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After going 2-1 in the week gone by, the level of competition takes a big step up for the Nashville Predators, as they face a home-and-home with one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference, and an Eastern Conference power which has Stanley Cup aspirations this spring.
Can the Preds keep the good times rolling, especially that sellout streak at Bridgestone Arena? Let's take a look...
Nashville Predators tickets are getting scarce, so make sure to take the OTF Discount!
The week kicks off Tuesday night in Denver, where the Preds will take on an Avalanche team which looked for a while like they were going to fade out of the playoff hunt with a 13-16-1 record about a month ago, but since then they've gone 10-3-0 to storm right back into the mix. Currently in 10th place, they are just one point behind the Predators and Wild in 6th & 7th, so they will look at this week as an opportunity to pass one of the teams ahead of them.
Notably, the Preds have won five straight games against the Avalanche, dating back to February 4, 2010.
With star center Matt Duchene on the shelf for a month, it's Cal's brother leading the Avs in scoring:
At least they're not playing on back to back nights, but familiarity should definitely breed contempt as the Preds and Avs follow up Tuesday's game with a rematch at Bridgestone Arena, in what is hoped to be the team's 9th straight sellout (got your tickets yet?). The Predators will seek to continue their recent stretch of solid play on home ice, where they've won 8 of their last 10 games.
One of the NHL's marquis teams comes to Smashville on Saturday night, as they seek to get back on track and drive for an Atlantic Division championship. After a 7-game winning streak carried them in early December, the Flyers stumbled over the final weeks of the year and allowed the Rangers to come from behind to beat them in the Winter Classic. Since that time they've beaten the Blackhawks & Senators, but there are concerns that former Preds captain Kimmo Timonen is dinged up, so we'll keep an eye on his status over the course of the week.
So what are your expectations for the week ahead? This will certainly be no cake walk...
0 recs | 18 comments
We gonna gitter done this week.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 8, 2012
Excited for for the Philly game.
Great team, and the place should be rockin. I think it will be a physical affair. Hartnell and Kimmo returning will add to the fun.
TootooReigns - January 8, 2012
As far as Philly, I don’t know whether I would rather face Cliff Lee or Jose Contreras…
cisar - January 8, 2012
Get ready for some wide open hockey!
Trotzy may pass out from all the end to end rushes! :D
We should do whatever the Blues did last night to the Avs. The Avs only had 4 SOG thru the 1st 30mins of the game. :o
Grizzledbear - January 8, 2012 via mobile
My prediction:
Split with Colorado, win against Philly.
Predators normally do pretty good against teams from the East.
I would prefer to take both against COL though. Got to take the points from the Western team.
Josiah2729 - January 8, 2012
Detroit now tops in Central, but have same # of points as StL and CHI
JBoogie22 - January 8, 2012
Of course that game had to go to OT...
I still think the Blues drop out of the picture soon.
Josiah2729 - January 8, 2012
i'd be awesome if the preds were comfortably atop the division
it’s so stressful to try to remain in those bottom playoffs spots, i’d be great to finally have some cushion…then again it wouldn’t be predator hockey if I wasn’t biting my nails the whole way thru…
JBoogie22 - January 9, 2012
Tootoo on 2 on now.
He is talking about substance abuse.
Josiah2729 - January 8, 2012
It's fantastic to hear him come right out and talk about that stuff.
Definitely the best way to address that kind of stuff on a personal level is to address it publicly (whether that means on TV or with friends or whatever). Good for him.
davisca - January 9, 2012
Got tickets to the Preds@Avs game tomorrow!!!
Lower-bowl, Preds attack-twice, section just to the right of the goal (as you’re facing it). Look for me in my gold jersey!!
davisca - January 9, 2012
Sweet- glad to know I’ll have some company. I’ll be sporting a blue Rinne jersey in the nosebleeds.
xIke - January 9, 2012
Oh, very nice! I thought I might be one of a few, lone Preds fans, so it’s good to know someone else will be there!
davisca - January 9, 2012
Nope…I’m the poor Preds fan who moved out here and has to watch every game on NHL Gamecenter. I’m hoping there are a few of us…maybe we can teach the lackluster Avs fans a thing or two about chanting (they don’t know any chants).
xIke - January 9, 2012
Ah, yes… how familiar. I’ve spent the last 4 1/2 years watching almost every Preds game on my computer. The only exceptions were when they played Chicago because then I could watch it on TV. Up in Boston now it’s pretty much the same thing, except no TV because they so rarely play each other. I’ve been debating buying GameCenter because it’s so expensive, but after rereading what I just read, it seems like it would be very, very worthwhile haha.
davisca - January 9, 2012
*rereading what I just wrote
davisca - January 9, 2012
Gamecenter’s buggy and the blackouts are infuriating for the price, but it’s cheaper than center ice.
xIke - January 9, 2012
That’s what I’ve heard, yea.
davisca - January 10, 2012 via Android app
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