About the Predators - 10-21-10
A preview of the Predators.
When and where: 8 p.m., Bridgestone Arena.
TV: FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Tennessee.
Record: 3-0-2, 8 points. The Predators are in fourth place in the Western Conference second place in the Central Division.
Leading Scorer: Steve Sullivan, 5 points (4 goals, 1 assist).
Last Game: 1-0 overtime home loss to the Flames, Tuesday. Pekke Rinne made 34 saves for the Predators.
Last Game against the Penguins: 4-3 shootout road win, Feb. 14. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist in regulation for the Penguins.
Predators Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Shea Weber (above). Aside from putting pucks through nets (see below), Weber has four points (three goals, one assist) in three games against the Penguins. He'll probably devour Ben Lovejoy's first born as well.
Ex-Penguins on the Predators: None.
Ex-Predators on the Penguins: Tom Fitzgerald, assistant to the general manager; Ray Shero, general manager.
Useless Predators Trivia Vaguely Related to the Penguins: Fitzgerald is one of two former players with ties to the Penguins to serve as the Predators' captain. Forward Greg Johnson is the other.
Best Predators Video We Could Find: Shea Weber - then of Team Canada - blowing a slapper through the net against Germany at the 2010 Olympics:
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Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury (0-3-0, 3.41 GAA, .853 SV%) for the Penguins and Pekke Rinne (1-0-1, 1.15 GAA, .969 SV%) for the Predators.
Injuries: For the Penguins, defenseman Brooks Orpik (groin) is day to day. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek (shoulder) is out. Center Jordan Staal (foot), right winger Arron Asham ("upper body") and defenseman Alex Grant (wrist) are on injured reserve. For the Predators, centers Marcel Goc (shoulder), Matthew Lombardi (concussion) and defenseman Ryan Suter ("lower body") are on injured reserve.
Probable lines and defensive pairings:
-The Penguins line combinations in practice yesterday were:
Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Pascal Dupuis
Mike Comrie -Mark Letestu - Evgeni Malkin
Matt Cooke -Maxime Talbot - Tyler Kennedy
Eric Tangradi - Craig Adams - Mike Rupp
Arron Asham - Jordan Staal - Eric Godard
According to the team's Web site, the Penguins defensemen all rotated in practice. Against the Senators Monday, their primary pairings were:
Paul Martin - Kris Letang
Alex Goligoski - Ben Lovejoy
Andrew Hutchinson - Deryk Engelland
The Predators primary line combinations and defensive pairings Tuesday against the Flames were:
Martin Erat - Colin Wilson - J.P. Dumont
Jordin Tootoo - David Legwand - Joel Ward
Steve Sullivan - Cal O'Reilly - Patric Hornqvist
Sergei Kostitsyn - Nick Spaling - Jerred Smithson
Ryan Suter - Shea Weber
Francis Bouillon - Kevin Klein
Shane O'Brien - Cody Franson
-We would expect Alexander Sulzer to replace Suter in the lineup tonight.
Notes:
-Welcome back Marc-Andre Fleury.
-If you've seen Mike Comrie's scoring touch, please give him a call.
-Suter is a pretty important loss for the Predators.
-The Predators activated forward Jamie Lundmark from injured reserve and demoted him to Milwaukee of the AHL.
-As of midnight, tons of tickets were still available.
-A Hockey Fights Cancer event will be held at tonight's game.
-Our live blog begins at approximately 8 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)