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.
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