Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Game Night in Nashville - Catfish or Turkey?

November 27, 2019, 8:26 AM ET [9 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It’s a Thanksgiving Eve game night is Smashville as the Vegas Golden Knights come to town for their first visit of the season, perhaps looking for a little retribution for the 5-2 loss the Predators put on them back in October. Vegas has been struggling as of late after a solid start to the season (sound familiar?) going 2-6-2 over their last ten games, dropping their last three. A win tonight for the Preds leapfrogs them over the Knights in the hyper-competitive Western Conference and could get them back into a wild card slot if San Jose loses in regulation.

A modest two game win streak for Nashville is made better by the fact that both wins came over St. Louis, a much needed shot of energy and confidence for the Predators team, but the questions are swirling in the midst of it.

What is going on with Kyle Turris? I am not trying to read more into this than there is… but it is hard not to. Is there a trade in the offing? Is there a conflict in the room? Or is it simply a desire to put a little more grit in the lineup with Matheu Olivier? Who knows… but these questions will continue and may grow louder as the situation develops. He may draw in tonight as Turris is Nashville’s leading scorer against Vegas.

The second, and much more important question… who gets the nod in net tonight? Peffa Rinne or Juuse Saros. The inevitable goaltending controversy is coming, the seeds are there. Saros has shown well in the last two games and has a 3-1-0 record against Vegas with a 1.76 GAA. You can make a solid case for starting him tonight, but Rinne is the starter… and Rinne has always reacted well to a little upward pressure from Saros. This is a good problem to have…

For Vegas, it’s a tale of two goalies… Marc-Andre Fluery has been good, 2.54 GAA and a .919 save percentage… Malcom Subban has not been good, he is 0-4-2 with a .883 and a 3.55. Pretty sure we will see Fluery tonight.

For a game in November… this is a big one. Two teams struggling to stay close in their respective divisions, fighting off slumps that dropped each of them out of playoff position. Nashville needs to build some momentum off these past two wins, Vegas needs to shake off a loss in Dallas that followed two straight home losses. Should be a good one tonight in Smashville. Game time is 7pm with coverage on 102.5 the Game and Fox Sports Tennessee.

See you at the Bridge!

-------------------------------------

Random Notes – Presented by

- Filip Forsberg has quietly kept up his point-per-game pace this season with 10 goals and 7 assists in 17 games.

- The Preds seemed to have flipped the script this season… turning great third periods into very good first periods. Fast starts have been a key in the last two games.

- Nick Bonino has 3 goals and an assist in seven games vs. Vegas… watch that third line, they have been dangerous all season long.

- Interesting stat – 20 of the 25 skaters who have played this season have registered a point for the Preds.

- Mark Stone and Reilly Smith are the goal leaders for Vegas with 10 each

- Dallas’ seven game win streak was snapped last night as Corey Crawford was masterful in Chicago’s 3-0 win over the Stars.

--------------------------------------

SlapShot Radio is back for our 12th season as Zack, Brent and I are now on Monday night’s this season. The best hour of hockey talk on the longest running hockey show in the southeast … 7pm Mondays on 102.5 the Game.

Our sponsor list continues to grow. Not only are we welcoming back Drs. Jane Bacon and Aileen Kruger at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762 and our good friend Carter Church, Your Murfreesboro real estate expert with Weichert – The Andrews Group. And our newest sponsors… Cool Springs Wines and Spirits! The largest spirit store in all of middle Tennessee! And La-Z-Boy Nashville! Three locations, locally owned and operated, check out La-Z-Boy in Murfreesboro, Hendersonville and Cool Springs!

---------------------------------------




-------------------------------------

KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Predators Buzz, a one-stop feed for all things Predators-related on HockeyBuzz. Your subscription includes a free 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month thereafter. For more information, click here.
Join the Discussion: » 9 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Paul McCann
» The time has come
» Whining through Game 3
» Playoff Picks
» Waiting for he playoffs
» A special night in Smashville