*Please check out the always excellent On The Forecheck for the opposing view.
Didn’t we just do this? The Kings celebrated a 4-1 victory over the Preds on Nov. 6th. Magical Mullet night seems so long ago…
So, what have you been up to? Since then, Nashville has pulled out of their losing streak and are now blazing hot: 8-0-2 in their last ten games, with five wins in a row. The Kings have been having a fine December so far, but injuries to tough defensemen Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell (again) now make this tough road trip seem even more daunting.
Well, you’re looking good! [Really?] Do we ever look forward to facing the Predators? Does anyone? Both teams live and die by their defense, and they’re just better (and now healthier) than us in that department. Whenever #1 goalie Pekka Rinne has been out, fellow ginormous Scandinavian tree-person Anders Lindback (9-1-2, .931 SV%) has filled in admirably. Top shutdown defenseman Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are simply beautiful and terrifying together. Scoring has never been their strong suit, but the Kostitsyn-Goc-Erat line has been racking up points reliably during their win streak.
Weber doesn’t get talked up for the Norris and Trotz has never won the Adams. The world just isn’t fair.
Hey, whatever happened to… Jonathan Bernier has been looking good in practice and will finally get another chance in net. On the other side, Rinne had been out with a knee injury but will be dressing as the backup tonight. Defenseman Cody Franson will miss the game to attend a funeral.
How’s that workin’ for ya? Nashville is 3rd in goals against (2.29) and 24th in goals per game (2.52); their PK is a smidge better than ours (85.1%) but our PP is better (16% vs 13.8% — real powerhouses there).
OMG, did you hear about… Injured Kings: Scott Parse, Brad Richardson, Matt Greene (sent back to LA), Willie Mitchell (knee?). Marco Sturm is travelling with the team but remains out of the lineup.
Injured Predators: Three forwards — Matthew Lombardi (concussion), David Legwand (lower-body), and Patric Hornqvist (upper-body).
Okay, well, nice to see you as always… season series: Kings up, 1-0. Can they take a lesson from the Blues?
“I think if you’re around us, on the off days too, we’re not walking around feeling sorry for ourselves for the situation we’re in. Everyone just pulls together, and I think we’re playing pretty strong.” –Alex Steen
Good approach. Go Kings Go.