28.1 (23rd) | 8.2 (17th) | 3.0 (28th) | 31.0 (27th) | 904 (25th) | CAR Defense |
| NSH Defense | 2.5 (11th) | 30.8 (24th) | 919 (11th) | 2.2 (22nd) | 26.4 (28th) | 8.3 (16th) | NSH Offense |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
| Special Teams | |||||||
| CAR PP vs. NSH PK | NSH PP vs. CAR PK | ||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| CAR 5-on-4 | 4.8 (23rd) | 51.0 (12th) | 9.3 (26th) | 7.5 (26th) | 54.3 (26th) | 862 (24th) | CAR 4-on-5 |
| NSH 4-on-5 | 6.5 (21st) | 52.7 (20th) | 878 (16th) | 6.6 (10th) | 50.2 (14th) | 13.1 (10th) | NSH 5-on-4 |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
Goaltending has been a sore spot for the Hurricanes this season, an area in which the Preds should have the advantage tonight. When your skaters are even mildly underwater, that takes away any margin for error, and
The Hurricanes have been one of the most disappointing teams in the Eastern Conference this season, losing the first three games of the season and never really getting on track afterward. The biggest blame has perhaps fallen on the shoulders of star center Eric Staal, who has been off to an abysmal start, but may be warming up now. After potting a goal and two assists last night, he now has 8 points in his last four games:
They do come into tonight's game after defeating Buffalo on home ice by a 4-2 score, so we'll see what kind of jump they have coming out of the gate against the rested Preds.
Of course, we'll get to see new Hurricanes (and former Milwaukee Admirals) head coach Kirk Muller in action behind the bench. His ability to transform this team over the long haul was noted as one of the 10 Keys to 2012 over at Canes Country:
Carolina's already showing a different playing style under its new coach, but Muller will need to time to implement exactly what he wants his team to do on a nightly basis. That may not fully come to fruition until next year's training camp, but so far the Hurricanes are making strides in transitioning from Maurice's systems to Muller's.
The man of the hour these days is Jordin Tootoo, who is enjoying a career season and is perhaps Nashville's hottest scorer these days, with 6 goals and 10 assists in 19 games dating back to November 22 vs. Edmonton. He has at least one shot on goal in 22 straight games, and is doing all this despite ranking 9th among Nashville forwards in average ice time.
Not bad work at all for a guy seeking a new contract.
The story to keep an eye on later today is whether or not Colin Wilson is ready to go - he's missed the last three with his mysterious upper body injury, and said he was feeling good a couple days ago, so hopefully he can be cleared for tonight's game. With some tough opponents coming up next week, the Predators need to lock down two points tonight, and avoid taking the Hurricanes lightly.
0 recs | 22 comments
Have tickets for tonight!
I am excited, Section 115. I am hoping that our loss the other night was an aberration and that the Preds will be back in full form tonight. I am especially excited to see Josi and (hopefully) Ellis play for the first time in person. I also hope to see WIson back in action, and have a feeling Horny is about to hit a good run, he is due. Go Preds!!
Saber-tooth - January 7, 2012
we're in 115 as well
In that weird section where you have get in from either 114 or 116. Near the top.
djzielin - January 7, 2012 via mobile
nhl network
carrying canucks bruins right now.
A few minutes in, a borderline line brawl. Starting by a little stick jab by a Canuck. Burrows, Lapierre, and Bieksa were on the ice.
So were Chara, Lucic, Thornton, and Horton.
Great idea, Canucks.
Fans are great: Luongo is on the bench, and they are singsonging his name.
PekKarlsson - January 7, 2012
Can’t believe that NBC or Versus didn’t pick this game up.
Stormyt - January 7, 2012
You can probably watch it online
on one of <<>>> sites we don’t bring up here.
Van just scored, tied 2-2. Tons of animosity, tons of penalties and hits and scrums.
PekKarlsson - January 7, 2012
The Canes most disappointing performer has been GM, Jim Rutherford.
Unfortunately, JR reverted back to his pre-Laviolette days when he over-emphasized signing Dmen at the expense of forwards. Eric Cole has stated that he would have signed for what JR gave Kaberle (that worked out well, eh?) and is paying Joni Pitkanen (of Joni-land fame) what he could have gave Ray Whitney to stay in Carolina (and the Wizard wanted to stay). The Canes would be loaded on offense had they kept the right people and could filled the openings on D with cheaper players……or orange pylons.
Muller is getting the team to compete better and get back some confidence, which coach Mo sapped from the players. They still have a shaky confidence at times, so the key to beating them is to just keep the pressure on them. The Canes have been really bad on the back end of back to back games, especially melting down in the 3rd periods.
With the Canes likely being sellers at the deadline, a guy there that would fit Trotz’ system really well is Chad Larose. Not the big scorer I’d like to get, but if all we can find is a 2nd tier scorer who hustles every shift, Larose would be a nice pickup.
Grizzledbear - January 7, 2012 via mobile
The contracts
of Ruutu and Ponikarosvky are up. They can add some grit, size, and some goal scoring ability too.
Nashville may also be in the market for an expiring contract D. Hillen, Ellis and Josi have been servicable, but get a vet like Spacek or Gleason (both pending UFA) and the bottom 4 D becomes alot better. Gleason fits the defensive D role, similar to guys like Zanon and SOB, but he’s probably a little higher caliber blueliner than those guys.
PekKarlsson - January 7, 2012
Considering how few sellers there likely will be approaching the trade deadline, guys like Ruutu and Gleason will be prized targets for teams with Cup aspirations, so the price will be high for guys like that. Poni is okay, but he could have problems playing in Trotz’ system. Spacek could come cheap, not really sure he would help much though.
One problem for the Canes if they want to have a firesale is that they still have to stay over the cap floor, which could limit how many deals they can make. They’re gonna want picks and prospects back in return for these players, not dead weight contracts.
Grizzledbear - January 7, 2012 via mobile
But if they need to stay over the floor
there is only so many picks/prospects they can get in return…….a dead weight contract, maybe cheaper than what they are trading away, and a pick could give the Canes want they want, and keep them above the floor.
I just thought of an NHL use for Brett Lebda! If only you could trade cap penalties….
PekKarlsson - January 7, 2012
In the case of the Poni’s, Spacek’s and maybe even Larose, that may be what they do. But with Ruutu and Gleason, I think they’ll hold out till the last second and pry a really good return out of someone.
Ruutu would be a good pickup, but with him being a UFA after this season, I’d rather use what it would take to get him on someone who will be around for awhile.
Grizzledbear - January 7, 2012 via mobile
Hey Predators
no matter who you play, you would be better served to concentrate on playing hockey rather than trying to right a perceived wrong like you did the other night. Just play.
shoot the puck - January 7, 2012
You do have a point. They won’t do that tonight.
amyinsparta - January 7, 2012
True. Focusing on the fact that we’re now in 10th place in the conference after the Stars just polished off the Oilers 4-1 should be our bigger priority tonight.
Grizzledbear - January 7, 2012 via mobile
Excellent point. The other night looked TERRIBLE.
davisca - January 7, 2012
Go Preds!
cisar - January 7, 2012
Might be able to watch the game tonight!
If not, though, go Preds!
davisca - January 7, 2012
no local coverage
Crap and i had tonight off work too
Shadow23 - January 7, 2012 via iPhone app
I will be following on the GDT.
Have fun! A win tonight could make for a pretty big jump in the standings. I will be following Wild-Flames as well.
Josiah2729 - January 7, 2012
Yeah, I'm gonna keep an eye on Wild-Flames, too.
I’d love for Calgary to have their _sses handed to them.
davisca - January 7, 2012
Maybe Phoenix and DirecTv have some advantages
It’s the Canes feed but I have a game to watch. I’d rather be at the game but…
Catwoman - January 7, 2012
big thank you
To Sean Henry and family for giving us late arrivers ( my 8 year old stepson ) a fang finger and puck! Thank you!
djzielin - January 7, 2012 via mobile
I saw him do that, I think. Crazy. What was that about?
cisar - January 8, 2012
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