Keys to Watch
Subban’s Return
Earlier this season, the Predators faced the Canadiens in Nashville minus P.K. Subban. When Montreal and Nashville met, on January 3 at Bridgestone Arena, Montreal won by a decision of 2-1 in OT. Tonight will be the first time that Subban will face his former team. He was drafted by Montreal in 2007 in the second round and has spent his entire career north of the border. The Toronto native will have an emotional homecoming tonight and it will be intriguing to see how the crowd welcome back the former Norris Trophy winning defenseman.
Breaking the Habs’ Defense
When your team has players such as Carey Price and Shea Weber, it will be difficult to score on any given night. Montreal is currently sixth in the NHL with 2.52 goals-against average and are sixth in goals-against during the first period (43). Typically, as the game progresses they give up more goals with 57 goals in the second period and 55 goals in the third period. When Price and the Habs defense is playing well, they are one of the best corps in the league. The Predators offense will have a tough task tonight facing a very good Montreal defense.
Keeping the Offense Rolling
If any team can combat the defense of the Canadiens, it is the Nashville Predators. The Predators are ranked ninth this season in the NHL with 186 goals scored. Recently, players such as Filip Forsberg, James Neal, and Viktor Arvidsson are producing at a very high level offensively. The Predators are averaging 4.8 goals per game over the last five contests and, during the month of February, only had two matches where they did not score a minimum of three goals. Nashville’s offense is keeping the Predators in contest and they will need their offensive ability to shine tonight.
Tonight, Nashville will be looking for five-straight wins as they face the Canadiens at Bell Centre. Be sure to catch all of the action on Fox Sports-Tennessee or you can listen on 102.5 The Game. Puck drops at 6:30!
