(4) Predators - (5) Red Wings preview - 04-09-12
(4) Predators vs. (5) Red Wings
Predators Leading Regular Season Scorer: Martin Erat, 58 points (19 goals, 39 assists).
Red Wings Leading Regular Season Scorer: Henrik Zetterberg, 69 points (22 goals, 47 assists).
Predators Expected Starting Goaltender: Pekka Rinne (right), 43-18-8, 2.39 GAA, .923 SV%.
Red Wings Expected Starting Goaltender: Jimmy Howard, 35-17-4, 2.13 GAA, .920 SV%.
Predators Regular Season Statistics
Red Wings Regular Season Statistics
Predators Injuries: Goaltender Anders Lindback (back) is day to day.
Red Wings Injuries: Center Darren Helm is questionable. Right winger Dan Cleary (knee) is day to day.Goaltender Joey MacDonald (back) is out indefinitely. Right winger Patrick Eaves (concussion) is on injured reserve.
Predators with Stanley Cup bling: Hal Gill, D.
Red Wings with Stanley Cup bling: Justin Abdelkader, LW; Dan Clary, RW; Pavel Datsyuk (below), C; Valterri Filppula, C; Johan Franzen, RW; Darren Helm, C; Tomas Holmstrom, LW; Jiri Hudler, C; Niklas Kronwall, D; Nicklas Lidstrom, D; Drew Miller, LW; Brad Stuart, D; Henrik Zetterberg; LW.
Something worthwhile about the Predators: Rinne led the NHL in regular season wins with 43.
Something worthwhile about the Red Wings: The Red Wings had a league-best 31-7-3 home record at Joe Louis Arena this regular season.
Something useless about the Predators that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: The first postseason goal in Predators history was scored by former Penguins right winger Adam Hall in a 3-1 loss to the Red Wings in Game 1 of a 2004 Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Something useless about the Red Wings that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: The Red Wings' franchise record for most assists in one playoff series is held by former Penguins defenseman Paul Coffey. He had nine against the Maple Leafs during a 1993 Norris Division semifinal series.
Former Penguins on the Predators: Hal Gill, D.
Former Penguins on the Red Wings: Ty Conklin, G; Chris Conner, RW.
Who needs to be the difference for the Predators: Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Kevin Klein, Francis Bouillon, Roman Josi and Gill. The Predators are going to need their defensemen to make life miserable for the Red Wings' forwards. They need to limit the amount of puck possession Detroit can maintain and prevent Detroit's power forwards like Holmstrom and Franzen from getting offensive chances in tight.
Who needs to be the difference for the Red Wings: Howard. Howard has been a question mark when it came to postseason games ever since he took over as the starter. This is no different. Howard must out-duel the all-star Rinne.
Best Predators YouTube Video We Could Find: The Predators scoring two goals in a span of nine seconds against the Red Wings during Game 3 of at 2008 Western Conference quarterfinal series:
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Best Red Wings YouTube Video We Could Find: Red Wings center Sergei Fedorov scoring an reviewed overtime goal in Game 6 of a 1992 Norris Division semifinal against the North Stars:
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EN Prediction: After failing to keep up with the Canucks' superior skill during last postseason, the Predators tried to collects a few skilled forwards in Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn. Those additions simply won't be enough to counter the Red Wings' established crew of skilled forwards up front. Injuries, such as Lidstrom's wonky ankle, might give the Predators a better chance, but the Red Wings have too much for the Predators. Red Wings, 4-2.
(Photos: Rinne-Christian Petersen/Getty Images; Datsyuk-Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)