Opportunities

There are times in everyone’s life when they are presented with significant opportunities.  That could be a new job, new house, or the creation of a new family.  For the Nashville Predators, their opportunity is to grab a pretty firm grip on their series with the Blackhawks and retain home ice advantage while establishing another franchise first for the young franchise.  All they have to do is win tonight.

Reports from Chicago indicate several line changes in an effort to get bigger and stronger so as to play with more effort and physicality.  I like the sound of that.  Chicago is a team that likes to play an up tempo game and use their speed and skill to put goals on the board.  I like the fact that they are having to adjust their game to that of the Nashville Predators.  That should provide an advantage to the Predators.  Will it be enough?  No.

To win, the Predators will have to play than they did in Game 3.  To win, the fans will have to push the team even more than they did in Game 3.  To win, the Predators will have to relish the opportunity to capitalize on Chicago’s attempt to play the Predator-way.

Keys to the Game

 Step Up the Physicality and Capitalize on Bad Positioning

If Chicago decides to truly focus on the physical game, it will likely result in some bad positioning.  The Predators need to match or exceed that physicality while also capitalizing on Chicago’s bad positioning.  Physical play on Pekka Rinne should not be tolerated in any fashion.

Pekka Rinne

Pekka will have to continue his dominant play and will probably have to handle several more flurries, especially in the early going.

Turn Chicago’s Adjustments Against Them

Chicago hasn’t been built and coached to play the Predator way.  Their attempts at changing their style should result in opportunities for Nashville.  They must convert those opportunities into goals to win this game.

Parting Shots

Game 3 saw Colin Wilson really begin assert himself.  He was physical, smart, and put shots on the net.  I don’t know if he’s starting to get comfortable, the energy of the game and/or crowd, or something else.  Whatever it was, it’d be nice to see Wilson take another step tonight and score his first postseason goal.

Speaking of first postseason goals, it’d be nice to see Hornqvist back on the ice to bring the physical play and frustration all the way to Antti Niemi and be rewarded with his first goal.

Final Prediction

Tonight will see a tighter checking game.  It will see the Predators score their first PP goal of the postseason as well as Pekka Rinne’s first shutout of the postseason.

Predators win tonight 3-0, with Cody Franson scoring a PP goal.  Colin Wilson will tally and Legwand will put in an empty netter.

Other Good Reads

Dirk has his preview of tonight up at On The Forecheck.  Paul McCann his preview available as well over at HockeyBuzz.

 From the perspective of the Blackhawks, Al Cimaglia has his thoughts about tonight up as well here on HockeyIndependent.