Nashville's latest playoff nemesis makes their first visit to Bridgestone Arena this evening, as the Vancouver Canucks roll in to town. Can the Preds continue their pursuit of the Red Wings for first place in the Central Division against one of the top teams in the Western Conference?
Follow after the jump for your preview...
As was expected, the Canucks are running away with the Northwest Division, which allows them the luxury of taking the long view right now and worry about fine-tuning for the playoffs, rather that stress over every game along the way. That's why some observers set aside the Canucks' 7-2-2 record last month and focus instead on fundamental aspects of team performance, and what they might mean for the road ahead:
Sure, the Canucks out-scored their opponents 12-7, but were outshot 158-118. Roberto Luongo threw up a .959 in January with the score tied and Cory Schneider a .947. It's incredible how good (and lucky) the team's goaltending has been.
But the Canucks 7-win record in January is a house of cards; despite big wins over Boston, Chicago, San Jose and St. Louis, neither of those wins were by more than a goal. In fact, the Canucks' had just a single clear victory, a win where a team wins by 2-or-more and empty net goals don't count. They're tracked by our friends in Edmonton at The Copper n Blue on a sidebar about halfway down the page, and while the Canucks are 17-7 overall, they were 1-1 in January. Games were too close for me to like, especially with a dangerously-high PDO.
Goaltending like that doesn't last forever, that's for sure.
UPDATE: This comes from Jason Botchford, covering the Canucks' morning skate today:
shakeup: bitz-henrik-Raymond, daniel-kesler-burrows, booth-hodgson-Hansen
— Jason Botchford (@BotchonCanucks) February 7, 2012
Might the Sedin twins get split up tonight? I can't remember that happening before in Vancouver...
One guy to keep an eye on is the NHL's Rookie of the Month for January, who is prospering these days in a Bottom Six role:
The main danger lies in the Sedins-with-Burrows and the Kesler-Booth combination. But when you have extra scoring pop coming from the depth lines as well, that's how you end up with a top-3 offense in the NHL.
The Preds continue to enjoy a relatively long stretch of good health, which leaves Barry Trotz some decisions to make on how watches from the pressbox tonight. It doesn't look like there's a suitable dance partner for Brian McGrattan, so count him out. The trio of Smithson, Hillen & Bourque sat out Saturday's game against St. Louis, so which one of them would get back into the mix?
Given the nature of the opponent tonight, my guess (and it's just a guess) would be that Smithson gets back in. Winning defensive-zone faceoffs and strong penalty-killing will be especially important tonight, as Alain Vignault loves to load up his star players with lots of offensive-zone draws.
Expect Pekka Rinne to get the start, as he hopes to even up his career record (4-5-0) against Vancouver:
0 recs | 28 comments
Yip
better be in. I am usually for giving a vet the nod if everything is equal but the Yipster has earned more time in my eyes. I am liking the Yip-Smith-Toots combo very much so far.
Marcus Newman - February 7, 2012
That line has been very good.
Lots of energy and LOTS of offensive drive. Eventually HB will figure out the post isn’t quite as thin as he thinks it is…
davisca - February 7, 2012
When we first picked Yip up; I was wondering wtf? But he has been a pleasant surprise and I’ve enjoyed watching him play. Should we send Bourque down to get him some PT or keep him up for an additonal option for Trotz?
buckeye_jg - February 7, 2012
No, I think Big Ern will be out and Bourque is back in. …or Smithson is back in. Bourque has played really well though.
Marcus Newman - February 7, 2012
Hahaha
Great title, Dirk! Now to actually read the article…
dnorm4 - February 7, 2012
Hopefully Weber chicken-wings Kesler’s head right on off, then dips it in ranch dressing with a side of celery.
djzielin - February 7, 2012
Oh, now I know you hate the Nucks, but let’s just beat them… not kill anyone :)
davisca - February 7, 2012
Okay, we’ll pass on the decapitations…but I could definitely go for another playoff rag-doll session…
Frattaway - February 7, 2012
We gonna hammer dem Nucks tonight!
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 7, 2012
I hope the Preds kick the Nucks right in the twins.
JSLandry - February 7, 2012
Hear hear!
(Or is it “here here”? I’ve never really known…)
davisca - February 7, 2012
Hear, hear....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear
TheEchoSierra - February 7, 2012
Spot on chap
Stormyt - February 7, 2012
Pip pip, cheerio!
davisca - February 7, 2012 via Android app
"And Twins!!!"
I can’t help but say that to myself every time I hear the word “twins.”
Frattaway - February 7, 2012
I am cautiously optimistic about this game.
I think we’ve improved dramatically offensively since the playoff team last year, and at this point the Canucks aren’t as worried about fighting anyone else in their division. I’ll be there, so someone will need to be rocking out the GDT in my place!
JBoogie22 - February 7, 2012
I'll cover for you in the GDT.
And yeah, I’m cautiously optimistic too… we’ve been winning very decisively, not going into OT/SO like the Nucks have. So maybe we can take advantage of that and just blast them outta here.
davisca - February 7, 2012
I think it's funny
That the canucks feel the need to break up the sisters because of Batman and Superman. Hopefully that messes with team chemistry and slows Kesler down.
TitanPredBearFan - February 7, 2012 via mobile
Splitting up the twins?
I’ll believe it when I see it. Vancouver has plenty of offense up and down the lineup. It’s going to be pick your poison regarding which line Trotz put 6/20 out against, anyway. Why would Vigneault mess with the chemistry on his lines- unless it’s to experiment and see what happens when he does split up the twins. Given Vancouver’s lead in the NW, this would be the time to do it, I suppose. It would be more of a future-oriented move, though. Trotz would probably respond by putting 6/20 out against the Kesler line in such a scenario. I say, bring it on.
Predadave - February 7, 2012
Agreed.
davisca - February 7, 2012
Even with the splitting of lines...
Klein has tremendously stepped his game up…He can take up almost as much responsibility as Weber/Suter. Bring it on!
Klein(er) - February 7, 2012
I like the Klein love.
He was drafted ahead of that Shea guy after all…
Marcus Newman - February 7, 2012
LOL
davisca - February 7, 2012 via Android app
Should be a great game tonite!
I’ll give it to you Pred’s….goaltending is solid, All-star d-men, and team-based offense….should be a great test for both teams.
.
Of course, we Canucks have a league of Hawks and Blues fans who are hoping the Canucks can win in regulation! I’m thinking even the Wings fan have to be paying attention to the Preds. If it wasn’t for CBJ, the whole dang division would be in the playoff hunt!.
Good luck to all, and be safe out there hockey fans.
#1 Canucks Fan - February 7, 2012
LOL @CBJ
Klein(er) - February 7, 2012
Poor CBJ....
Just think, if the beginning of their year had gone as everyone was expecting, what with all their acquisitions, the entire Central Division very well COULD have been in the hunt right now…
davisca - February 7, 2012 via Android app
Predators are 4-11 in their last 15 games playing on 2 days rest
….Tough luck
Klein(er) - February 7, 2012
Yeah, somehow I don’t think that’ll be as big of a deal tonight. Since they just had the ASG break as well and the loss to Philly. These breaks are rarely so close together.
DonBorvio - February 7, 2012
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