6:00 PM CT – Predators (31-16-4) @ Flyers (29-14-6)
Players to watch:
NSH- Mike Fisher
Fisher has stepped up his offensive game of late, tallying 15 points in 13 January games. He picked up two points against Philly last time out.
PHI- Scott Hartnell
The former Predator is a factor on most nights, whether he finds the scoresheet or not. Hartnell is on pace for a career-high 41 goals.
Starting goaltenders:
NSH- Anders Lindback (2011-12 stats: 2-5-0, 2.65 GAA)
PHI- Ilya Bryzgalov (2011-12 stats: 18-10-5, 2.93 GAA)
Injury report:
NSH- Francis Bouillon and Jerred Smithson (upper body, probable)
PHI- Chris Pronger, Danny Briere and James van Riemsdyk (concussion, out), Zac Rinaldo (upper body, questionable)
Keys to the game:
NSH- Contain Flyers’ top line… In their first meeting in Nashville, defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter kept Philadelphia’s vaunted top line off the scoresheet. With key offensive contributors like Briere and van Riemsdyk sidelined, the NHL’s top defensive duo will need to contain Claude Giroux and company. If they do, the Preds could be looking at 14 of 16.
PHI- Improve play at home… Wells Fargo Center hasn’t exactly been the toughest place for opponents to play this season. The Flyers are a good-not-great 11-7-4 on home-ice, and have dropped three in a row at home. They have to improve their play at home tonight if they want to beat the road-warrior Predators, who have won six of seven away from home.
Numbers to know:
- The Preds are 15-9-1 on the road this season … Philadelphia is 11-7-4 at home.
- The Preds are 6-3-2 against the East this season … Philadelphia is 8-2-2 against the West.
- This is the second head-to-head meeting this season. The Preds won the first meeting, 4-2, at home on Jan. 14.
- All-time in Philadelphia, the Preds are 3-4-(1)-0. The Preds last won in Philly on Nov. 29, 2006.
- Anders Lindback is 0-1-0 with a 3.05 GAA, .897 save percentage in 1 career game vs. the Flyers. His likely counterpart, Ilya Bryzgalov, is 8-6-3 with a 2.63 GAA and .910 save percentage in 18 career games vs. Nashville.
- Martin Erat has 9 points in 8 career games vs. Philadelphia.
- Power play rankings: Nashville (22.4%, 2nd) … Philadelphia (20.7%, 4th)
- Penalty kill: Nashville (82.6%, 14th) … Philadelphia (82.6%, 15th)
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