Can the Predators Tame the Blue Jackets at Bridgestone Arena?
As the Nashville Predators prepare to host the Columbus Blue Jackets at Bridgestone Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can maintain their recent performance trends. The Predators have shown a mixed bag of results in their past games, with a notable victory against the Vegas Golden Knights where they displayed resilience by bouncing back from an early deficit to win in overtime.
Analyzing past performances, it's clear that even-strength play has been a significant factor for Nashville. In their last game against Vegas, they managed to net four goals during even-strength situations and secured an overtime goal as well. However, there is room for improvement on special teams; while they did score once on powerplay opportunities, increasing efficiency here could be key against Columbus.
Defensively speaking, Nashville's goaltending has been solid with save percentages holding steady at 100 percent across different strengths of play. This reliability between the pipes will be crucial in thwarting Columbus' attempts on goal.
The physicality of the Predators is also worth noting – they racked up 47 hits in their last home game – indicating that they're not afraid to engage physically and disrupt opponents' gameplay.
On the flip side, faceoff win percentages have hovered around 47-49 percent recently which suggests that gaining control from puck drops could be an area where Nashville might want to focus more attention.
As we look ahead to this matchup at Bridgestone Arena, it's clear that maintaining strong even-strength play and improving special teams performance could tip the scales in favor of Nashville. With robust goaltending and physical presence already established as part of their identity this season, fine-tuning these aspects could make all the difference.
The upcoming clash between Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets is scheduled for April 14th at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ via internet streaming or tune into BSOH or BSSO television networks for broadcast coverage.