I have a feeling that Thursday's melt down and near loss to Anaheim that was followed by the tongue-lashing from Barry Trotz may be just what the doctor ordered as the Nashville Predators (40-25-10) prepare to go against the Dallas Stars (38-25-10) tonight at the Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m.
The Preds have now won five in a row and are playing a desperate Dallas team in a game that the Stars simply have to win. They are on the outside looking in in ninth place with 86 points and travel to Phoenix, San Jose, LA, and Anaheim after tonight's game.
Dallas suffered a devastating overtime loss to Anaheim in their last game on Wednesday and their season hangs in the balance with no room for error.
Had the Predators played as they should have in the third period on Thursday against the Ducks and had an easy 5-1 win, there is no way that they would be as focused as they are now after getting called out by Trotz. If they aren't ready to hit the ice running tonight they never will be.
Trotz made it real clear what he expects, "That's the message. Manage the game, Do it right. Do it for 60 Minutes." I hope that is etched on the brain of all 20 Predators that dress tonight.
The Preds and Stars have met three times this season. On October 23, the Preds won 1-0 in Dallas when the team was still undefeated. On December 28 the Preds stunk up the Bridgestone Arena in a 4-2 loss, and the Predators let the Stars come from behind and lost 3-2 in Dallas on February 26.
Pekka Rinne (29-20-8, 2.10, .929) will be in goal for the Predators and Kari Lehtonen (30-20-10, 2.57, .915) will lead the Stars in net.
My bet is that he Predators will really clamp down on defense and will move away from some of the free-wheeling style on offense of the last few games. A 2-1, 1-0 or overtime game is probably the best guess heading into tonight's action.
The Predators will not play again until they face the President's trophy leading Vancouver Canuck at home on Tuesday so these two points tonight are criticize for the team to maintain their position in the top eight.
The Preds have now won five in a row and are playing a desperate Dallas team in a game that the Stars simply have to win. They are on the outside looking in in ninth place with 86 points and travel to Phoenix, San Jose, LA, and Anaheim after tonight's game.
Dallas suffered a devastating overtime loss to Anaheim in their last game on Wednesday and their season hangs in the balance with no room for error.
Had the Predators played as they should have in the third period on Thursday against the Ducks and had an easy 5-1 win, there is no way that they would be as focused as they are now after getting called out by Trotz. If they aren't ready to hit the ice running tonight they never will be.
Trotz made it real clear what he expects, "That's the message. Manage the game, Do it right. Do it for 60 Minutes." I hope that is etched on the brain of all 20 Predators that dress tonight.
The Preds and Stars have met three times this season. On October 23, the Preds won 1-0 in Dallas when the team was still undefeated. On December 28 the Preds stunk up the Bridgestone Arena in a 4-2 loss, and the Predators let the Stars come from behind and lost 3-2 in Dallas on February 26.
Pekka Rinne (29-20-8, 2.10, .929) will be in goal for the Predators and Kari Lehtonen (30-20-10, 2.57, .915) will lead the Stars in net.
My bet is that he Predators will really clamp down on defense and will move away from some of the free-wheeling style on offense of the last few games. A 2-1, 1-0 or overtime game is probably the best guess heading into tonight's action.
The Predators will not play again until they face the President's trophy leading Vancouver Canuck at home on Tuesday so these two points tonight are criticize for the team to maintain their position in the top eight.
