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Nashville Predators: Preds have early tough test against the Sharks

By Stetson Marlin

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 15: Roman Josi #59, Viktor Arvidsson #33, and Ryan Ellis #4 of the Nashville Predators congratulate teammate Filip Forsberg #9 on scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at at Bridgestone Arena on October 15, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 15: Roman Josi #59, Viktor Arvidsson #33, and Ryan Ellis #4 of the Nashville Predators congratulate teammate Filip Forsberg #9 on scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at at Bridgestone Arena on October 15, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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The Nashville Predators have a very tough test to start the season off, as they host the revamped San Jose Sharks tonight in Bridgestone Arena.

The red-hot Nashville Predators have a very tough matchup tonight when they host the San Jose Sharks. The Predators are on fire right now, as they are currently on a five-game winning streak. This five-game stretch has put the Predators record at 7-1-0, which is currently the best record in the league. Nashville is tied with the Colorado Avalanche for the most points in the league with 14.

The San Jose Sharks currently have a record of 4-3-1 and nine points, which is good for fourth in the Pacific Division.

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks are a team that has continually got better over the last year or so. Not only did they add Evander Kane midway through the season last year, but they also added one of the top defensemen in the league in Erik Karlsson.

Kane was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres including a few draft picks and a prospect last season right at the trade deadline. The Sharks then landed one of the best defensemen in the game during the offseason, getting Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators. The Sharks sent four prospects and two draft picks and acquired Francis Perron during the trade.

SAN JOSE, CA – OCTOBER 18: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks is congratulated by Logan Couture #39 and Tomas Hertl #48 after he scored on Carter Hutton #40 of the Buffalo Sabres at SAP Center on October 18, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – OCTOBER 18: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks is congratulated by Logan Couture #39 and Tomas Hertl #48 after he scored on Carter Hutton #40 of the Buffalo Sabres at SAP Center on October 18, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Despite a slow start, this team is very talented and should be at the top of the league at the end of the year. They have playmakers all around and are a very deep team, just like the Nashville Predators.

Joe Thorton, one of the team’s top centers, might be out of the lineup yet again tonight. He suffered a knee injury early in the season and has only played in two games this season. Despite the injury to Thorton, the Sharks have had guys like Logan Couture and Kane step up in his absence.

Couture leads the team in points with eight. He has five goals and three assists on the year.

Kane, Tomas Hertl and Brent Burns all have seven points on the year through just eight games, while Timo Meier, Joonas Donskoi, and Kevin Labanc all have posted six points to start the year off.

Lineup

The lineup looks the same as it has the past few games, with the first three lines staying the same. Zac Rinaldo, Colton Sissons, and Miikka Salomaki will be on the fourth line for the matchup against the Sharks tonight.

We all know that goaltender Pekka Rinne is currently injured and will miss the next few games for the Nashville Predators. With that, Juuse Saros will be in net again for the Nashville Predators tonight. According to the Predators Twitter, this will be the first time for Saros to make consecutive starts in his early career.

Miroslav Svoboda was called up to back up Saros in net if he was to get injured on Saturday. The Predators then announced on Sunday that they had called up Troy Grosenick to back up Saros, sending Svoboda back to the Milwaukee Admirals.

Catch the Game

Tonight’s game between the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks will be broadcasted on NBCSN. Puck drop will be around 7:00 PM Central. You can also listen to the game on 102.5 The Game.

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