The Nashville Predators pay a visit tonight to the Ottawa Senators (6:30 p.m. Central on FS-TN), in what serves as a bit of a reunion night for a pair of Preds. Can they maintain the pace being set by the top teams in the West against a faltering Eastern opponent?
Follow after the jump for your preview!
| Nashville (32-17-5) at Ottawa (27-22-7) | |||||||
| NSH Offense vs. OTT Defense | OTT Offense vs. NSH Defense | ||||||
| 5-on-5 | |||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| NSH Offense | 2.3 (17th) | 27.2 (24th) | 8.5 (13th) | 2.3 (9th) | 30.9 (27th) | 926 (7th) | NSH Defense |
| OTT Defense | 2.6 (19th) | 30.3 (22nd) | 913 (21st) | 2.6 (8th) | 31.0 (8th) | 8.4 (16th) | OTT Offense |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
| Special Teams | |||||||
| NSH PP vs. OTT PK | OTT PP vs. NSH PK | ||||||
| GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | ||
| NSH 5-on-4 | 7.4 (2nd) | 48.9 (15th) | 15.2 (3rd) | 6.7 (22nd) | 52.2 (21st) | 871 (19th) | NSH 4-on-5 |
| OTT 4-on-5 | 6.5 (18th) | 54.2 (28th) | 880 (16th) | 5.3 (20th) | 49.6 (13th) | 10.7 (20th) | OTT 5-on-4 |
| GA/60 | SA/60 | Save % | GF/60 | SF/60 | Shoot % | ||
The penalty kill has been a real sore spot for the Senators, something which the Predators may be able to take advantage of. In 5-on-5, Ottawa has been pretty good, but goaltending provides a pretty good edge for Nashville.
While the fans will heartily welcome back Mike Fisher, who was one of the most popular players on the team during his 11 seasons there, the gang at Silver Seven point out that former Sens have prospered against them:
The Ottawa Senators are poised to welcome Brian Elliott and Mike Fisher back to Ottawa this week, but maybe they should be careful about being too welcoming to their former teammates.
In games against players who were dealt away during the 2010-11 Senate Reform fire sale so far this season, the Ottawa Senators have a 1-3-0 record, with the lone win being a shootout victory against the Montreal Canadiens. Chris Campoli has played one game against the Sens this year, and has one assist. Chris Kelly has played three games against Ottawa, and has two goals and an assist. It's obviously a curse.
Perhaps the biggest development on this team has been made by 3rd-year defenseman Erik Karlsson, who leads all NHL defensemen in scoring:
What was one of the feel-good stories of the NHL season appears to be coming apart at the seams, as the Senators were widely expected to go through the awful early stages of a long-term rebuild this season under new head coach Paul MacLean, only to find themselves in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff pack last month, contending even for the 4th spot and home-ice advantage in the first round. A tailspin over the last 2.5 weeks (0-6-1), however, has knocked them down to the 8th spot, and since they've played more games than anyone else in the league, they could easily get passed up soon.
The Preds are 6-2-0 in their last 8 road games, so they certainly won't be intimidated by today's game at Ottawa nor Saturday's at Boston.
As regards the lineup, I wouldn't be surprised to see former Senator Brian McGrattan get in there, not just for the chance to skate in front of former fans, but also because the Sens have a couple ruffians in Zenon Konopka and Chris Neil who may bear watching. That move could push Jerred Smithson back into the pressbox, and as he confided to David Boclair yesterday, he isn't happy at all about it:
"I want to be in the lineup every night and I'd be lying if I said I was OK with the situation I'm in right now," Smithson said. "I mean, as a hockey player, you need to want to play every single night and you're not going to be happy just sitting around and being the odd man out.
"You have to work that much harder in practice and be a professional about things."
That's good, it would be much, much worse if he was OK with how things have shaken out.
Tonight, however, all eyes will be on Fisher, who isn't just returning to his first NHL city, but is doing so on one of the hottest scoring streaks of his career.
Can he put aside the distractions tonight to keep the goals coming?
0 recs | 14 comments
I hope there is a place in the organization for
Smithson once he is done on the ice. I think he can still play in the NHL but he is definitely near the very bottom of the Preds depth chart right now. The dude is character all the way though and is proof that Shea Weber isn’t the only hero to ever play here.
Marcus Newman - February 9, 2012
I totally agree.
I’ve loved Smitty for a long time, but I feel like he’s getting edged out by the younger guys. I really hate to see that happen, because he has such a strong character (The Predator Way!) and I feel like he’s a fantastic leader and role model for said younger guys. He’s also a good defensive forward we’ve been able to see grow and develop and mature over the past 7 years, and he can beat almost anyone on the face-off dot (on a slight tangent, I’d be interested to see his numbers from when he’s drawn against Toews, who is also excellent on the FO… I’d assume those exist somewhere in the depths of the Internets).
I’m just kinda torn. I don’t want Smitty to go anywhere, but I feel like there isn’t really a spot for him anymore, outside of his FO prowess. What to do, what to do…. :(
davisca - February 9, 2012
i hate to see Smitty's star starting to fade.
he’s one of my favorite Preds ever. he defines Predator hockey. or at least what used to be Predator hockey. he rarely scores, but the ones he does are quite memorable. the playoff goal in Anaheim being one of the best in the team’s history. he can still play in the league, but his days are numbered here. great leader in the dressing room too.
HartnellsMop - February 9, 2012
One way or another....
….he’s a 4th line grinder who was (at least up to) recently an elite PK specialist. He should be proud that he was able to carve out a 10 year career in the NHL. That shows a lot of moxie, and is highly respectable.
Now it’s time to move on………………..
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - February 9, 2012
You have an awesome name, by the way.
davisca - February 9, 2012
As Reg Dunlop said to Ned Braden...
You can get more playing time if you fight (or something like that). I like the fact that Smithson plays a tight game is one of the better faceoff men on the Preds roster, but as a former Thrasher fan, there are many times I’ve seen O’Neil take liberties with younger guys (SK74, Ellis would be an immediate targets) and Konapka is a freaking animal (leads NHL in FMs), so I see this roster move as a must. McGratton and Toots should be able to keep those two at bay.
BTW, Smithson’s last fight was against Ryan Malone in Dec of 09 and he was given the loss, according to Hockeyfights.com.
Gumpucks - February 9, 2012
Love the Slapshot reference, definitely the most under-appreciated movie of all time.
predhead33 - February 9, 2012
smitty could be scratched in favor or mcgrattan on saturday too. we’re gonna need a tough guy to go against the goons of boston
predmama - February 9, 2012
I think you’d want both in to battle the size of Boston (see last game vs Philly)
DonBorvio - February 9, 2012
yeah….that means borque or hillen will be scratched
predmama - February 9, 2012
I’m gonna agree with you here.
davisca - February 9, 2012
I never really thought about it but you are right, the Bruins are goonish, not 1970's goonish, but goonish all the same
Gumpucks - February 9, 2012
I feel much more confident when Smithson is in the line-up
Klein(er) - February 9, 2012
McGrattan has an "upper body injury"
So he’s out tonight according to the Tennessean. Konopka’s a healthy scratch.
Smithson should be in tonight. Boston is a question mark, I definitely see McGrattan drawing in there if he’s healthy.
ragout - February 9, 2012
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