3 Things: Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning- 2/28/18

The Buffalo Sabres look to steal a big two points from the Tampa Bay Lightning when they face them  tonight. The Sabres are out of playoff contention, but the Bolts are very much in the thick of things, and it is starting to get a little tighter at the top of the Atlantic standings.

Here are three things to watch for in this Atlantic Division tilt:

1.) TAKE ADVANTAGE OF POWER PLAY OPPORTUNITIES- SABRES

If there has been one thing that the Bolts have struggled at this season it has been killing penalties. Tampa Bay has allowed 45 power play goals while being shorthanded 203 times this year (77.8%). The penalty kill is ranked 24th in the League, which mean only seven teams are worse than the Bolts at killing penalties so the Sabres need to make sure that they capitalize when they have the man advantage. The Sabres need to make sure that they capitalize on the power play since they have been outscored badly while play at even strength. Buffalo will also need to make sure that they protect the puck and make the smart play while shorthanded because the Bolts have scored eight goals while shorthanded.

2.) SPECIAL TEAMS- LIGHTNING

The Lightning have played extremely well at even strength this year, outscoring opponents 143-103. The Bolts have also had some incredible success on the power play, and have the second best one in the NHL. Buffalo has a weak penalty kill so the Bolts have the advantage. The one area that has been a weakness all year has been the penalty kill, and in order for them to have success down the stretch this will need to improve. Tampa Bay needs to clear the puck out of their own zone and avoid failed clears when shorthanded.

3.) DISCIPLINE- SABRES & LIGHTNING

These two teams will need to play with some discipline and stay out of the penalty box. The Sabres have a weak penalty kill and the power play of the Lightning will burn them, if given the chance to do so. The Bolts need to stay out of the box because their penalty kill has been a disaster from the start of the season, and they don't want the Sabres to get a couple of power play chances and put the puck in the net a few times. When these two teams are on the power play then they need to be aware of the shorthanded goals because the Sabres have score nine this year, while the Bolts have eight of their own. 

3 Things: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Florida Panthers: 2/27/18

The Toronto Maple Leafs take on Atlantic Division foes, the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

Here are three things to watch for in the game:

1.) POWER PLAY- MAPLE LEAFS

The Leafs will want to take advantage of their power play opportunities since they pretty much play even with the opposition at even strength. The Leafs have two decent power play units, but are missing Auston Matthews, their leading goal scorer. Toronto's power play is operating at over 20% on the year. The Panthers penalty kill is one of the worst in the League at under 80%.

2.) START- PANTHERS

The Panthers will want to get off to a good start in this game to have some momentum to build off of for the rest of the game. Florida should set the tone early by getting the first goal of the game in front of the home crowd. The Panthers should establish the forecheck and cycle game early in the game to create chances and spend a ton of time in the offensive zone.

3.) FLORIDA TOP SIX- LEAFS & PANTHERS

The Leafs are going to need to find a way to stop the top six of the Panthers since those guys have basically carried the Panthers offense all year long. The best way to isolate them is to play in the offensive zone when they are on the ice. The Panthers want to get these guys going and early in the game so they have an impact on the rest of the game. Florida should try to establish the forecheck and cycle game to spend some time in the offensive zone. The battle between these two teams should be a good one.

3 Things: Nashville Predators @ Winnipeg Jets: 2/27/18

The Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets will face-off in a Central Division game with a pivotal two points on the line in the playoff race.

Here are three things to watch for in the game:

1.) EVEN STRENGTH PLAY - NASHVILLE

If the Preds want to have a shot at winning this game and gaining an important two points then they will need to win the even strength play. The Predators have relied on their power play at times to get them going, but the Jets have a really good penalty kill so their play at even strength is going to be important. Nashville does have a decent amount of  even strength goals so far on the year so they can play while at 5-on-5. The Preds will need to play a solid defensive game, yet have some sustained offensive zone pressure. Nashville should establish a cycle game and a forecheck game to help win the battle at even strength.

2.) NASHVILLE D- WINNIPEG 

The Jets are going to have to keep an eye on the Predators defense since they do like to join the play in the offensive zone. Nashville defense has 150 points on the season, which accounts for 31% of the total offense. The Predators defense will also use the stretch pass as a way to get out of their own zone and spring the forwards into the offensive zone. The Preds defense is lead in points by P.K. Subban and Roman Josi so Winnipeg should be aware of when they are on the ice.

3.) GOALTENDING- NASHVILLE & WINNIPEG

The goaltending is going to be a big key to this game since both teams will get their scoring chances with the talent on the rosters. The goalies are going to have to make the easy save and the spectacular save. If a soft goal is given up then they need to shake it off and keep their focus on the game. The goalies could potentially steal the game for one of theses teams with two huge points on the line.

Shooting Stars: Weekly Preview 2/25/28-3/3/18

The Dallas Stars will look to gain some valuable points in the playoff race to get better positioning coming down the stretch. It won't be an easy week for the Stars, but the points are there for the taking.

The Stars will take on the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Dallas will need to have the lead entering the final period of play since they are only 1-18-1 when trailing going into the third period. The Stars need to get their power play going since the Flames have a mediocre penalty kill. Dallas wants to find a way to stop the top two lines of the Flames since they produce most of the points for the team. They should also try to get plenty of shots on goal to test the goalie of the Flames. The Stars will want to be smart with the puck and not have turnovers because the Flames have speed that can burn you especially in the transition game.

The Flames should try to have the lead entering the final period of the game since they are only 5-13-0 when trailing entering the final period. Calgary needs to finish the game better than they have been this year if they want a chance at gaining the two points. The Flames should play with some discipline since they do not have a very good penalty kill. Calgary will want to get a good game out of their goaltender since the Stars have some players that can really put the puck in the net. The Flames will need to play team defense in order to beat the Stars. 

The Stars need to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game. They will also need to play a good defensive game including the forwards. Dallas will need to get off to a good start, set the tone early in this one and get the first goal of the game. The Stars are going to need to find a way to get their power play going because they have too many good players on it for it to be struggling. The goalie is going to need to have a big game to keep his team in the game.

The Bolts need to play with discipline since their one weakness has been the penalty kill this year. Tampa Bay should get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game and have the momentum. The Lightning want to win the special teams battle since both teams play a solid even strength game. The Bolts goaltender will need to make some big saves throughout the game and make the easy saves too. Tampa Bay is going to need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Flyers by making them defend in their own zone.

On Saturday night, the Stars week comes to an end with a game against the struggling St. Louis Blues. The Stars need to get off to a good start in the game, come out with some energy and be ready for a St. Louis team that has fallen out of a playoff spot. Dallas will want to win the battle at even strength since the special teams of both clubs are mediocre. The Stars should get some good goaltending with the goalie making saves and keeping them in the game. Dallas will need to have the lead entering the final period. 

The Blues absolutely need to avoid another slow start in this one and they need to be ready to play from the drop of the puck. If the Blues can get the first goal of the game then that should help the team's confidence a lot. They'll need to have the lead entering the final period of the game since they aren't the best team when trailing after the second period. The Blues goaltending is going to need to be good in this one since the Stars have a ton of offensive power. The Blues have too much fire power on their power play for them to be struggling the way they have so they should find a way to get the power play going. 

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 2/25/18-3/3/18

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to carry the momentum of a big regulation win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday into the week.

The Leafs will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight with the puck dropping around 7:30. Toronto will then take on the Florida Panthers the following night. The Maple Leafs end the week with an outdoor game against the Washington Capitals. It won't be an easy week for the Leafs, but there is certainly potential to get some points.

The Maple Leafs need to get the first goal of the game to build momentum and take the home crowd out of the game. The Leafs should have their newest addition, Tomas Plekanec in the lineup tonight so that will add another good two way player to the mix. Toronto needs to play well while on special teams since they allow as much as they score when playing at even strength. The Maple Leafs want to get a good game out of goaltender, Freddie Andersen, who has been very good for most of this season. The Leafs will want to find a way to neutralize Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov since they are the leading point getters on the Lightning.

The Bolts need to come out with some energy in their game against the Leafs on Monday night since the teams are only separated by four points in the standings. The Lightning should try to play with some discipline since their penalty kill has struggled all season. Tampa Bay will need to neutralize the speed of the Maple Leafs especially through the neutral zone to avoid odd man rushes. The Bolts should try to get the forecheck game going often and early since the Leafs do tend to turn the puck over when under pressure. The Lightning will want to keep an eye on Mitch Marner, who has been on absolute fire of late, creating and scoring in the offensive zone because of his speed.

The Leafs need to establish a good forecheck against the Panthers and make sure that they roll all four lines since they will have played the night before. Toronto will need to stop the top six of the Panthers since they tend to produce a good amount of the points for Florida. The Mapple Leafs will need to play defense and not let the game become wide open. Toronto should take advantage of their power plays because the Panthers aren't a very good penalty killing team. The Leafs want to get pucks to the net with traffic in front since the goaltending hasn't exactly been great for Florida this year.

The Panthers need to get off to a good start and play with some energy because they don't want to fall behind by a lot early in the game. Florida should try to get the first goal of the game to keep the crowd in the game. The Panthers want to get a good game from the goalie since the Leafs tend to have some high quality scoring chances throughout a game. Florida will want to play with discipline and stay out of the penalty box while limiting their own mistakes.

Toronto then heads outside to face off against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night. The Leafs will want to keep the Capitals defense under pressure and force them into turning them puck over. The Maple Leafs need to get a big fame from the starting goalie since there will be some chances in this game that will feature two high flying offenses. Toronto should limit their mistakes, and see if they can get Tomas Plekanec involved often and early in the game. The Leafs need to be aware of Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom when they are on the ice.

The Caps also need to get a good game from the goaltending because the Leafs can use their speed in transition. Washington should try to get a ton of traffic in front of the Leafs net for deflections and to take the goalie's eyes off the puck. The Capitals will want to capitalize on the mistakes that the Leafs are going to make and keep pushing even if they get down in the game. They'll need to be aware of the defenseman Morgan Reilly and Jake Gardiner since they both like to get involved in the offensive zone. 

3 Things: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning 2/26/18

The Tampa Bay Lightning will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in a pivotal game in the Atlantic Division standings tonight.  The Leafs are just four points behind the Bolts, and both teams made deadline deals.

Here are three things to look for in tonight's game:

1.) SPECIAL TEAMS- MAPLE LEAFS

The Maple Leafs will need to have a stellar game on special teams since their even strength play isn't spectacular. They have allowed and scored 149 even strength goals this year. The Leafs need to keep the second best power play unit off the board, while taking advantage of one of the League's worst penalty kills. Toronto needs to apply a ton of pressure and get pucks on net when on the power play.

2.) FORECHECK- LIGHTNING

The Lightning should establish their forecheck game early and often against the Leafs. Toronto will turn the puck over and make mistakes when under pressure. The Bolts need to attack the puck carrier and make sure that he is under pressure when skating up the ice or trying to clear the defensive zone. Tampa Bay needs to be aware of being to overly aggressive though because that could lead to odd man rushes through the neutral zone for the Leafs, who have a ton of speed.

3.) MITCH MARNER VS. BRAYDEN POINT- LEAFS & LIGHTNING

Mitch Marner has been on absolute fire of late so much so that he went from being on the fourth line to now playing on the top line with Auston Matthews out of the lineup. Marner has gotten his confidence back and is creating and scoring goals because he is using his speed. Brayden Point has been an important part of the Bolts team since the beginning of the season. He plays even strength minutes and on the power play unit and now with the loss of Vladimir Namestnikov, he could see even more ice time. These two young kids will be two players to keep an eye on during tonight's game.

Lightning Strikes: Weekly Preview 2/25/18-3/3/18

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be busy this week since they have four games in six days. The good news is that three of those four games are at home.

The Lightning will start the week off with a game against Atlantic Division rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have won four straight games. On Wednesday night, the Evander Kane-less Buffalo Sabres will visit the Lightning with two points on the line. Then on Thursday night the Bolts will be in Dallas to take on the Stars, who are battling for a playoff spot. The Bolts will finish off the week with a game against the Flyers on Saturday afternoon at home.

The Bolts need to come out with some energy in their game against the Leafs on Monday night since the teams are only separated by four points in the standings. The Lightning should try to play with some discipline since their penalty kill has struggled all season. Tampa Bay will need to neutralize the speed of the Maple Leafs especially through the neutral zone to avoid odd man rushes. The Bolts should try to get the forecheck game going often and early since the Leafs do tend to turn the puck over when under pressure. The Lightning will want to keep an eye on Mitch Marner, who has been on absolute fire of late, creating and scoring in the offensive zone because of his speed.

The Maple Leafs need to get the first goal of the game to build momentum and take the home crowd out of the game. The Leafs should have their newest addition, Tomas Plekanec in the lineup tonight so that will add another good two way player to the mix. Toronto needs to play well while on special teams since they allow as much as they score when playing at even strength. The Maple Leafs want to get a good game out of goaltender, Freddie Andersen, who has been very good for most of this season. The Leafs will want to find a way to neutralize Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov since they are the leading point getters on the Lightning.

On Wednesday night, the last place Sabres come to town to take on the Bolts. The Lightning don't want to over look this Sabres team because that could cost them an important two points down the stretch. The Bolts should get the first goal of the game and be sure to put plenty of pressure on the Sabres since they tend to turn the puck over. The Lightning need to stay out of the penalty box even though the Sabres power play isn't one of the best, Tampa Bay's penalty kill is towards the bottom of the NHL.

Buffalo wants to play a solid road game while trying to play the role of spoiler. In order to play spoiler, they will need to make sure that they play solid defense the whole game. The Sabres need to get some good goaltending in this game since the Bolts tend to get their scoring chances. Buffalo should get off to a good start in this game with an early first goal and build their momentum from there. The Sabres need to figure out a way to get their struggling power play going and take advantage of the weak penalty kill of the Bolts.

The Bolts will travel to Dallas on Thursday night to take on the Stars, who are also battling it out for a playoff spot. The Lightning need to get a good game from the goaltender. They'll need to play a solid road game and keep the Stars in check at home, where they have been very good. The Bolts need to win the battle at even strength play since their special teams are only mediocre. Tampa Bay needs to keep an eye on Alexander Radulov and John Klingberg when they are on the ice because they can make it pretty chaotic out there.

The Stars need to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game. They will also need to play a good defensive game including the forwards. Dallas will need to get off to a good start, set the tone early in this one and get the first goal of the game. The Stars are going to need to find a way to get their power play going because they have too many good players on it for it to be struggling. The goalie is going to need to have a big game to keep his team in the game.

The Bolts need to play with discipline since their one weakness has been the penalty kill this year. Tampa Bay should get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game and have the momentum. The Lightning want to win the special teams battle since both teams play a solid even strength game. The Bolts goaltender will need to make some big saves throughout the game and make the easy saves too. Tampa Bay is going to need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Flyers by making them defend in their own zone.

 The Flyers will need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Lightning by spending some time in their offensive zone. The Orange and Black are going to want to play a solid road game and keep the defensive gap pretty small. Philly wants to make sure that they get a ton of traffic in front of the net for deflections and to take the goalie's eyes away from the puck. The Orange and Black want to limit their mistakes and get some solid goaltending.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 2/25/18-3/3/18

The Philadelphia Flyers look to continue extend their five game win streak this week as they take on some Eastern Conference opponents.

The Flyers start the week off with a rare Monday night game on the schedule. They will take on a disappointing Canadiens team in Montreal. On Thursday night, the Flyers return to the Wells Fargo Center to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. Philly will finish out the week on Saturday afternoon against the Lightning in Tampa Bay.

The Flyers will want to make sure that they establish the forecheck and cycle game early and often against the Canadiens. The Orange and Black will want to make sure that they take advantage of their power play opportunities since the Habs aren't exactly the best penalty killing team in the NHL. The Flyers will want to have a strong even strength game against Montreal since the team actually has a decent power play and can put some pucks in the net while on the man advantage. Philly should get some shots on goal since the rookie goalie will be starting tonight for the Habs.

The Canadiens have struggled mightily this year and have been one of the more disappointing teams in the League. They will want to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking because the Flyers have been finding ways to win games lately. The Habs should set the tone early whether it be physically or spending time in the offensive zone. Montreal wants to play discipline since they have a weak penalty kill, and the Flyers have good power play. The Canadiens need to play a consistent game and take advantage of being up a man on the ice since the Flyers have one of the worst penalty kills in the League.

On Thursday night, the Flyers take on Metropolitan Division foe, Carolina Hurricanes. The Orange and Black will need to play well at even strength, while still being discipline. Philly needs to take advantage of their power play opportunities since the Hurricanes seem to allow a lot of power play goals. The Flyers should use their speed to create chances and draw some penalties. The Orange and Black need to be aware of where Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho are on the ice since they are the leading point getters for the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes will want to be discipline and not give the Flyers too many chances on the power play. Carolina needs its goaltender to have a big game and not allow any soft goals. The Canes should try to get the first goal of the game and keep putting the pressure on the Flyers since they will turn the puck over. The Hurricanes need to win the special teams battle if they want to have a chance at winning the game. Carolina should be aware of the speed and creativity of forward Travis Konecny and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who has killed them in his brief career.

Philly ends their week with an afternoon game in Tampa Bay against the Lightning. The Flyers will need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Lightning by spending some time in their offensive zone. The Orange and Black are going to want to play a solid road game and keep the defensive gap pretty small. Philly wants to make sure that they get a ton of traffic in front of the net for deflections and to take the goalie's eyes away from the puck. The Orange and Black want to limit their mistakes and get some solid goaltending.

The Bolts need to play with discipline since their one weakness has been the penalty kill this year. Tampa Bay should get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game and have the momentum. The Lightning want to win the special teams battle since both teams play a solid even strength game. The Bolts goaltender will need to make some big saves throughout the game and make the easy saves too. Tampa Bay is going to need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Flyers by making them defend in their own zone.

3 Things: Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers : 3/1/18

The Philadelphia Flyers will look to gain two valuable points tonight at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Here are three things to watch for in tonight's game:

1.) GOALTENDING- HURRICANES

The goaltending is going to need to come up big for the Hurricanes to even have a shot at winning the game. The goalie is going to have to make the big save and make the easy save. The defense will need to help the goalies out and clear the front of the net so he can see the shots that are coming towards him. Whether it be Cam Ward or Scott Darling in the crease for the Hurricanes, the goalie needs to make sure that they are in position to stop the puck and not give up too many rebound chances. The goalies need to bounce back really quick if a soft goal is given up or scored.

2.) SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE- FLYERS

Gostisbehere has been a Hurricane killer in his brief career especially in overtime. In 10 games in his career against the Hurricanes, Ghost has 10 points including four goals and six assists. Of his four career goals against the Hurricanes, three of them have been game-winning goals. Gostisbehere loves playing against the Hurricanes and the Canes need to be aware of when he is on the ice and where he is on the ice.

3.) TEUVO TERAVAINEN VS. TRAVIS KONECNY

Teravainen is tied for the team lead in points with Sebastian Aho for the Hurricanes. In 62 games played this year, he has 47 points including 15 goals and 32 assists. The Canes have sturggled to score this year at time, but Teravainen has been one of their more consistent players. Travis Konecny started the season off very slow, but has been on fire since he was put on the top line with Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier. In 61 games played, he has 34 points to go with 15 goals and 19 assists. He plays at even strength and on the second power play unit. In his last five games played, he has two goals, three assists and five total points.

3 Things: Boston Bruins @ Buffalo Sabres: 2/25/18

While the Buffalo Sabres wait and see what is going on with Evander Kane and whether he will get traded or not, the team still has some games to play.

It will not be an easy week for them this week as they face three Atlantic Division foes, starting tonight, with facing the Boston Bruins.

Here are three things to watch for in the game:

1.) RICK NASH- BOSTON

The Bruins acquired forward Rick Nash from the New York Rangers earlier today for a haul that included Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleksey and some draft picks. If he does play in tonight's game, how effective will he be, and which line will he be on? The already balanced lineup of the Bruins gets a lift since Nash has 18 goals on the year to go with 28 points. Will the addition of Rick Nash affect the chemistry of the lines or will he just do what he does best and score goals? There are a lot of questions surrounding Rick Nash tonight, but the timing of the trade is perfect since Patrice Bergeron is a game-time decision due to an injury.

2.) READY TO PLAY FROM DROP OF THE PUCK- BUFFALO

 The Sabres have really struggled since Jack Eichel hasn't been in the lineup due to injury. The team will need to be ready to play from the drop of the puck since the Bruins aren't going to hold anything back especially after a tough loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs last night. Buffalo gave up the first goal of the game after sloppy play in their own zone last night in under a minute into the game. Phil Housley can't be happy with the team's play of late, giving up goals early and not playing the way that they should be playing.

3.) FORECHECK- BOSTON & BUFFALO

These two teams will both want to establish the forecheck early in the game for different reasons. The Bruins will want to get in on the forecheck to force some turnovers and get set up in the offensive zone so they can get a ton of pucks on net. The Sabres want to establish the forecheck to keep the Bruins hemmed in their own zone, defending, and not in the offensive zone firing the puck towards their goalie since the Bruins have a very balanced lineup. The two teams should also try to get the cycle game going. Buffalo needs to find a way to get that sustained offensive zone pressure to create chances and put some puck in the opposition's net.

3 Things: St. Louis Blues @ Nashville Predators: 2/25/18

The Nashville Predators look to gain an important two points in the playoff race and Central Division when they take on the St. Louis Blues on Sunday afternoon.

The puck will drop at noon, eastern time and will be shown on NBC.

Here are three things to watch in this Central Division matchup:

1.) READY TO PLAY FROM PUCK DROP- ST. LOUIS

The Blues need to be ready to play from the start of this game. They have been struggling lately, and not playing their best hockey. St. Louis needs to make sure that they are engaged, whether it be physically or mentally from the beginning of this game. The Blues need to win the battles, get to the loose pucks and not turn the puck over. It could help if the Blues can manage to establish a forecheck early and often to get some sustain offensive zone time.

2.) START- NASHVILLE

The Predators should look to get off to a good start and set the tone early in this one. There are two huge points on the line and the home crowd will be behind their team. The Preds should look to get the first goal of the game to put some doubt in the mines of the Blues players. Nashville should establish the forecheck and cycle game early and get some shots on goal.

3.) SPECIAL TEAMS- ST. LOUIS & NASHVILLE

The Blues have mediocre special teams while the Predators have very good special teams. The Blues need to find a way to get their power play going since they have too much talent on it for it to be ranked 28th in the League. St. Louis has a middle of the pack penalty kill, but will need to be better since the Preds power play is very good. The Predators power play is ranked fourth in the League, while their penalty kill (82.4%) is ranked eighth in the League. It should be interesting to see how each team's power play does against some decent penalty killing.

Preds Prey: Weekly Preview 2/25/18-3/3/18

The Nashville Predators look to stay atop the Central Division even with having to play three of their four games on the road.

The week will begin on Sunday with a big Central  Division game against the St. Louis Blues, who haven't been playing well of late. The Predators will then visit Winnipeg to take on another Central Division foe in the Jets. They will then travel to Edmonton to face Connor McDavid and the disappointing Oilers. Nashville will end the week with another game on the road, where they will take on the Vancouver Canucks.

On Sunday afternoon, the Predators look to gain a valuable two points from the St. Louis Blues, who have not looked good in their last five games. The Preds will need to make sure that they get off to a good start in this game and set the tone early. Nashville should be good with the puck because the Blues can force some turnovers. The Predators want to establish the forecheck and cycle game to keep the puck in the offensive zone and make the Blues defend. The Preds need to win the special teams battle since the Blues have a power play that is not very good considering the players on both of their power play units. Nashville should keep an eye on Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko when they are on the ice since they are the two leading scorers for the Blues this year.

The Blues need to be engaged in the game from the drop of the puck, whether that is physically or just getting some early offensive zone pressure. St. Louis is going to have to be willing to work for the puck and win puck battles since Nashville won't make it easy for them to do so with two big points on the line. The Blues need to be discipline because the Preds power play is among the best in the NHL. St. Louis will want to get the first goal of the game to have some of the momentum on their side and take the home crowd out of the game. The Blues need to be aware of when and where Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg are on the ice since those two can produce points.

On Tuesday night, Nashville will be in Winnipeg with another two huge points on the line. The Predators will want to play with discipline since the Jets power play is ranked third in the League. The Preds need to be very good while at even strength since the Jets special teams are ranked in the top 10. Nashville should get the first goal to take the home crowd out of the game. The Predators will need the goaltending to be very good and make saves. The Preds need to be aware of when and where Patrik Laine and Blake Wheeler are on the ice because they are two of the top scorers on the Jets.

The Jets need to be aware of the Nashville defensive corp since they like to join the play in the offensive zone and will use the stretch pass to get ahead of the defender. Winnipeg should keep an eye on P.K. Subban and Roman Josi since those two defensemen are the leading the defensive group in points. The Jets want to have a lead entering the third period since they only have points in four of the 17 games they've trailed going into the final period of the game. Winnipeg should try to win the special teams battle since both teams are pretty good playing at even strength. The Jets will absolutely need to get a good game from the goaltender since the Preds will get their chances.

On Thursday night, the Preds will take on Connor McDavid and the struggling Oilers. Nashville will want to take advantage of a weak penalty kill of the Oilers (56.8%) at home. The Predators need to avoid mistakes and turnovers that can lead to odd man rushes and scoring chances. The Preds will want to be good in the neutral zone to slow down the speed of the Oilers. Nashville should try to have the lead entering the final period of the game. The Predators need to be aware of when McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are on the ice because they can use their speed to produce points.

Edmonton needs to figure out a way to get some secondary scoring because Draisaitl and McDavid have been doing most of the damage offensively this year. The Oilers will want to get their special teams on track, or at least stay out of the penalty box so they don't have to kill any penalties. Edmonton needs to get the first goal of the game and build off that momentum. The Oilers should try to use their speed to create some havoc through the neutral zone and in offensive zone. Edmonton will need a big game from the goaltender, who will need to have a big game.

Nashville finishes out their week on Friday night against the Vancouver Canucks. The Preds will want to play a discipline game because the Canucks power play is surprisingly good, like top 10 in the League good. The Predators should attack, get some offensive zone pressure and some scoring chances. Nashville should take advantage of a weak penalty kill of the Canucks and not play down to their opponent.

Vancouver needs to have a good start to the game, and establish the forecheck. The Canucks should try to win the even strength play since the penalty kill is not great. Vancouver wants to be discipline since the Predators have a really good power play. The Canucks need to play a good defensive game and make sure that the gap is not too big. Vancouver should keep an eye on Kevin Fiala and Ryan Johansen since they can put up some points.

3 Things: Devils @ Flyers 2/13/18

The New Jersey Devils will take on the Philadelphia Flyers in a Metropolitan Divisional matchup that takes places tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. This game has huge playoff implications as the two teams are only separated by three points in the standings, but the Devils have a game in hand on the Flyers.

Here are three things to look for in tonight's game:

1.) DISCIPLINE- FLYERS

The Flyers need to find a way to carry over the discipline that they played with in Las Vegas into this game. The Orange and Black only took one penalty while playing a road game in Vegas. Philadelphia  has one of the worst penalty kill units in the League, only killing off 74.4% of the penalties taken. Their penalty kill at home is somehow worse than the overall penalty kill at just 72%. The Flyers need to avoid taking penalties especially the ones that are not necessary to take like high sticking and hooking.

2.) GET FIRST GOAL- DEVILS

New Jersey will want to get off to a good start in this game and get the first goal of the game to take the crowd out of the game. The Flyers have been good on home ice of late so if the Devils want to take the crowd out of the game then they will need to be ready to play from the start of the game. The Devils are a much better team when scoring the first goal of the game, but have also had some wins when the opposition has scored first. If the Devils can manage to get the early lead, they will have to keep attacking and not sit back because the Flyers have won 13 games when the opposition scores the first goal of the game.

3.) GOALTENDING- DEVILS & FLYERS

The goaltending is going to be a big factor in this game and something to keep a close eye on. Keith Kinkaid will get the start for the Devils, while Michael Neurvirth looks to get the start for the Flyers. Kinkaid and the Devils have really struggled since losing Cory Schneider to an injury. Kinkaid will need to have one of his best games of the season to grab two points. Neuvirth is coming off of a big game against the Vegas Golden Knights where he only allowed one goal against. The goaltenders are going to have to step up their game tonight because these two teams will get scoring chances. The goalies could be the difference makers for these teams tonight.

3 Things: Lightning @ Sabres 2/13/18

The Buffalo Sabres will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in an Atlantic Division game. The Sabres are coming off of a loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night, while the Lightning are coming off of a regulation loss to the Maple Leafs last night.

Here are three things to look for in tonight's game:

1.) FAST START- SABRES

Buffalo will want to get off to a fast start in this game since the Bolts played last night against the Maple Leafs. The Sabres should set the tone and the tempo early in the game no try to draw some penalties. Buffalo needs to establish the forecheck early in the game to spend some time in the offensive zone. They will also want to get the cycle game going early so they can try to get some sustained attack time going in the offensive end of the ice. Buffalo wants to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd into the game, and keep attacking the Bolts since they should be tired from playing last night.

2.) GOALTENDING- LIGHTNING

It looks as though backup goaltender, Louis Domingue will get the start between the pipes for the Lightning tonight. Andrei Vasilevskiy started the game last night, and allowed four goals. Domingue needs to make the easy saves and not allow any soft goals. He will also need to make some toy saves and possibly make some saves while facing the odd man rush. Domingue wants to have a good showing tonight and help the Lightning gain an all important two points.

3.) DISCIPLINE- SABRES & LIGHTNING

These two teams don't exactly have the best penalty killing units in the League so they will want to avoid the penalty box at all costs. The Sabres are in the bottom portion of the League in overall penalty killing stats, but are killing penalties at home a ton above an 80% clip. The one area of weakness for the Lightning has been their penalty kill all season long. The Sabres don't exactly light it up on the power play, but it would still be a good idea to try to play a disciplined game tonight if you are the Bolts.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 2/11/18-2/17/18

The Philadelphia Flyers look to continue their winning ways of late this week as they face some Metropolitan Division foes. 

The Flyers will start the week off  by playing their first ever game in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights, who have been a surprise team to most this year. Philly will then make a quick pit stop home to face the struggling New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. The Orange and Black will then head out to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets, who have not had the easiest of times this season and are underachieving so far. The Flyers need to be very good this week or it could cost them some valuable points in the playoff race as the Metropolitan Division is very tight.

The Flyers take on the surprising expansion team, Vegas Golden Knights, who have the second best record in the NHL just behind the Tampa Bay Lightning. Philadelphia is going to need to play a solid, 60 minute road game and limit their mistakes and turnovers. They will have to do a good job at protecting the puck while getting off to a good start in this one. The Flyers need to get a good game from Michal Neuvirth, who got the win last night after he came in during a shootout after Brian Elliott was injured. The Orange and Black should try to stay out of the penalty box since the team has one of the worst penalty kills in the League and Vegas has a decent power play.

The Golden Knights should get plenty of shots on Neuvirth early and often to test him since he hasn't played a ton lately. Vegas needs to find a way to stop the now balanced lineup of the Flyers since they have three solid lines that can put the puck in the back of the new. The Golden Knight will want to force turnovers and get quality scoring chances. They should try to win the special teams battle since the Flyers power play has been red hot lately and is now in the top 10 in the League. 

Philly will come home to an important game against division foes, New Jersey Devils. The Flyers want to keep an eye on Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier since they are the two leading scorers for the Devils. The Orange and Black should be ready for this game and set the tone right from the drop of the puck since these two teams are very close in the standings. The Flyers need to play with discipline and when a penalty is taken then the penalty killers need to find a way to come up with some big stops. Philadelphia should try to get the forecheck and cycling game going early in this one to make the Devils defend.

The Devils want to know where Nolan Patrick and Travis Konecny are at all times when they are on the ice since they have really stepped up their games the past month or so. New Jersey needs to win the battle at even strength since that is an area where they've struggled the year. The Devils will want a good game from the goaltending since the Flyers now have three lines that are rolling and creating in the offensive zone. It would certainly help if the Devils could get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game a bit. New Jersey should keep an eye on the Flyers defense because they like to pinch and join the rush in the offensive zone.

The Flyers end their week on Friday night to take on anther division foe in the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Orange and Black need to get off to a good start in this one to take the home crowd out of the game early. Philly needs to get plenty of traffic in front of the net for deflections and to take away the goalie's eyes. The Flyers need to win the special teams battle since that has been a struggle for the Blue Jackets all season long. The Orange and Black should try to limit their mistakes and know where Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones are at all times when they are on the ice.

The Blue Jackets will want to play a 60 minute game, which hasn't come easy for them this year, but they did manage on of those games against the Devils last week. Columbus will want to win the even strength battle since it has been a struggle on special teams for them this year. The Blue Jackets need to be aware of Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek when they are on the ice since they are Philly's goal scoring leader and point leader. Columbus needs to play with discipline and take advantage of playing on home ice where they have been quite good this year. 

Sabres Slashes: Weekly Preview 2/11/18-2/17/18

The Buffalo Sabres will look to keep playing the role of spoiler and try to win some games against teams that are in the playoff race.

They may have to play some games without their leading scorer, Jack Eichel, who was injured in last night's game against the Boston Bruins. Eichel went to stop, lost his footing and went awkwardly into the boards. He left the game and did not return.

The Sabres have a busy week and will play four games in seven days. They'll start off the week against the Colorado Avalanche, who are battling for a playoff spot, but have been struggling lately. The Tampa Bay Lightning then come to town and that will be a tough game. The Sabres will then go to Ottawa to take on the Senators, who have been struggling all season long. Buffalo ends the week back at home to face the Los Angeles Kings.

Buffalo starts the week off against a struggling Avalanche. The Sabres are coming off of a big win against the Bruins, and need to ride the momentum of that win into this game. Buffalo could be without Jack Eichel, who was injured last night. The Sabres will want to get off to a fast start and try to get the first goal of the game. Buffalo needs to win the battle at even strength since the Avs penalty kill is one of the best in the League. The Sabres are going to need someone to step up if Eichel is out and that someone could be Ryan O'Reilly.

The Avalanche should take advantage of a weak penalty kill of the Sabres. Colorado needs to get the first goal of the game and have the lead entering the final period of the game. The Avs want to spend some time in the offensive zone so they should get the forechecking and cycling game early in the game. The Avalanche will want to keep an eye on Sam Reinhart and Evander Kane since they can really skate and put the puck in the net.

The Sabres will have to play their best game of the season if they want to take two points away from the Lightning. Buffalo needs to stop the balanced lineup of the Bolts, which includes Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman, by playing in the offensive zone. The Sabres will likely need the goaltender to have a spectacular game and steal the game for them. Buffalo should play with some discipline since they have one of the worst penalty kills in the League, while the Bolts have one of the  best power plays in the League. The Sabres need to use their speed to draw penalties, and take advantage of a weak penalty kill of Tampa Bay.

The Bolts will want to have a good start to the game and not play down to their opponent. The Lightning need to play their game and attack in the offensive zone. Tampa Bay should play with some discipline because the penalty kill is the one weak area of this team. The Bolts should try to force some turnovers for quality scoring chances. Tampa Bay is going to need to be aware of Rasmus Ristolainen when he is on the ice since he has started to pile up the points from the blue line. 

Buffalo will visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. The Sabres need to keep an eye on Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson when they are on the ice since the are two of the leading scorers for the Sens. Buffalo needs to set the tone early to take the home crowd out of the game. They'll need to get the forecheck and cycle game going early and often. The Sabres want to get off to a better start since they have been outscored by a wide margin in first period of games. Buffalo needs the goaltending to come up big since the Senators have some speed.

The Senators will need to play a 60 minute game, which has been difficult for the to do this season. Ottawa needs to win the battle at even strength since the Sabres have not been good in this area. The Sens will need to play with discipline since they don't have the best penalty kill in the League. The Senators will need to be aware of when Ryan O'Reilly and Sam Reinhart are on the ice since they both can produce. Ottawa wants to get the first goal of the game and build off of it.

The Sabres end their week with a visit from the Los Angeles Kings. Buffalo needs to get what they early in the game because the Kings tend to get better defensively as the game goes on. The Sabres need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking. Buffalo will want to find a way to stop the top six forwards of the Kings, which include Anze Kopitar and Tanner Pearson. The Sabres need to find a way to force turnovers and take advantage of mistakes that the Kings make. 

The Kings need to get off to a better start and not give up too many goals in the first period. Los Angeles will want to find a way to get their power play going against one of the worst penalty kills in the League. The Kings need to keep an eye on Evander Kane when he is on the ice for the Sabres since he is one of the leading producers on the team. Los Angeles needs to win the battle at even strength and play a smart game by not making mistakes and turning the puck over. 

Shooting Stars: Weekly Preview 2/11/18-2/17/18

The Dallas Stars will look to gain some important points in the playoff race this week. They only play two games this week with a four day break between games.

The Stars will start the week off on Sunday with a visit from the Vancouver Canucks, who are seventh in the Pacific. The Canucks are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games played. Dallas will then have the next four days off before they return to action to face Central Division rivals, the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are a hot team having won seven of their last 10 games. 

Dallas starts the week off against a struggling Canucks team. The Stars need to be ready to play from the drop of the puck and not look ahead to the game against the Blues. Dallas should try to stay out of the box because the power play has been the one area that has been clocking this season for the Canucks. The Stars need to keep an eye on the Sedin twins when they are on the ice since they can put up some points. The Stars want to take advantage of a weak penalty kill by the Canucks and score on some of their power play opportunities.

The Canucks want to get off to a good start in this game and establish a tone early. Vancouver needs to establish a forecheck early and often to make the Stars play in the own zone and not be able to get any offensive attack time. The Canucks should stay out of the box since they have one of the worst penalty kills in the League. Vancouver needs to win the even strength battle and try to score some goals. The Canucks need to get a good game from the goaltending because the Stars will get their chances and have more than one guy that can put the puck in the net. 

The Stars will have some time to rest and prepare for what should be a Central Division battle against the Blues. Dallas will want to get off to a fast start and establish the forecheck game early to make the Blues play in their own end. The Stars need to have the lead entering the final period of the game since they only have one regulation win when trailing after two periods. Dallas will want to get a good game from the goaltending since the Blues have a balanced lineup and find ways to score. The goalie should try to have good rebound control and keep the Blues from second opportunities. Dallas should have a better finish to this game since the third period has been a problem for the team all season.

St. Louis should try to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game early. The Blues will want to find a way to stop the balanced lineup of the Stars, who can put the puck in the net and create chances in the offensive zone. St. Louis needs to have a better start to this game since they have only score 35 goals in the first periods of games this year. The Blues want to find a way to get a struggling power play going since it could be the deciding factor in the game with both teams being pretty even at even strength.

3 Things: Lightning @ Oilers 2/5/18

The Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night at 9 p.m. EST. The Lightning will look to gain some important points in the playoff race. The Oilers are just looking to get back on track and string a few wins together to try to get back in playoff contention, which is going to take a lot of work.

Here are three things to watch for in tonight's matchup:

1.) CONNOR MCDAVID

The Lightning will need to figure out a way to stop McDavid, and that hasn't been an easy task for most of the NHL this year. McDavid can go from zero to sixty in seconds, and his speed through the neutral zone makes it difficult for the opposition to defend against. He has playmaking abilities and can finish. The best way to defend against someone like McDavid is to just establish the forecheck early and have a ton of sustained offensive zone time with a lot of scoring changes. The Lightning are going to need to win the battles to the loose pucks and just know where he is at all times on the ice.

2.) GOALTENDING

Cam Talbot is going to have to be better than he has been all season long. The Lightning are going to have prime scoring chances and Talbot will need to make some saves if the Oilers want to have a chance to win the game. Talbot is going to need to make the easy saves and the difficult ones. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been great all season long in net and that will need to continue tonight. Vasilevskiy has been putting up Vezina like numbers all season, but still needs to make some saves tonight and get the job done.

3.) LIGHTNING PP VS. EDMONTON PK

The Bolts have had one of the best power plays all season long and they will go against the Oilers penalty kill, which has been awful at home all season. The Lightning have 42 power play goals in 181 opportunities this year, and have only given up two short handed goals against. The Oilers have been short handed 159 times this year and have given up 45 power play goals against, but have score seven short handed goals. Edmonton has been god awful on the penalty kill at home by only killing 55.8% of penalties taken, which is good for last in the Leag

Shooting Stars: Weekly Preview 2/4/18-2/10-18

The Dallas Stars will look to continue their good play in order to gain some valuable points in the playoff race, but it won't be an easy week for them.

The Stars will start the week tonight at home against the struggling New York Rangers, who could be ready to be sellers at the deadline. Dallas will then travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks, who have a lot of work to do to get back into the playoff picture, on Thursday night. The Stars end their week with a home game against the red hot defending champions, Pittsburgh Penguins.

Dallas will look to gain an important two points in the comfort of their own building where they have played extremely well. The Stars need to play with some discipline and not give the Rangers too many power play advantages since they have been decent on the power play this year. Dallas will want to win the special teams battle since the Rangers are only in the middle of the pack in the  special teams categories. The Stars need to have the lead entering the third period since they have yet to register a regulation win when trailing entering the second period. Dallas should look to have a better finish to the game and play solid defense in the third period. The Stars should keep an eye on Mats Zuccarello and J.T. Miller when they are on the ice since they lead the team in points.

The Rangers need to find a way to get out of their funk and a big win against the Stars could be just what the doctor ordered for them. New York should be able to stop the balanced lineup of the Stars by establishing a forecheck early and spending some time in the offensive zone. The Rags will want to be discipline since the Stars have a lethal power play that can strike at any time when given the chance. The Rangers need to win the battle at even strength because they have struggled in this area. New York needs to get a good game from their goaltender, who needs to make saves and keep the team in the game.

On Thursday night, the Stars will take on Central Divsion Rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks. The Stars will need to know where Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat are when they are on the ice because they have been two of the best players for the Blackhawks this year. Dallas needs to play a consistent 60 minute game and be ready to play from the drop of the puck. The Stars will want to be solid at even strength since the Blackhawks have struggled on the power play. Dallas needs to take the two points that will be there for the taking and play a solid defensive game. 

The Blackhawks will want to get the first goal of the game to get off to a fast start. Chicago needs to find a way to minimize the damage that could be done by Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. The Blackhawks want to get the power play going, which has been struggling all season long. The goaltending of the Blackhawks is going to need to come up big and make some saves for his team. Chicago will need to get the forecheck and cycle game going early to keep the Stars in their own end and away from the offensive zone.

The Stars end their week with a huge test against the red hot Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens are heating up at the right time and the Stars look to put out the fire for at least one game. Dallas needs to find a way to keep Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin off the board, and that wil start with good sustained offensive zone pressure. The Stars need to get a good game from the goaltender since the Penguins will get their chances and possibly a ton of them. Dallas needs to avoid turnovers and play some smart hockey because the Penguins will take advantage of those turnovers. The Stars needs to have a good third period and finish to the game.

The Penguins need to have a good start to the game and set the tone early to take the home crowd out of the game. Pittsburgh will need to stop the balanced lineup of the Stars by spending some time making them defend. The Pens need to have the lead entering the final period of the game since the Stars have zero regulation wins when trailing after two periods. The Penguins should win the special teams battle since they are top five in the League in bother the power play and penalty kill percentages. The Pens just need to play a solid, defensive road game and take some chances, if needed. 

Leafs Notes: 2/4/18-2/10/18

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to gain some ground on their Atlantic Division foes this week in the race for playoff positioning while in the comfort of their own arena.

The Leafs will start the week by taking on a very deep Anaheim Ducks team tonight. Toronto will then play Wednesday night against a stacked Nashville Predators team, who is also battling for playoff positioning in the West. The Maple Leafs end the week on Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators, who look to play the role of spoiler and steal two points from the Leafs.

Toronto will want to come out prepared to play since the Ducks like to play a physical brand of hockey. The Leafs should establish the forecheck early and get their cycle game going to make the Ducks defend instead of spending time defending themselves. The Maple Leafs need to stop a very balanced lineup of the Ducks, who can put the puck in the net especially with some chances. Toronto should try to draw some penalties even though the Ducks have a decent penalty kill because that will disrupt the momentum and lines of Anaheim since certain players are on the penalty kill. The Leafs need to be aware of when and where Richard Rakell is on the ice at all times since he is the leading scorer for the Ducks this year.

Anaheim needs to play a solid road game and everyone needs to have their A game tonight. The Ducks want to play a consistent game, not be good for 40 minutes and then start giving up goals in the third period like they have been this year. Anaheim will need a good game from the goalie tonight since the Leafs use their speed to create and will get their chances. The Ducks should try to have a better third period since they have been out scored 55-49 in the final periods of games this year. Anaheim wants to play a strong game at even strength since the Leafs have really goood special teams numbers this year and the Ducks are mediocre on special teams.

The Maple Leafs will take on the defending Western Conference Champions on Wednesday night at the ACC. Toronto will want to use their speed to create and draw some penalties to take the Preds off of their game a little bit. The Leafs should try to win the special teams battle since the Preds have been good at even strength hockey this year. The Maple Leafs need to have the lead entering the final period since the Predators aren't a good team when entering the final period trailing. The Leafs starting goalie will need to come up with some big saves to keep his team in the game. Toronto shouldn't take their foot off the gas pedal, but just attacking no matter the score.

The Preds need to get off to a good start in this game, set the tone early and get that first goal to take the home crowd out of the game. Nashville wants to have the lead entering the third period since they are 0-10-2 when trailing after two periods. The Predators should be aware of the speed and creativity of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner when those two are on the ice. The Preds will want to stay away from the penalty box since the Leafs have a decent power play. Nashville should try to establish the forecheck and be a little physical early in the game to try to stop the speed of the Leafs.

Toronto ends their week with a visit from the Ottawa Senators, who have had a disappointing season. The Leafs need to make sure that they don't take their opponent lightly and not play down to their level. Toronto should establish the transition game early and often to get some odd man rushes to test the starting goalie early. The Maple Leafs needs to force some turnovers since the Senators will turn it over, but the Leafs also need to make sure that they take care of the puck since the Sens do have a decent amount of takeaways on the year too. The Leafs need to be aware of Erik Karlsson and take advantage of a weak penalty kill of the Sens.

The Senators should try to get the first goal of the game and set the tone early. Ottawa wants to  get to the net and try to get in the goalie's sight line to deflect pucks. The Sens need to be the better team at even strength since they have had problems on the penalty kill this year. Ottawa will want to play solid defense and make sure that they have their man covered and not let the Leafs get behind them for an odd man rush. The Senators need to get in on the forecheck to spend some time in the offensive zone. 

Preds Prey: Weekly Preview 2/4/18/2/10/18

The Nashville Predators will look to gain some important points in the playoff race while spending some time away from the comforts of home, and without forward Filip Forsberg, who was suspended for three games.

The Predators will start off the week with a visit to the struggling New York Islanders tonight. Nashville will then visit the Toronto Maple Leafs for what could be a very good game, and will certainly have some playoff standing implications. The Preds and Kyle Turks get right back at it on Thursday night with a visit to an Ottawa Senators team that hasn't quite played up to their standards this year. The Predators will end their week with a visit to Montreal to face Carey Price and the Canadiens on Saturday night. 

The Predators will have to find a way to replace some of the offense lost by the Forsberg suspension, but that shouldn't be a problem since they did it while he was out of the lineup with an injury. Nashville will need to get off to a good start and not let the Islanders play the fast-paced, back-and-forth type of style that they like to play. The Preds will need to make sure that they play with some discipline since the Islanders power play can be a threat in a game. The Predators will need to get their defensemen to join the play in the offensive zone while being aggressive in the neutral zone trying to force turnovers. Nashville will need to have a good third period since they have struggled in the final period and the Islanders have outscored their opponents 64-56 in the final frame. The Preds should try to win the even strength battle since the Islanders have one of the worst penalty kills in the League.

The Islanders need the goaltending to come up big and make some stops since the Predators are going to get their chances in the offensive zone. New York wants to make sure that they play with some discipline since they have had a rough go of killing penalties this year. The Isles should try to set the tone of the game early and get that first goal of the game so the home crowd doesn't turn on them too early in the game. The Islanders will want to be aware of where P.K. Subban is on the ice at all times since he is the leading assist getter for the Predators. New York needs to be the better team at even strength to have a shot at winning this game.

Nashville will head to the Air Canada Centre for a visit with the Maple Leafs, and this game is sure to have playoff standing implications since the playoff race in both conferences is tight. The Predators will need to get off to a good start in this game since the Leafs have outscored the opposition 56-45 in the first period of hockey games this year. The Preds should have the lead entering the final frame since they have zero regulation wins when trailing entering the third period. Nashville will want to find a way to contain the speed of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, who can absolutely fly. The Preds want to play with discipline since they will be facing a good power play unit. The Predators will want to establish the forecheck and cycle game early, and make the Leafs spend some time defending in their own zone while getting plenty of pucks at the starting goalie.

The Maple Leafs need to use their speed to create in the offensive zone and draw some penalties. Toronto is going to want to win the special teams battle since the Predators have a one of the best power play units in the League. The Leafs should have the lead entering the final period since they are only 3-16-1 when trailing entering the third period. Toronto will need to get a big game from the goaltending since the Predators will no doubt get their shot at some chances. The Leafs can't afford to take their foot off the gas pedal and need to keep pushing the pace if they have the lead.

On Thursday, the Predators will take on the Ottawa Senators. This will face Kyle Turris against his old teammates. Nashville is going to need to find a way to stop Mike Hoffman and Erik Karlsson, who leads the team in assists. The goaltending will need to be good for the Preds to win this game since the Senators can score some goals. The Preds want to draw some penalties and take advantage of the power play opportunities that will come their way.

 

The Senators will want to find a way to stop Kevin Fiala and Kyle Turris, who have had some chemistry playing on the same line together. Ottawa will need to get off to a good start and not allow any bad goals in the game. The Sens need to play a good game at even strength to have a shot at winning the game. Ottawa needs to get the first goal of the game to try to set the tone early, and keep the home crowd in the game. The Sens need to play solid team defense, and make sure that they help out, if needed.

 

The Predators finish off the week by taking on the Montreal Canadiens. Nashville should take advantage of a weak penalty kill by the Canadiens. They will want to pressure the Canadiens and force some turnovers. Montreal may not be good this year, but Carey Price can always steal a game so the Preds will want to play a good, solid road game. They will have to keep an eye on Alex Galchenyuk and Max Pacioretty.

 

The Habs need to get off to a good start to this game and keep attacking. They will want to stay out of the penalty box since the Preds have the third best power play in the League. The Canadiens need to win the battle at even strength. Montreal will want to get a good game from the starting goalie to keep the team in the game. The Canadiens need to find a way to score some goals whether it is getting pucks on net or getting traffic in front of the net.