The Predators are heating up just in time for the nearing playoffs. With a dominant 7-2 win over San Jose on Saturday, the Preds have extended their win streak to three games, which they will try to stretch even further when they pay Brooklyn a visit later tonight.
Nashville’s recent surge has a lot to do with the team’s excellent play on both ends of the ice. The Preds have outscored their last seven opponents, 25-14, including overtimes. Pekka Rinne has been a monster in front of the net, going 5-0-2 in his last seven outings. He has allowed just five goals in his last four starts, including in the Sharks game where he rejected 26 of San Jose’s 28 shots on goal.
Rinne has been enjoying an ample scoring support from the Preds’ attackers. Among them is James Neal, who has found the back of the net five times in his last seven contests. Also having a good stretch is Ryan Johansen, who needs just one more goal to get to 100 career scores. He might just get that milestone against the Islanders’ defense that ranks 26th in the league, allowing 3.0 goals per game.
The Preds are 7-3 in Rinne’s last 10 starts overall.
The Islanders took another L at home with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Boston last Saturday. It’s the Islanders’ fourth-straight loss at home, a skid they’ll be trying to put an end later tonight. But first, they have to solve some issues on offense after taking just 19 shots against the Bruins despite getting six power play opportunities and converting none on those man advantages.
With the way the Predators have been playing defensively of late, New York would need its top guns to be aggressive. John Tavares and Anders Lee are tied for most goals on the season for the Islanders with 28 each but the likes of Andrew Ladd and Brock Nelson should be able to produce pressure on Nashville’s defense. Ladd only has a goal and no assists over his last five games, while Nelson has two points (a goal and an assist) during the same stretch.
Thomas Greiss could be back between the pipes for the Islanders after allowing two goals on 18 shots faced against Boston. Greiss is 5-5-2 with a 3.20 GAA and .898 SV% in 12 games played thus far this March. Johnny Boychuck could return to action tonight after missing the past 10 games due to a lower-body injury. Boychuck has a plus-minus of +9 and has 21 points with 140 shots on goal. He’ll be an impactful player in terms of the possession battle against Nashville, which is fifth in the NHL in shot attempts percentage.
The Islanders are 3-0 in their last three home games against Nashville.
