Keys to Watch
Nashville Admirals
Every team goes through the season with a certain amount of injuries. Hockey is a physical game and injuries are inevitable. The Nashville Predators seem to have hit the black hole of injuries recently. The injury list is as follows: three players on Injured Reserve (Subban, Neal, Salomaki), Viktor Arvidsson (upper-body), and Colin Wilson (undisclosed). The Nashville Predators will produce tonight what I am calling the Nashville “Admirals”. This is a nod to the many players that will see time-in-action from the AHL-affiliate, Milwaukee Admirals. The projected line-up for tonight is:
Forwards
Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Calle Jarnkrok
Austin Watson – Mike Fisher – Colton Sissons
Kevin Fiala – Mike Ribeiro – Craig Smith
Harry Zolnierczyk – Vladislav Kamenev – Frederick Gaudreau
Defense
Anthony Bitetto – Yannick Weber
Goaltenders
Offensive Production
One of the main struggles tonight will be the Nashville Predators ability to score. This will be the last trip of the regular season to the United Center, and playing in Chicago has always been a struggle for the Predators offensively. It will be interesting to see how the fourth line plays against a very good Chicago squad. Zolnierczyk, Kamenev, and Gaudreau have played lots together in Milwaukee and the chemistry will be excellent. The issue will be whether they are developed enough to compete on the NHL level.
Prince Filip
All year, the fans and players have been waiting for Filip Forsberg to play like he did last season. He has been one of the bright spots over the past six weeks. Forsberg is averaging a point per game over the last five games, and eight points in the last nine games (six goals, two assists). The Predators need the rest of the team to catch up to the play of Forsberg. This team is desperate for consistent offensive production.
Tonight, the Predators will look to finish a three game road trip against a talented Chicago squad. Be sure to catch all of the action tonight on Fox Sports-Tennessee or you can listen live on 102.5 The Game. Puck drops at 6:00 pm!
