Hockeytonkin' in Smashville; Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators preview

by John Fontana on Oct 27, 2011 2:25 PM EDT in '11-'12 game previews

WHERE: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
WHEN: 8 PM EDT | | TICKETS: Check Availability
MEDIA: Sun Sports (cable), 970 WFLA (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: On the Forecheck, Preds on The Glass

The Lightning open up inter-conference play tonight in the "Hockeytonk" town of Nashville. Nashville, deep in the south but in the Western conference. Nashville, aka Smashville, which could be a rival for the Bolts in time if the NHL puts together a (sane) re-alignment plan for the league for 2012-13.

The Lightning have the opportunity here of going to .500 record for the season. Yeah, .500. Don't let the more-wins-than-losses record throw you off. The Bolts have lost 5 games this season (3 in regulation, 2 via shootout). 10 points in spite of a mediocre start to the season is nice, but it's 10 points in 9 games. They have to do better.

Yet Tampa Bay has also found new life over the past three games, and plan to stick with the lineup that has made them successful of late, with Mathieu Garon in net, Blair Jones and Tom Pyatt starting, while Mattias Ritola and Ryan Shannon watch from the press box.

Going to five wins, 12 points, will let them leap-frog the Florida Panthers into 2nd place in the Southeast Division:

Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Washington	7	7	0	0	14
Florida	8	5	3	0	10
Tampa Bay	9	4	3	2	10
Carolina	9	3	3	3	9
Winnipeg	8	2	5	1	5

(updated 10.27.2011 at 9:19 AM EDT)

After playing better on defense last week in wins at home over the Islanders and the Sabres, the Bolts went from giving up 17-22 shots, to letting Buffalo shoot freely at Garon 39 times. Of course, the Sabres are playing a high-octane game this season, and up until playing the Bolts, were flying high. Still, 39 shots against? As compared to 23 shots for? That type of disparity isn't encouraging. It's going back to the trouble from earlier this season before rediscovering winning against the Islanders last week.

The Predators are looking for their first win at home this season, with Pekka Rinne starting in net. Rinne gave up 4 goals in his lone game played against the Lightning... But ultimately took home the W for his effort.

We'll also note that Nashville is playing better on both the power play and the penalty kill than the Bolts right now. Tampa Bay has a 13.3% conversion rate on the power play. And after it's vaulted oh-fer start on the penalty kill, they have are killing off 84.1% of opponents power plays. That's 15th in the league.

Nashville? 10th in the league on the penalty kill with an 86.8 kill rate.. They're 13th in the league on the power play at this point, converting 17.2% of their chances.

Game time is 8 PM, and our game thread goes live at 7:30.

Other Previews

Tampa Bay Lightning official team preview

On The Forecheck

Full game coverage on SB Nation

Tickets

Check Availability

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Comments

Is Nashville the favorite to switch with Winnipeg?

They make the most sense geographically, but they aren’t in the eastern time zone like Columbus or Detroit.

by Sveet on Oct 27, 2011 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

I would think that Detroit or Columbus have an edge over the Preds due to the time zone, as you mention, and surprising as it may seem, Nashville would end up travelling more if they joined the Southeast Division, based on a simulation I ran using my NHL Super Schedule.

Culturally, joining the Southeast would certainly be a natural fit, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Detroit or Columbus gets first dibs.

Looking forward to a good game tonight, the Predators have pretty much stunk so far but there’s hope now that some of the veterans are getting back in the lineup, like Mike Fisher and Francis Bouillon.

Follow @Forechecker

Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of Hockey Gear HQ, a site devoted to hockey equipment and accessories.

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 27, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it will be Columbus

Sounds like Detroit wants in the east bad, but the east is already much heavier in big name NHL teams. I think they would like to keep a big name team in the west.

by Sveet on Oct 27, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope it's Nashville

by Sveet on Oct 27, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Apparently

At some point last season… Gary Bettman guaranteed in person to Red Wing GM Ken Holland, that Detroit would be next up to move to the East. But we all know how a guarantee from Gary Bettman can work out. Even though it’s a much deserved move, we’re not holding our breath.

Let's GO..Wings, Tigers, Lions, Wolverines (oh my!) & Bolts!!!!

by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Oct 27, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

really would rather not see the Wings, Caps, and Bolts all in one division

especially not with the current unbalanced schedule.

Heel for school, Vol for life!

Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!

by Incipient_Senescence on Oct 27, 2011 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

The Wings have been promised for years that they’d be moved to the Eastern Conference. And if they’re not, then they want a more favorable schedule with “western” road swings like the Eastern Conference teams do to the West Coast. I think it’s going to depend upon whether or not they blow up the league and start over with conferences and/or divisions.

"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.

by Cassie McClellan on Oct 27, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep.

Let's GO..Wings, Tigers, Lions, Wolverines (oh my!) & Bolts!!!!

by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Oct 27, 2011 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Despite the Preds’ poor recent record, I consider Rinne always able to steal a game. On paper this looks like a good game for the Bolts—but Rinne’s going to make it tough on Our Team.

"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Oct 27, 2011 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

My personal, take-it-for-what-it's-worth scouting report.

I said over on OtF this morning that this is going to be the battle of the holey defenses. The Preds defense is at the center of their strategy—actually of their “identity”—but it’s not up to Trotz’s normal standards at the moment. Weber and Suter have not really clicked since the first two games of the season and Weber only has 3 points (0 goals) on the year. Suter also has 3 and if you know anything about this pair, you’ll understand that Ryan is the passer and Shea is the shooter and Shea has always been more productive. The only other time Shea has struggled this badly in recent memory was when Sutes was injured last fall. Klein and Blum are starting to hit their stride, but Klein has been known to make big errors—the kind that have flashing neon arrows pointing them out. Both these guys block a lot of shots and both will be extremely conscious of what Pekka needs. Bouillon has played one game since last January. He looked pretty good for all that except that the little things were rusty—line changes were a big problem for him last game.

Pekka is Pekka. If he could score……sigh…..Key to scoring on Pekka is pulling him laterally and screening him [where have we heard that before?] You have to tease him out to get him to open the net. The Preds defense has long had a habit of dropping coverage on the goalie’s backdoor. That’s how Kesler outplays us every damn time.

On offense…ummmm…..hmmmm….actually with Fish back and playing as well as he played last season, expect to see Leggy open up a little. Wilson’s looking pretty good compared to the end of last year, too. The big news, IMHO, is Craig Smith, aka the Badger. He plays a bit like Brett Connolly, only really intense. He’ll drive hard to the net and just keep firing away. He’s got a reputation as a shooter and has been quite good at keeping the defense’s attention on him while someone else (Wilson or Kostitsyn) comes up and gets in position. But if the rebound comes out while the Badger’s in front of the net, he’ll get it and shoot again and again.

Key for both teams is puck possession and preventing turnovers.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Lightning Goalies--0 for 4 on the poke check in October 2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 27, 2011 4:16 PM EDT reply actions

Bet tonight’s game is a tough one for you? I know how I feel when Bolts play the Red Wings, fun but not at the same time. Which leaves a bad/weird feeling in the stomach. Good luck, either way, haha.

Let's GO..Wings, Tigers, Lions, Wolverines (oh my!) & Bolts!!!!

by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Oct 27, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions