Nashville Predators Eat Pittsburgh Penguins, Don’t They?
Amid all the buffet of college football season, there’s hockey on the table as well tonight!
What’s on the menu? Fresh Penguins!
Last I checked, predators generally eat penguins for supper, and that could well be the case tonight as the Nashville Predators (5-0-2) will host the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-1) this evening at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.
The Predators got sweet revenge on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks in a 3-2 win, and are now the only team in the NHL without a loss in regulation (the Blackhawks held that distinction as well before the loss to the Predators).
The Blackhawks were simply better in space against the Predators and took advantage of costly mistakes in their first meeting this season, but the Predators rebounded to play really well and win their second meeting last Thursday.
That momentum, and a couple days rest should serve the Nashville Predators well playing host to the Penguins who will enter Nashville with a 3-2-1 record, and some heartbreaking losses under their belt.
Rest assured though, this Penguins team is much better than their record would suggest, and the Predators will need to skate well.
Players To Watch
Nashville Predators
James Neal used to be a mere penguin, but now he’s a predator, and while it took him a few games to get into the typical Neal groove, he’s fully in it now, leading the Predators on goals with 5.
He knows some of the Penguins’ habits, so look for coach Phil Laviolette to try and exploit where he can.
Neal has been much more successful scoring since the Predators began using Filip Forsberg on the top line, and Forsberg was instrumental in helping Neal get his 5th career hat trick on Thursday.
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Forsberg’s team-leading 6 assists have been not only a difference maker for Neal, but for this entire Nashville team.
No one was sure how well Mike Ribeiro would gel with this team when the Predators gave him a shot, but he’s played exceptionally well, appears by all accounts to be gellin’ like a felon, and his five game point streak, 3 goals and 5 assists would seem to suggest that very thing.
He’s proving dangerous in the mix down low, and the Penguins will do well not to take their off off him either.
Of course I would be remiss if I failed to mention Pekka Rinne. Rinne has been a breath of fresh air (or more a sigh of relief) for the Predators on net tending this season.
Everyone knew Rinne was good, but there were lingering questions about his fitness after missing so much of last season with an infection that dropped him like a sack of wet potatoes!
Good doesn’t define his play this season though. Great might be a better word, as Pekka has net tended to a 5-0-1, 1.62 GAA and a .939 SV%. Put simply, the Penguins have their work cut out for them getting the puck past Rinne.
Pittsburgh Penguins
I mentioned that the Penguins are better than their record and recent losses would suggest. You can take that to the bank.
Their main issue right now seems to be getting lazy late, and not stepping up the defense when it counts.
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Pens Labyrinth
They gave up a score for a tie to the Detroit Red Wings with just a little more than two minutes in regulations, and then gave up a losing goal with under a minute.
They had similar problems with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Dallas Stars as well, playing loose with the puck late.
Offensively, the Penguins have some nice tools, but just need to step up their defensive effort. That will be doubly so against an offensively focused Predators team that will be unlike what the Penguins are used to.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby needs no introduction, whether you are a Penguins fan, Predators fan, or just a die-hard hockey fan. He leads the Penguins in both goals (4) and points (9), and Nashville will need to contain him, force him to the boards, and pokecheck him to death beyond the blue line.
Helping Crosby and others with great Forsberg-like assists is Evgeni Malkin with 7 on the season so far. As with Crosby, the Predators will need to watch him closely in space.
Last but not least, the Predators will do well to contain former Nashville Predators Patric Hornqvist. The tough Swede has 4 goals, 4 assists, and 8 points on the year for the Penguins, and is seeing more ice time than he ever did with the Penguins.
Final Truth
With the recent heart-breakers for the Penguins, they’ll be hungry and looking to turn things around. The Predators should expect them to skate hard, play better on defense, and do everything to test the longevity of Pekka Rinne on the net tend.
The Predators need to be keenly aware of that, and just skate hard, skate fast, and get as many shots on goal as possible against a shaky defense (of late), and a goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury who has struggled (2.81 GAA).
I expect it to be a tight race, but the momentum is with the Predators. I have them winning this one 3-2.