SMASHED IN NASHVILLE

The re-tooled Nashville Predators remain in the NHL conversation with a 35-22 and 4 record good for a tie with Minnesota in the Central and a secured Wild Card spot in the west.  Although they are coming off a loss to Philly on Thursday, they have won 5 of their last 6.  Captain Roman Jossi leads his team with 72 points (55 A) and is on an 8 game point streak ready to contend for the Norris Trophy.

The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed back Austin Mathews (45 goals) which trickled down to Alex Kerfoot dropping to the 4^th line and Nick Robertson to the press box. Dermott was showcased for Monday’s trade deadline, replacing the not quite ready for prime-time Timothy Liljgren on the third pair.

We don’t see the Predators in this market that often, but this reporter’s first impression – these guys are good.  Hats off to GM David Poile for always icing a contender, despite turnover throughout his tenure.  New Leafs goalie Erik Kallgren continued his steady play during the first period starting with huge right pad save less than 30 seconds in followed closely by a nice save on Jossi from close in.  Rookie of the Year candidate Tanner Jeanott got the go ahead goal off a nice feed from Sissons, 1-0 after one.

Nashville pressed hard again to start the second period leading to nice deflection goal off a Davies point shot.  The Predators have a solid forward group lead by Matt Duchene and Mikael Granland with 61 points each and a strong supporting cast led by Philip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen.  Mitchell Marner got the Leafs on the board with his 7^th goal in his last 8 road games to make it interesting, but Mattias Ekholm put in a beauty off the half boards to retain the 2 goal lead.

Juuse Saros has fully stepped in to the Nashville # 1 goaltending role having  played 51 of 61 games with a 2.46 GAA and a 1.93 save %.  As the third period started the Leafs had a legitimate chance to get back in with a PP advantage.  They peppered Saros with 4 bell ringer chances but the score remained the same.  Toronto kept up the pressure and after another hilite reel save by Saros, Mathews finally pumped in his 46^th to make it close.  Kyle Clifford then took a completely useless penalty 150 feet from his net that lead to Philip Forsberg’s franchise leading 211th goal.  Duchene piled on with his 32^nd.  The Leafs pulled their goalie with less than 5 minutes left and Marner scored his 26^th. An empty netter put the Leafs out of their misery.  Final 6 to 3.

HOPPER NOTES: Significant divisional moves as this writing…Girioux to Florida and Lindholm to Boston…Kyle Dubas (as of this publication) has less than 17 hours to make a difference…how’s about Dermott and a second rounder this year and next for Marc Giordano ?…Uncle on the Brett Burns Kit Kat TV spot – a 1 joke ad (especially a bad one) has limited shelf life…guys I’d like on my team – Tanner Jeanot…I think I may have said this before but, does Ondrej Kase have a bit of a glass jaw?…I would not want to be the team that has to play Nashville in the first round… #21 for the Predators – his name is Nick Cousins and he’s played mostly bottom six roles for Vegas and Philly…I had the pleasure of coaching Nick during his Timbits (4 and 5 year old) era in Belleville, ON…even then you could tell he was special – skating, puck handling and a general sense for the game…he was an independent little guy – when me met for our traditional pre-game ceremony, he’d still be racing around…we used to turn our sticks over and (in unison) call out…NICOLA, NICOLA….one of the MANY great memories of my 9 year career coaching at the TIMBITS level…

CHEERS…feel free to comment and love life !