Category: Nashville Predators

News & Notes – October 16th, 2018

NHL

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, these are your news and notes for Tuesday, October 16th, 2018.

 

There were four contests in the NHL yesterday.

  • The Montreal Canadiens scoring was hot in their 7-3 rout of the Detroit Red Wings, their sixth consecutive win over Detroit.Johnathan Drouin recorded his fourth multi-goal game of his career and his first as a member of the Canadiens, one of which occurred on his second career penalty shot attempt.

    Brendan Gallagher would also register a goal in the contest, his 11th goal in 18 career games versus Detroit. He has also scored seven times in the current six game win streak against the Red Wings.

    Tomas Plekanec would also play in his 1,000th career NHL game.

     

  • Plekanec also became the fourth player in Montreal history to record a goal while in his 1,000th NHL game.
  • In Toronto, the Toronto Maple Leafs are continuing to be an offensive machine with the line of Kasperi Kapanen, Auston Matthews, and Patrick Marleau all found the score sheet. The line combined for three goals and two assists in the Maple Leafs 7-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.Kapanen entered the season with ten points in 55 career games. Kapanen has register four goals and four assists thus far this season in just seven games.

    With Patrick Marleau also scoring his first goal of the season on a power-play, he now ranks seventh place in game wining goals, sitting five shy from Brendan Shanahan (109).

    Auston Matthews has been on fire thus far for the season and this game was no different. Matthews registered his seventh straight multi-point game and at least one point in the last 17 regular-season contests. By registering his seventh straight multi-point game in as many games, he joined a very special class.

  • Ottawa Seantors D Maxime Lajoie and F Brady Tkachuk scored two of Ottawa’s first four straight goals to lift the Senators to their second straight win and a record of 3-2-1 on the season in a 4-1 rout of the Dallas Stars.This game would also be noteworthy for Lajoie as no Senators defenceman has registered more points in their first six games with the franchise.
  • In the final contest of the evening, Nashville Predators Filip Forsberg scored the game-winner to give himself four goals and two assists as well as giving Nashville their third consecutive win on the season. Nashville, 5-1-0, has earned at least five wins in six games for the third time in franchise history and the second time in four seasons (5-1-0 in 2015-16). Nashville would defeat the Minnesota Wild 4-2.

 

There are eight games on the NHL schedule tonight…

Oct_16th_Schedy-16120857 (1).jpg

Image courtesy of NHL and NHL Public Relations

 

In NHL news today…

  • The Arizona Coyotes announced that C Alex Galechenyuk has been cleared for contact but the return for on-ice action has not yet been determined.

 

 

You can watch TXHT Live next Wednesday at 8p EST on both Twitch and Facebook Live.

News and Notes: October 12, 2018

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, these are your news and notes for Friday, October 12th, 2018.

In NHL action last night there were twelve contests.

  • The Washington Capitals were shutout by the New Jersey Devils. Kyle Palmieri scored twice to drub Washington 6-0 in the home opener for the Devils.For TXHT’s coverage for last night’s contest between Washington and New Jersey, please go here.
  • It was an eventful night for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-3. The quartet of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, and Mitch Marner all continued their record-setting start to the season. The Maple Leafs have scored at least five goals in four straight games. The quartet also is in the top four for league scoring with a combined 44 points.TXHT has your coverage of this contest as well. For coverage, please go here.
  • Phil Kessel recorded his sixth career hat trick to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. This would be Kessel’s first hat trick with the Penguins. Kessel has scored at least 20 goals in the past ten seasons and is one of only five players currently playing in the NHL to achieve this feat.
  • The Montreal Canadiens were shutout by the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 last night.TXHT and Last Word on Hockey’s Armand Kilsvitch has your coverage of the contest at the following page.

    Montreal Canadiens shutout at home

Yesterday’s game results:

  • New Jersey 6, Washington 0
  • Boston 4, Edmonton 1
  • Colorado 6, Buffalo 1
  • Columbus 5, Florida 4
  • New York Rangers 3, San Jose 2 (OT)
  • Pittsburgh 4, Vegas 2
  • Los Angeles 3, Montreal 0
  • Toronto 5, Detroit 3
  • Vancouver 4, Tampa Bay 1
  • St. Louis 5, Calgary 3
  • Nashville 3, Winnipeg 0
  • Minnesota 4, Chicago 3 (OT)

In NHL action tonight, there are no games on the schedule. Game action will resume Saturday.

 

In NHL news…

Nashville Predators Austin Watson’s 27-game suspension for domestic violence was reduced by NHL/NHLPA neutral arbitator Shyam Das to 18 games last night.

In relation to the reduced suspension, the NHL released the following statement today:

 

The Vancouver Canucks announced yesterday that Henrik and Daniel Sedin will have their numbers retired next season.

 

In a pre-game ceremony in Montreal, the Canadiens honoured the 1993 Stanley Cup championship team.

 

The Florida Panthers announced that F Micheal Haley will be away from the team to take part in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

 

In NWHL news, the NWHL returns to action tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. ET when the Buffalo Beauts faceoff against the Connecticut Whale in the Twitter Game of the Week. At 7:30 p.m., the Boston Pride faceoff against the Metropolitan Riveters.

 

You can watch TXHT Live next Tuesday at 8p EST on both Twitch and Facebook Live.

NHL and NWHL News and Notes: October 1, 2018

 

Here are your news and notes covering the NHL for Monday, October 1, 2018.

 

There were four preseason contests that happened yesterday.

    • The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the San Jose Sharks with a 5-3 win at T-Mobile Arena. Tomas Nosek would score two of the Golden Knights three shorthanded goals. Max Pacioretty would also score the other shorthanded goal. Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury registered 33 saves to give Golden Knights six wins out of seven on the preseason campaign. Erik Karlsson scored his first goal for the Sharks, which were 2-for-6 on the power-play. Sharks goalie Martin Jones recorded 27 saves in the contest.
    • The Nashville Predators defeated the Carolina Hurricanes with a 5-4 in overtime at PNC Arena. Nashville’s Ryan Johansen scored the GWG 21 seconds into the overtime frame, his second of the game. Hurricanes goalie Scott Darling recorded 20 saves before leaving the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. Petr Mrazek came in for relief for Carolina and recorded 10 saves. Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros registered 14 and 16 shots respectively for Nashville.
    • The Washington Capitals defeated the St. Louis Blues with a 5-2 victory at Capital One Arena. Washington Capitals forwards Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie scored goals 49 seconds apart early in the third period. Ovechkin scored his fourth goal of the preseason 38 seconds into the third period to give Washington a 2-1 lead and then Oshie scored at 1:27. Capitals goalie Braden Holtby recorded 21 saves. Tom Wilson was given a match penalty for his hit on Blues F Oskar Sundqvist at 5:22 in the second period. There is more to come on that later.
    • The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars in a 6-5 victory at American Airlines Center. Colorado’s Nathan Landeskog had two goals and assist in this contest. Mikko Rantanen registered one goal and two assists, Tyson Jost and Matt Calvert each had two assists, and Colorado goalie Seymon Varlamov recorded 32 saves.

 

There is one preseason contest today…

    • New Jersey Devils vs. Bern SC in the NHL Global Series Challenge in Switzerland

 

Here are your news and notes covering the NHL…

  • As discussed yesterday, Washington Capitals F Tom Wilson will have an in-person hearing for his hit on Oskar Sundqvist yesterday. For our coverage, please go here and here.
  • NHL rosters for opening night on Wednesday must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET tomorrow (October 2nd).
  • The Edmonton Oilers traded Jakub Jerabek to the St. Louis Blues for a sixth-round draft pick in 2020

 

 

  • Scott Hartnell announced his retirement today from the NHL. Hartnell played 17 seasons and registered 707 points in 1,249 games with three teams.

 

 

  • Shea Weber was announced as the 30th captain in Montreal Canadiens team history today. Paul Byron and Brendan Gallagher were also announced as the alternate captains.

 

 

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs finalized their 23-man roster (13 forwards, eight defenceman and two goalies) today.

 

 

  • 19 years ago today, the Edmonton Oilers officially retired Wayne Gretzky’s number.

 

 

  • The New York Islanders unveiled their new third jerseys today. These thirds are identical to the last few third jerseys they have had over the past few seasons.

 

Additional looks at the Islanders third jersey

 

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Connor Carrick to the Dallas Stars for a conditional seventh-round draft pick which will turn into sixth rounder if Carrick plays at least 50 games.

 

 

  • Radim Vrbata announced his retirement today from the NHL.

 

 

  • The Montreal Canadiens acquired Brett Kulak from the Calgary Flames, who will report to the Laval Rocket of the AHL. In return, the Calgary Flames, will get Matt Taormina and Rinat Valiev.

 

 

In the NWHL, the Connecticut Whale announced that they have signed Meeri Räisänen. Räisänen, a Finnish goalie, joins Russian national team goalie Maria Sorokina to give the Whale a strong and talented goaltending tandem.

 

 

You can watch TXHT Live every Wednesday at 8p EST on both Twitch and Facebook Live.

2018-19 Nashville Predators Preview

NAS

 

Last Season: 53-18-11 117 pts (1st in Central Division; Lost in Western Conference 2nd Round)

 

Key Additions: D Dan Hamhuis and F Connor Brickley

 

Key Departures: D Alexei Emelin, F Mike Fischer, and F Scott Hartnell

 

Top Questions Facing the Predators:

  1. No change. Good or Bad?

During exit interviews the team stated that they wanted to stick together and give it one more try which was easy to accomplish for General Manager David Poile, now in his 20th season with the franchise, as 19 players were already under contract for this season, and three were Restricted and were automatically qualified. However, recent history has shown that the last three teams (Vancouver 2011, Boston 2013, and NY Rangers 2014) to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, then win the President’s Trophy don’t make it close to the Stanley Cup the following seasons. Can Nashville break this trend?

 

2. Can they fix their defensive woes that were exposed in the playoffs?

During their 2nd round matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, their defense was exposed by Winnipeg’s heavy forecheck which caused them to cough up many turnovers. While Nashville’s defense contributes a lot of offense for this team, this will be a key area that they will need to focus on fixing. One key thing that will help is the fact that all of the defensive pairings are going to be back together for a third straight season.