Preds Prey: Weekly Preview 11/12/17-11/18/147

The Nashville Predators are going to need to find a way to overcome some injury news. The team tweeted that they would be without defenseman Yannick Weber for the next 2-4 weeks, while forward Scott Hartnell will miss the next 3-5 weeks.

The Preds will start off the week by facing the Capitals at home and the game will be televised on NBCSN with the puck dropping around 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Nashville will then take on two divisional opppents in the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. The Predators have been hot lately, but it still won't be an easy week.



The Predators need to get the first goal of the game against the Capitals and keep the home crowd in the game. Nashville could possibly have Nick Bonino back in the lineup tonight since he is off of injured reserve. The Preds will need to stop the duo of Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin since they are the two leading scorers on the team. The Predators will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Caps have a dangerous power play. Nashville will need to get off to a solid start and have plenty of offensive zone time to keep Ovechkin playing defense and not offense. Nashville is going to have to be really good at even strength play.

The Capitals are going to need to get the first goal of the game to try to quiet the raucous home crowd of the Predators. Washington will need to stop the red hot Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban since they are point generators for Nashville. The Caps will need to get plenty of traffic in front of the net because if Pekka Rinne can see it then he's likely stopping the puck. The Capitals will need to take advantage of a weak penalty kill of the Preds. Washington will need to set the tone early with some hits and goals.

The Preds are going to need to play a solid, defensive road game to have a shot at beating the Wild on Thursday night. The Predators will need to be aware of Jason Zucker and Jared Spurgeon when they are on the ice since they both haven't had a problem producing of late. Nashville will need to make good use of the stretch pass since the Wild like to clog up the neutral zone. The Preds will need to set the tone early in the game with either a goal, a big hit or establish some chances with a good forecheck and speed. Nashville will need to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of it.

The Wild are going to need to find a way to contain the speed of the Predators. Minnesota will need to find a way to find Viktor Arvidsson and Roman Josi, who can both move the puck and have speed. The Wild are going to need to have a solid defensive game and limit their mistakes with and without the puck. The goalie will need to come up big for the Wild, and make some timely saves. Minnesota will need to take care of the puck because the Preds have a good transition game.

Nashville ends their week at home against another division foe in the Colorado Avalanche. The Preds will need to get pucks on net with plenty of traffic. Nashville will need to stop Alex Kerfoot, who is the leading goal scorer on the Avs along with Tyson Barrie, a defenseman who can really move the puck up the ice. The Predators will need to watch out the Colorado defensive corps since they can really move the puck up ice. Nashville is going to need to take advantage a weak penalty kill of the Avalanche. The Preds need to play a disciplined game and stay out of the penalty box since Colorado has a decent power play.

The Avs will need to get the first goal of the game and take the crowd out of the game. Colorado will need to make sure that it has a lead entering the third period since they don't have a come-from-behind regulation win when trailing in the third period. The Avalanche will need to get its road power play going since they will be up against a team that has a weak home penalty kill. The Ads will need to play a solid, 60 minute road game and eliminate the mistakes. Colorado will need to pay attention to the speed of the Preds and to the defensemen since they like to join the play in the offensive zone.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 11/12/17-11/18/17

The Philadelphia Flyers have yet another week of facing Western Conference opponents. The early season has been filled with opponents from the West, and very little of the East.

 It won't be an easy week, but they somehow need to find a way to get into a grove since they are tied for last in the Metropolitan Division with the Carolina Hurricanes. The good news is that even with being in last place the team is only six points out of the top spot in the division. The Flyers will finish the back end of a home-and-home with the Wild in Minnesota tonight. They will then take on the Jets in Winnipeg, and may have some help back in Nolan Patrick, who has been out with an upper body injury. Philadelphia will then fly home and take on the Calgary Flames and Johnny Gaudreau.

The Flyers will need the secondary scoring to start showing up this season, and what better time for them to show up than tonight in Minnesota. The Flyers have been shut out four times already this year, so when the top line is shut down then there's a good chance the team will take a loss. Philadelphia will need to have a better start to the game and play a solid first 10 minutes by limiting their turnovers and better play in the neutral zone. Philly is going to need to find a way to get through the tight checking of the Wild, and that is where the stretch passes by the defense, specifically Shayne Gostisbehere, could help. The Orange and Black really need to get the power play back on track since it has fizzled after a hot start. It will be interesting to see how the new line combinations work out for the Flyers tonight, and how much chemistry they have.

The Wild just need to have a repeat performance of Saturday night to shut down the Flyers offensively. They did a really good job of taking the cross ice pass away from the top line, and the line just didn't adjust their game. Minnesota needs to get the first goal of the game since the Flyers are only 1-6-2 when their opponents score first. The Wild need to take advantage of a Flyers team that doesn't have the best penalty kill in the NHL so they should use their speed and force Philly into taking some unnecessary penalties. The Wild are going to need to stay out of the penalty box themselves because even though the Flyers power play has been struggling lately, there's always a threat of them scoring a goal.

On Thursday night, it could be a homecoming for Nolan Patrick, who hopes to return to the lineup when the Flyers face the Jets in Winnipeg. Philadelphia needs to get off to a fast start, establish the forecheck and cycle game early and often in the first 10 minutes of the game. Once they have established those two things then they'll need to keep it going for the remainder of the game, and not just play that way for half the game. The Orange and Black need to find a way to stop Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele, who are the two leading scorers for the Jets. Philly will need to take advantage of the horrible home penalty killing of the Jets so far this year, and just throw everything they can at the net. They will need to be crisp with their passes and avoid the turnovers in the neutral zone since the Jets can capitalize on mistakes.

The Jets need to stop the top line of Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek. Winnipeg needs to play a solid game, and not fall off in the second period where they are getting outscored by opponents by a wide margin. The Jets will need to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game and they are a better team when they score first as opposed to their opponent scoring first. The goaltending will need to be sharp for the Jets since the Flyers will throw pucks at the net. Winnipeg is going to need to play a disciplined game and attack with speed.

The Flyers end their week with a visit from the Calgary Flames. Philly will need to stop the duo of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, who are the top two scorers for Calgary. A way to do that is to keep the puck in the offensive zone with a good cycle game. The Flyers will need to play a solid even strength game, and get some big & timely saves from their goalie. Philadelphia will look to get their secondary scoring going in this game, since they aren't doing much of anything right now. The Orange and Black need to get off to a good start and set the tone early in this game. Philly needs to get someone in the front of the net for rebound chances.

Calgary will need to attack the Flyers with their speed so the Flyers defensemen can't stand them up at their own blue line. The Flames need to take advantage of a weak penalty kill and get their own power play going. Calgary will need to watch out for the Philadelphia defensemen since they like to join the play in the offensive zone, and will make the pinch along the boards to keep the puck in the offensive zone. The Flames will need a good game from their goalie since the Flyers have been getting pucks to the net.



Sabres Slashes: Weekly Preview 11/12/17-11/18/17

The Buffalo Sabres will look to get back on track, and gain some points in the standings since they are in seventh place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Florida Panthers.

The Sabres will take on the defending champions, Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. They will then travel to Detroit for a divisional matchup against the Red Wings. Buffalo will end the week at home to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.

Buffalo will have a tough task in trying to beat the Penguins even though they are struggling early in the season. The Sabres will need to slow down Phil Kessel and Evengy Malkin, who are both off to hot starts for the Pens. Kessel and Malkin are the offensive leaders in goals, assists and points for Pittsburgh. The Sabres will need to play the type of game that they played against the Capitals last week and be solid on the defensive end of the puck. Buffalo will need to eliminate turnovers and mistakes to have a shot at getting two points and the win. They should try to get pucks on net with traffic in front for rebounds or deflections. Robin Lehner or Chad Johnson is going to need to have a solid game in net for the Sabres.

Pittsburgh will need to get the first goal of the game since they play better when getting the first goal rather than being scored against first. The Pens need to have the lead entering the final frame since they have only forced overtime twice when trailing entering the third and don't have a win yet. They need to attack the defense of Buffalo and force turnovers since some key blue liners are out of the Sabres lineup. The Penguins will need to be aware of Evander Kane and Jack Eichel since they have been producing on a line together this year.

On Friday, the Sabres will have its first leg of a back-to-back situation. Buffalo will need to make sure that they are smart with and without the puck because the Red Wings can burn you with their speed in transition. The Sabres will need to make sure that the forwards help out and have decent gap control especially if they are still missing Marco Scandella and Rasmus Ristolainen on the back end. The Sabres need to get off to a better start then they have been because they've been outscored 17-10 in first periods of games. Buffalo needs to watch out for Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha, who are first and second on the team in scoring.

The Red Wings will need to score the first goal of the game, and get the home crowd involved early in the game. Detroit will need to have a good start against a team who doesn't start games very well by putting the pressure on early in the offensive zone. The Red Wings will need to be aware of Ryan O'Reilly since he is tied for third on the team in scoring and can defend. Detroit should establish a forecheck and cycle game early so they can have some sustained offensive pressure and make the Sabres defend, which they haven't been very good at this year.

Buffalo will end their week at home against the Hurricanes. The Sabres will need to keep an eye on Teuvo Teravainen and Jeff Skinner, who can put the puck in the net. Buffalo will need to have speed through the neutral zone and get in behind the Hurricanes defense. The Sabres need to limit their mistakes and turnovers since Carolina is a team that will capitalize on its opponents mistakes. Buffalo needs to get the lead and keep attacking, don't go into holding the lead mode because they will get burned.

The Hurricanes will need to get the first goal of the game since they are 5-1-1 when doing so. Caroline will need to be really good at even strength since the power play and penalty kill numbers haven't been through the roof good this year. The Canes will need to get the power play going against a team that can give up some goals. Carolina should expect a good game from its goalies since they should see plenty of rubber in this game. The Hurricanes need to get more offense from the defensemen this year since they haven't contributed much in the offensive zone so far.

Shooting Stars: Weekly Preview 11/12/17-11/18/17

The Dallas Stars have a good opportunity to pick up some much needed points this week.

They’ll face the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night, who are last in the Metropolitan Division. On Tuesday, they will travel to Florida to take on the Panthers, who are last in the Atlantic Division. They’ll then take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night and finish out the week against the
EdMonton Oilers on Saturday night. The Oilers have been struggling to put the puck in the net so far this season.

The Stars will need to need to find a way to contain Carolina’s Jeff Skinner, who leads the team in goals and is second in points. Dallas has good special teams and should use that to their advantage and cash in on their power plays. The Stars will need to play a solid 60-minute game, and not take off because the Canes will take advantage of any mistakes made. Dallas needs to get off to a fast start, establish the forecheck and not overtook the Hurricanes. The game could be close defensively so the Stars are going to have to use their speed and use the stretch pass to get behind the defense.

Carolina will need to make sure that they play a good game at even strength since the special teams aren’t too good. The Canes will need to make sure that they keep an eye on Alexander Radulov since he can produce points. The Hurricanes need to get the first goal of the game since they are 4-1-1 when doing so. The goaltending is going to need to come up big for Carolina since the Stars have some offensive weapons that can put the puck in the net. If Carolina has a power play then they’ll need to be sure to take advantage of it since Dallas doesn’t have he beat road penalty kill.

Dallas will need to stop the top four (Huberdeau, Barkov, Trocheck & Dadonov) of the Panthers and make the rest of the lineup beat them. The Stars will need to get some pucks on net with traffic in front since neither goalie for Florida has been spectacular this year. The Stars need to watch out for the defensive corps of the Panthers because they will join in the offensive zone. Dallas needs to make sure that they have the lead entering the third period since they don’t have any third period comebacks for wins this year.

The Panthers are going to need to play a strong even strength game since their special teams aren't that good. They'll need to have a better start to this game, and get some scoring chances and offensive pressure early since they have been outscored in first period of games this year. Florida will need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Stars by establishing a forecheck and cycle game to play in the offensive zone. The Panthers need to play a disciplined game since the Stars have the best power play in the League. Florida needs to avoid mistakes with the puck and turnovers.

Ben Bishop and the Stars will then go and visit Tampa Bay to play the Lighting. Dallas will need to avoid mistakes with and without the puck and also not turn the puck over. They will need to contain Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov by spending some time in the offensive zone and less time defending. Dallas will need to take advantage of the bad home penalty kill of the Bolts. The Stars will need to get the first goal of the game to take the crowd out of the game.

The Bolts will need to use their speed to enter the offensive zone. Tampa Bay will need to be good at even strength since the Stars are in the top three in both power play and penalty kill percentage. The Bolts need to get off to a fast start and just keep bringing the pressure. Tampa Bay will need to play a full 60 minutes since the Stars have guys that can put the puck in the net at any given time. They'll need to get pucks on net and pressure the defense to force turnovers in the neutral zone and offensive zone.

The Stars return home on Saturday to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers, who haven't gotten off to the best start this year. The Stars will need to find a way to contain McDavid and his speed since once he gets going, the will blow right by the defender to create something out of nothing. Dallas need to get pucks on net since the goalies haven't been as good as they were last season. They also need to get off to a fast start to keep the home crowd in the game, and maybe even score the first goal of the game. The Stars will need to have a good game defensively meaning elimination of turnovers, good coverage by all five guys on the ice and timely saves from whichever goalie happens to be in the net.

Edmonton will need to get pucks to the net with traffic in front and get a dirty goal or two to get the offense going. They'll need to stay out of the penalty box. The Oilers need to win the even strength battle to even have a shot at winning the game since the Stars special teams are that good. Edmonton will need to have the goalie steal a game for them. The Oilers will need to play a solid road game and play a good first 10 minutes of the game to be scoreless and get the offense involved in the game a little. 

Lightning Strikes: Weekly Preview 11/12/17-11/18/17

The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to continue their hot start to the season. They will finished their West Coast swing and then come home for two games.

The Bolts will finish up their West Coast swing when they face the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night. They will then have three days off before facing the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. The Lightning finish off the week with a game at home against the New York Islanders.

Tampa Bay will face an Anaheim lineup that has been depleted by injury in the early season. The Bolts will need to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. The Lightning will need to stop the top six forwards of the Ducks since they do most of the damage on the offensive side of the puck for the team. Tampa Bay will need to get pucks on net with traffic in front. The Bolts will need to have a strong even strength game since the Ducks have a decent penalty kill. The Lightning will need to make quick decisions with the puck since the Ducks do block a lot of shot attempts.

The Ducks are going to need to stop the top line of the Lightning, who have combined for 77 points through 17 games so far this year. Anaheim is going to need to get some traffic in front of Tampa Bay's net to get some dirty goals on rebounds and second chances. The Ducks will need to be physical and establish a forecheck early in the game to spend some much needed attack time in the offensive zone. Anaheim needs to make sure that they have the lead after two periods since they don't have a regulation loss if they have the lead entering the third period. The Ducks will need to be aware of the Lightning defense joining the play in the offensive zone, which they have been know to do.

The Lightning have three days off before facing the Dallas Stars at home. The Bolts will need to figure out a way to keep Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin off the board since they have decent career numbers against the Lightning. Tampa Bay will need to play solid defense since the Stars can score and in bunches. The Lightning need to get the first goal of the game since the Stars play better with the lead as opposed to when they are trailing. The Lightning will also need to stay out of the penalty box since the Stars have the best power play in the League at 31.3%.

The Stars are going to need to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. Dallas will need to make sure that it plays a good even strength game, but also need to play stellar special teams like they have all season. The Stars are going to need to have the lead entering the third period since they don't have a third period comeback yet this year. Dallas will need to take advantage of a weak home penalty kill by the Lightning. The Stars need to figure out a way to stop the balanced attack of Tampa Bay.

The Lightning will take on the New York Islanders on Saturday night to end their week. Tampa Bay will need to get some traffic in front of the net because Jaroslav Halak has been very good this year. The Bolts will need to get the first goal of the game since the Isles are 5-0-0 when they get the first goal of the game, and 4-6-2 when the opposition scores first. Tampa Bay will need to be sure that they play a strong even strength game since the Isles are a good team when playing 5-on-5 hockey. The Lightning need to be area of when John Tavares is on the ice since he leads the team in points with 19.

The Isles need to get the first goal of the game since they are 5-0-0 when scoring the first goal of the game. New York needs to get off to a fast start and establish the cycle and forecheck game early to spend some time in the offensive zone. The Islanders need to stop the balanced attack of the Bolts. New York will need to find a way to slow down Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, who have gotten off to hot starts this season.

3 Keys: Maple Leaf @ Bruins-11/11/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Boston Bruins on Saturday night in the second half of a home-and-home series. The Leafs could be without Auston Matthews since he has an upper body injury.

Here are three keys to the game:

1.) GET 1ST GOAL- MAPLE LEAFS

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to have a good start to the game, and that includes getting the first goal of the game. They'll need to get the first goal to take the home crowd out of the game, and because the Bruins are a better team when they score the first goal of the game. The Leafs will need to establish an early forecheck and cycle game in the first 10 minutes of the game. The more they are in the offensive zone, the less that they'll have to defend and that means less shots on goal for the goalies to try to stop. Toronto needs keep attacking once they get a goal because these are important points in the division that are up for grabs.

2.) ATTACK TORONTO DEFENSE- BRUINS

The Bruins needs to attack the Leafs defense and make them turn the puck over. Boston needs to win races to pucks and get in behind Toronto's defense to make plays to get some offensive zone time and scoring chances. The Leafs will turnover the puck, and the Bruins need to take advantage of the turnovers. Toronto's defense has not been the best in the League this year, and if they are pressured with their time and space taken away then they will make mistakes. Boston needs to make sure that they force those turnovers and capitalize on them.

3.) MITCH MARNER VS. DAVID PASTRNAK- LEAFS & BRUINS

The Maple Leafs are going to need for Mitch Marner to play his game, and not worry about how he has only scored one goal in 17 games played this year. Marner needs to create with his speed, and get the puck on net so the goals will come. The Bruins will need the production that they have had all season from David Pastrnak. Pastrnak has nine goals, seven assists and 16 points in 14 games played this year. He will need to keep crashing the net, and use his speed to get to the net.

3 Keys: Sabres @ Canadiens- 11/11/17

The Buffalo Sabres will look to pick up a big two points against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

Here are three keys to the Atlantic Division game:

1.) FAST START- SABRES

The Sabres will look to get off to a fast start against a Canadiens team that could possibly be without Jonathan Drouin, Shea Weber and Carey Price. The Sabres need to establish a forecheck game early and be sure to get plenty of puck on net especially if Price isn't in goal for the Habs. Buffalo plays better when they have the lead, and they can keep attacking rather than having to play a defensive type of game in their own zone. They will also want to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. Buffalo needs to use its speed to win races to the puck and to spend some attack time in the offensive zone.

2.) POWER PLAY- HABS

The Canadiens haven't been so good while on the man advantage, and have only converted on 10 of its 66 power play opportunities this season. They are ranked 24th out of 31 teams on the power play this year. This would be the perfect opportunity to get the power play going since the Sabres are one of the worst road penalty killing teams in the League. The Sabres have allowed eight power play goals against while being shorthanded 26 times (69.2%). The Habs need to get setup, have quick player/puck movement and get the shot on net since the goalies do allow some goals for the Sabres.

3.) MAX PACIORETTY VS. EVANDER KANE- HABS & SABRES

Buffalo will need to keep an eye on Max Pacioretty, who has good career numbers against them. In 36 games played against the Sabres, he has 11 goals, 17 assists and 28 points, and is averaging .78 points per game. The Habs are going to need to keep an eye on Evander Kane, who has had a really good start to this season and leads the Sabres in points with 15. In 26 games played against Montreal, Kane has three goals, 15 assists and 18 points, while averaging .69 points per game against them in his career. This should be a good matchup to keep an eye on during the game since both this players can put the puck in the net.