Los Angeles Kings desperate for victory as they play against Nashville Predators – NHL Preview
National Hockey League (NHL) Western Conference is getting competitive every day, ringing alarm bells for even the team that is ranked just below the comfort zone.
In such a situation where the top eight teams are striving to retain their position and the rest are battling hard to find a way to slip into the safe zone, the result of the game between Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators will have noticeable impacts
on the ranking table.
Both the teams will face each other on Monday, February 27, 2012, at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee.
Here is a look at the teams.
Kings
Kings are ranked at ninth spot in the Western Conference with 68 points after 62 games, trailing the eighth ranked Dallas Stars by just two points.
A victory can lead them into the safe zone, but a defeat will push them further down as Colorado Avalanche also have the same number of points as Kings.
In their last game, Kings snapped their four-game losing streak by defeating Chicago Blackhawks in a very impressive manner, with offence and defence performing remarkably well.
Kings managed two goals each in the first and second period to get a decisive four-goal lead.
Dustin Brown scored a hat trick while goaltender, Jonathan Quick, got his seventh shutout of the season.
Predators
Predators are safely placed at fifth spot in the Western Conference with 79 points after 62 games.
Out of the last four games, they have won three with the recent victory coming against San Jose Sharks.
Predators were aggressive and dominant right from the start. They scored three goals in the first period while conceding one.
In the second period, both the teams scored apiece, whereas Predators managed two more goals in the final to end the game at 6-2.
Predators’ coach, Barry Trotz, said after the game:
"We came out skating well."
He added:
"Both the goals were sort of transition goals. We defended well in our end and then we were able to make one quick outlet pass, and away we went. We caught them a little bit on a couple of plays where they were outmanned a little bit."
Predictions
Predators might win the game.
The sum of goals scored by both the teams might exceed six.
If Kings win, the winning margin will be more than two goals
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