Previous Ranking: 14 (-1)
Team Record: (20-17-7)
Goals For: 118
Goals Against: 112
Special Teams
PP: 26-for-144 (18.1 percent) (16th)
PK: 23-for-134 (82.8 percent) (13th)
Injury List
Miikka Salomaki (lower body) – day-to-day
P.K. Subban (upper body) – day-to-day
Petter Granberg (undisclosed) – day-to-day
Colin Wilson (undisclosed) – day-to-day
Roman Josi (upper body) – day-to-day
Statistical Leaders in 2016-17
Top Forward: Ryan Johansen (44gp 7g 23a 30pts)
Top Defenseman: Roman Josi (42gp 5g 17a 22pts)
Top Rookie: Kevin Fiala (32gp 6g 3a 9pts)
Top Goaltender: Pekka Rinne (16-12-6 2.36GAA .921 save percentage)
Player of the Week: G Pekka Rinne (2 wins 1.51GAA .946 save percentage)
Well, the Preds managed to reel off another decent week going 2-1-0. It’s a promising sign after this team struggled late in 2016. Even better, it looks like elite starter Pekka Rinne is back to form. The question is, for how long? It’s been a roller coaster ride of inconsistency for the Finn thus far, but things are coming together in 2017. He has only allowed more than two goals once in his last six starts, while only sacrificing 10 goals total over that stretch. Rinne has a 1.58GAA and .944 save percentage over the last 15 days.
With only five goals scored in three games, it didn’t exactly leave much opportunity to get on the scoresheet. Austin Watson continued his recent tear with a pair of points, and now has five points in his last six contests. Filip Forsberg was the only other skater to produce more than a single pair after scoring a goal versus Boston and another one two days later versus Colorado.
Give the Predators some credit, they’re playing decent hockey with key players seemingly out a lineup at all times. Right now, they’ve got both stud defenders Roman Josi and P.K. sidelined, as well as forwards Colin Wilson and Miikka Salomaki. I’m still not sure what to make of this team in 2016-17 as I’d love to see just a short stretch of full health. If they’re lucky, the pieces will start to come together following the All-Star break, which is a perfect time to start going on a roll heading into the final stretch.
Weekly Prospect Profile: F Vladislav Kamenev, Milwaukee (AHL)
2016-17 stats: 34gp 9g 16a 25pts
Selected 42nd overall (2nd round) in 2014, Kamenev spent one more year in the KHL before making the leap to North America in 2015-16. He posted 37 points in 57 games in his AHL rookie season, and since followed it up with a productive sophomore campaign. The 6’2 196lbs Russian winger actually made his debut with the Preds in 2016-17 appearing in two games.
– Ryan Ritchie