Nashville Predators to blow away Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday - NHL Preview
The Nashville Predators take on Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, January 23rd, 2012, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
The game is a huge mismatch on paper as the two teams' form cannot be any more different.
Predators are in red hot form as they continue to climb up the Western Conference rankings, with a 28-16-4 record, and 60 points, just five adrift of conference leaders, Detroit Red Wings.
The Blue Jackets on the other hand are the worst team in the National Hockey League (NHL) this season. Columbus has had a miserable season with a league worst 13-28-6 record with just 32 points.
The Blue Jackets have won just three out of their past nine games this year and are currently on a two game losing streak which includes a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Monday nights opponents.
The Jackets other loss was a 3-2 shootout defeat against the Detroit Red Wings where Columbus played surprisingly well to peg back the Western conference leaders.
Interim Coach Todd Richards rued his sides bad luck of not getting the results needed, as his side failed to hold on to a one goal lead and ended up losing the shootout.
"Paying the price, playing hard, just not getting the results we want," Richards said. "We did some good things for about half of the game when we held them below 10 shots. We're playing hard as a group and we're playing for each other."
However, it will be too much to expect the Blue Jackets to end their poor run of form against the Predators who could not have asked for a better fixture to continue their winning momentum.
The Predators have won eight out of their ten games this year. Nashville is currently on a two game winning streak and has the best chance to make it three in a row and really push up the table.
The Predators have a good record at home ice with a 15-7-3 record and have lost just once out of their last seven games at the Bridgestone Arena.
Coach Barry Trotz believes that the fans have played a big part in their home ice winning run and credited them for their 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
"(Saturday) had a playoff feel," said Trotz. "I don't know if we came out with more intensity, but the building was ramped up from the get-go and that doesn't hurt the home team."
The win over the Blackhawks will have greatly increased the confidence in the Predators dressing room and they will be the favourites for the win on Monday.
The Blue Jackets will be no match for the Predators in form offence and the home fans will likely be cheering their team off the rink.
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