Vancouver Canucks v Nashville Predators
The series heads into Bridgestone Arena, Nashville evenly poised at 1-1. Both teams are currently struggling to score goals and both will be hoping they can break that trend later tonight.
The Predators will be looking for the same work ethic from their players that they got in game 2, tying the game late then withstanding 18 overtime shots before getting the winner in a 2nd extrsa period. With Pekke Rinne in superb form they might only need a couple of goals to give themselves a fighting chance of going 2-1 up on their Western Conference rivals. What i wouldn't expect is some sort of blow out like Chicago managed against the Canucks. Expect the Predators to try and keep the game tight and within touch of Vancouver. If they can do this they will have a chance of nipping in and taking the win. They managed it in game 2 and gave themselves a similar chance in game 1.
Vancouver must be wondering when they are going to start finding the net in these playoffs. After that promising start in the Chicago series both Sedin's have struggled to get anything going and it is showing in the goal column for the team. They will need to pick it up again at some point and after losing one of the opening 2 home games tonight would be a good time to start. If they can up their game and get amongst the goals that should be enough to get them back the home ice advantage and back on track for the cup. Easier said than done though as the one man standing between them and lighting the lamp is in spectacular form and on a mission to single handedly take the Preds as far as he can. Rinne at the minute is THE factor in this series. If he shows anything like the form he has of games 1 & 2 then Nashville could be extending their best ever playoff run.
Washington Capitals v Tampa Bay Lightning
This series heads into Tampa Bay with the Lightning having stunned the Capitals in both games 1 & 2 to put themselves 2-0 up. They are the form team at the minute in these playoffs as they have now won 5 straight to come from 3-1 down and on the verge of extinction against Pittsburgh to being 2 wins away from an Eastern Conference Final. They are scoring goals as well as getting huge performances in goal from Roloson. It looks like they will be missing Gagne and Kubina again after both players suffered injuries during game 1 but Blair and Randy Jones came in and were suitable replacements in game 2. If it was St Louis who was the Bolts best player in the series against the Penguins it has to be LeCavalier so far in this one, registering 2 assists in game 1 and getting 2 goals including an overtime winner in game 2. If these two and Stamkos all perform like recently i can't see past a 3-0 lead come the end of this game.
Washington just haven't impressed me at all through the playoffs so far. I keep saying it and i keep will, they have become boring. Don't get me wrong, i can understand why they have gone to that system and defensive systems often win leagues / cups. It's just they posess arguably the best skilled attacking player in the league and some others that are pretty good as well as some good offensive defencmen. None of these (Ovechkin being the excpetion even though im sure if let off the leash he would be scoring more) are getting on the board and therefore the team are struggling for goals. They struggled against the Rangers and are struggling again against Tampa Bay. The difference between the Rangers and the Lightning are that the latter can hurt you offensively and in those close, low scoring games can do enough to be the team with the extra goal. Im not saying go back to all out gun-ho attacking but there has got to be more of a balance to get the flair of Backstrom, Johannson, Laich and Semin coming through. If they don't get this in the next 2 games then they will be heading home early again.
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