On the Forecheck
Keeping Columbus down
by Forechecker on 10/17/08 at 03:22 PM ET
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Having started the season with some inconsistent efforts that have, fortunately enough, yielded a 2-2 record, the Predators will need to step up the intensity in a home-and-home series that starts on the road tonight in Columbus. The Blue Jackets make no bones about the fact that Nashville is the primary team in their sights as they try to make the Western Conference playoffs for the first time.
As the Blue Jackets blog Light the Lamp notes:
As I mentioned earlier you hate to say any game is a “must win” this early in the season but I believe tonight is. Not only to get back to .500 but to get this annoying Nashville monkey off everyone’s back and start building some momentum.
As much as Columbus needs a win, the Predators would love to kick the Blue Jackets while they’re down. While they’re not likely to push the eject button on their coach like Chicago just did, an awful start can mess up a divisional competitor for weeks, if not months.
UPDATE: Michael Peca will miss these games, with a five-game suspension handed down this afternoon.
Nashville has won 15 out of 16 games against Columbus over the last two seasons.
Photo Courtesy Paul Nicholson
From the Predators perspective, this weekend offers the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the Central division cellar dwellers. So who are the key figures involved in these two critical games?
1. Shea Weber vs. Rick Nash: In Dallas Wednesday night, the Preds let too many opposing forwards drive unmolested to the net. With Nash’s ability to plow through undersized defenders, the impetus will be on Weber, the most physical Nashville blue liner, to play the body early and declare the slot off-limits.
2. Jordin Tootoo vs. Pascal Leclaire: While Blue Jackets fans (and perhaps some of the players) are obsessed with getting rough with Toots, the Predators’ pest has been busy so far firing the puck on net (3.5 shots per game to lead the team), and it’s time for a few of them to result in goals. Besides, if Columbus wants to go after Tootoo, Trotz would presumably prefer him to keep the gloves on and draw a penalty.
3. Pekka Rinne: It appears that Nashville’s backup goalie will get his first start of the season tonight, so obviously the team wants him to experience some early success.
4. John H. McConnell: The founder of the franchise, who passed away earlier this year, will be honored prior to the start of tonight’s home opener in Columbus. You can bet the Blue Jackets will come out with tremendous energy to start the game, and it will be up to the Predators to play sound defensively and wait for good opportunities to jump on.
5. Barry Trotz: Nashville has a chance here to send a strong message in these two games, and a sweep of Columbus would not only give the Predators momentum, but also leave the Blue Jackets scrambling for answers. If he can get the whole team focused on playing their system and withstanding the initial surge as Columbus comes out for their fans, it will go a long way towards locking in good habits that will pay off over the course of the season.
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