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.

Preds Prey: Weekly Preview 12/24/17-12/30/17

The Nashville Predators will look to put some distance between themselves and the competition this week since all three of their games are against Central Division opponents.

The Predators will take on the St. Louis Blues tonight with just one point separating the two teams for the top spot in the Central. On Friday and Saturday, the Preds will play a home-and-home series with the Minnesota Wild. The teams will be in Minnesota on Friday night and Nashville on Saturday night. There should be some good hockey played between the divisional rivals.

The Preds will need to keep an eye on Brayden Schenn, who leads the Blues in goals, assists and points this season. Nashville will need to get good goaltending from whichever goalie starts tonight's game. The Predators need to be very good while at even strength since the Blues have scored 73 even strength goals on the season to Nashville's 64. The Preds should try to have the lead entering the third period since they have only forced overtime twice in the nine times they have been trailing after the second period this year. Nashville needs to get off to a good start and play a solid 60 minute defensive road game.

The Blues will need to get their power play going since it is ranked 24th and a clear weakness on this team. St. Louis needs to be aware of where the Preds defensemen are on the ice since they like to join the play in the offensive zone or make the long stretch pass to start a breakout of their own zone. The Blues should also keep an eye on Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson because both players have speed and can finish a play. St. Louis will need to get some stellar goaltending tonight since the Preds know how to put the puck in the opposition's net. The Blues will need to get the first goal of the game and come out playing with some energy.

On Friday night, the Predators will play the first of a home-and-home series with the Minnesota Wild. The Preds will need to use their speed in transition to get behind the Wild defensemen. Nashville will need to have their skating legs so they can draw penalties. The Predators need to get shots on goal and have someone in front of the net for second chance opportunities. Nashville need to have a better finish to games since that has been the one area where they have really struggled this year. They have been outscored 41-31in the final period of games, and that needs to change. The Preds will also need to find a way to contain Jason Zucker and Eric Staal, who lead the team in points and goals.

The Wild will need to play really well at even strength since they have given up more goals at even strength than they've scored this year. Minnesota need to keep an eye on Kevin Fiala and Kyle Turris, who have played well together since the trade to acquire Turris. The Wild should try to get pucks on net and bury the chances that they get throughout the game. Minnesota will need to get plenty of traffic in front of the net, and get good goaltending of their own for this game.

On Saturday night, the venue changes but the opponents are the same as the Wild visit the Preds. Nashville needs to take advantage of a weak road penalty kill of the Wild and put some pucks in the net when on the man advantage. The Preds need to be good on the forecheck and force some turnovers. The Predators will need to have good energy from the start of the game to the end of the game since this will be the back end of a back-to-back series with the Wild. Nasvhille needs to have good goaltending again, and play with discipline, which may be hard to do since they are the most penalized team in the League.

The Wild need to stay out of the penalty box since the Preds have a solid power play. Minnesota needs to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game a little. The Wild should try to have the lead entering the final frame since they only have one regulation win and an overtime loss when trailing after two periods. Minnesota needs another good game from its goaltender, whether it is Devan Dubnyk or Alex Stalock. The Wild need to have a good start to the first half of the first period.