Predators vs Coyotes (Round 2 NHL Playoffs)

[Mercalius]

We split the regular season matches. To add a bit more insight, one of their wins against us was against a largely different roster really early on in the season, but on the other hand, one of ours was a shootout win later on (still a win, but who knows how it would've gone in OT).

On paper, we're two very similar teams - Solid defensive teams with a knack for making plays off the forecheck and two goalies we can lean on when the rest of the team is under-performing.

Here's how I'll break it down:

Coyotes advantage:

Home ice

They play in their system as a team slightly better than we do

Preds advantage:

More finesse/goalscoring potential

Better depth top to bottom

Wash:

Goaltending - Rinne IMO is better than Smith, but you can't deny how freakish he played against the Hawks

Defense as a whole. They're slightly more physical and do a better job with their sticks minimalizing scoring chances, but we're better dictating the flow of play on our end and our star defensemen are in a slightly higher class than theirs.

Overall, I give the Predators the edge. We're pretty evenly matched, but at least on paper, we're an upgraded version of their team. The real game is played on the ice, not on a stat sheet, but I think players like Rads, (a hopefully healthy) Gil, and defensemen like Shea and Suter who are capable of shutting down their scoring while providing a threat of our own will give us the nod, in what will hopefully be a very entertaining second round. The deciding factor will be taking advantage of what few opportunities Smith will give us, as that's what definitely bit the Blackhawks in the ass. Rinne, however, will definitely afford us a luxury in that we can afford to miss a few chances and not worry about getting blown out.

My verdict:

Preds in 6.

[freakingeek]

I agree with the assessment. The Coyotes shut down Chicago's high powered offense so they are playing good D and Smith had a great series. One thing the Hawks didn't do is get some pucks down low with trafiic in front of the net. Most of their scoring chances came breaking in with their speed. The Preds are grinders and we create off of those battles on the boards. The two teams are very similar and I think this will be a very even matchup and probably a low scoring affair. Phoenix won 3 games on the road too. How we play at home may factor in the outcome. I'm glad we're getting Gill back. I have a feeling our free agents will be difference makers.

[Guest]

As a big hockey fan living in a hockey mad environment, from the outside looking in, this kinda looks like the "which city gives a shit less about it" series.

[Mercalius]

You've obviously never been to a Predators game.

[NashvilleNinja]

You've obviously never been to a Predators game.

He's kind of right, though. The Predators fan base may be committed but it's a small base, especially when compared to the Titans base. And both teams have been in Nashville for roughly the same amount of time, so it's not like the Titans have some huge advantage there.

The fact is the Pedators are rarely on television, as opposed to the Titans who are on television every week, and that's where the majority of the teams fans see the games. I know not ever hockey game can be on TV because of sheer volume, but I never know when they're on tv or even if they're on tv. Having one or two games on a week (that aren't on some out-of-the-way cable channel) wouldn't hurt. I also know just about nothing about the game and I'm not alone in that. Most people around here just don't have much incentive to want to get into hockey. I know it's their responsibility to learn about the game if they want to, but the Predators and the city of Nashville could do a little more in the way of getting the team more recognition and getting interested people more educated.

As for me I'm planning on going over to a friends house for the next round. They're big hockey fans, so maybe I can learn some shit from them. That's how I learned football so hopefully it can work for hockey too.

[Cyrus]

Watched the last game of the Redwings - Predator series on TV last week and it was awesome. My brother in law is a big hockey fan and while I don't follow the regular season, I've always found playoff hockey (and Olympic) to be great, great television.

[Guest]

The preds clearly have a hard core base of 7-10000 fans who scream their ass off and make for a great environment there but that doesn't change the fact that along with the Cpyotes it's the weakest market in the league and one that is almost certainly destined to be made extinct at some point. Sad but true.

[freakingeek]

The Preds sold out a franchise record 25 home games this season (18,000 tickets per) and Fox Sports televised a record 68 regular season games (out of 80) this year including every away game for the first time. While it may not be as BIG of a market as some traditional cities, the Preds have a solid fan base that keeps growing every year, especially with Atlanta bolting for Winnipeg. My brother in law in Lexington has become a Preds fan. The Preds have a great ownership group now, and a good organization and the success is finally starting to come which will only help extend the fan base.

Here's a quote from the website today on the local TV rating for the Detroit series.

The Nashville Predators are off to a great start in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, winning a first-round matchup against the Detroit Red Wings in five games to earn a trip to the second round for the second consecutive season. But Nashville’s on-ice performance hasn’t been the only success: A record number of area TV viewers are tuning in to watch the Predators’ quest for the Stanley Cup.

For Game 4 of the Detroit series, the Predators broadcast on SportSouth drew a 5.0 rating in the Nashville market—the highest ever for a Predators-produced broadcast. In layman’s terms, that equates to 51,000 households and 117,300 viewers. Series-clinching Game 5, also broadcast on SportSouth, beat that, registering a 5.2.

Games 1 and 2 (also on SportSouth) drew a 4.5 and 3.8 rating, respectively. Game 3, which was televised nationally on NBC, drew a 4.4 rating in the Nashville market.

Prior to the 2012 playoffs, the previous Predators broadcast record was 4.8. That mark was set first on May 9, 2011, for Game 6 of the Predators-Canucks second-round series in lasts season’s playoffs. A 4.8 rating is equivalent to 115,000 viewers.

“People are stopping, taking notice and making time to insure that this is on their radar,” says Chris Parker, Predators Executive Vice President, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer.

[Mercalius]

People who aren't from here or who have never been to a game naturally won't be as big of a fan of the franchise. That's natural. Winning and getting more exposure, which has been happening steadily over the last few years, fixes that. Storied franchises like Detroit and Chicago have to start from somewhere, and Nashville has the management, coaching, and depth to be contenders for several years- not to mention the best live game atmosphere I've ever been around. The music (even though I'm no fan of country), the food, and overall energy on Broadway during a gameday can't be beat.

Imagine the cult-like euphoria and craziness of a college fanbase but with the production quality and atmosphere of a professional venue, and even that doesn't even really begin to describe how much Tennessee supports this team - and it's growing with every win, every year.

For comparisons sake, I'd put the enjoyment of a home Preds game 3x better than that of a Titans game

[NoD]

The Preds clearly have more talent and are a deeper team. We have 3 legit star players in their prime and the Yotes have none. On paper, this should be a Preds win, but I'm actually less confident about this than I was about Detroit. Probably because Phoenix plays such a similar style game to the Preds and it tends to work in the playoffs. Series will come down to who makes the least mistakes and the goalies. That's it.

[NoD]

At least it actually snows and gets cold in Nashville sometimes as opposed to Phoenix, lol.

[freakingeek]

The Preds clearly have more talent and are a deeper team. We have 3 legit star players in their prime and the Yotes have none. On paper, this should be a Preds win, but I'm actually less confident about this than I was about Detroit. Probably because Phoenix plays such a similar style game to the Preds and it tends to work in the playoffs. Series will come down to who makes the least mistakes and the goalies. That's it.

I thinking special teams and goalies will decide. Who can execute on the power play and defend the power play. With these two goalies, goals will be at a premium in this series.

[tinman]

The preds clearly have a hard core base of 7-10000 fans who scream their ass off and make for a great environment there but that doesn't change the fact that along with the Cpyotes it's the weakest market in the league and one that is almost certainly destined to be made extinct at some point. Sad but true.

What a bunch of hog shit.... 17000 where there watchign the deadwings season end in Nashville.. I will have to find it but I read a article back at the beginning of the year that clearly showed teams in bad shape market wise and the PREDS were not on the list... Sorry we are not canadian enough for you but us rednecks like the hockey too.. Hitting, sticks, grown men fighting, WTF is there not to like... I see a patern with you lately CTF, you seem to always be implying that you canadians are superior... You seem to have overlooked the fact that you have spent years now on a message board for a clearly AMERICAN game in NFL Football.. The only thing I see coming out of canada that I need is candian bacon, and hell I bet it could be made better by some redneck in texas...

[oldschool]

People who aren't from here or who have never been to a game naturally won't be as big of a fan of the franchise. That's natural. Winning and getting more exposure, which has been happening steadily over the last few years, fixes that. Storied franchises like Detroit and Chicago have to start from somewhere, and Nashville has the management, coaching, and depth to be contenders for several years- not to mention the best live game atmosphere I've ever been around. The music (even though I'm no fan of country), the food, and overall energy on Broadway during a gameday can't be beat.

Imagine the cult-like euphoria and craziness of a college fanbase but with the production quality and atmosphere of a professional venue, and even that doesn't even really begin to describe how much Tennessee supports this team - and it's growing with every win, every year.

For comparisons sake, I'd put the enjoyment of a home Preds game 3x better than that of a Titans game

Have you attended a hockey game in a city other than Nashville?

[tinman]

Have you attended a hockey game in a city other than Nashville?

I have... I have seen the blackhawks, lightning, panthers and the blues over the years...I won tickets the tampa when I lived in Florida.. On a business trip I was invited to the blackhawks game, and I lived fairly close to the panthers... The St. Louis game I will be honest I don't remember much about cause I was hammered...

The blackhawks was the loudest of those games.. And they SUCKED at the time.. Nashville is louder than I remember any of those. I work with a guy who is a big Red Wing fan and born and raised there his dad had season tickets.. We went to a preds / red wings regular season game a couple years back and I remember him saying " wow I didn't expect this " .... as loud as the JOE, hell no, but the preds got fans and we get rowdy.. I will be buying a ticket package this next season, me and one of my best friends are gonna split one.. We may go to a few together and each take turns taking our kids to some... I was not a big hockey fan till the preds came to nashville. I liked Hockey and any hockey game is a great time.. But once we got our own team, well that ramps up my enthusiasm a bit..