Canucks vs. Predators Gameday Preview Feb 22, 2013

Swedish Aliens v Predators
No rest for the wicked as the Canucks are right back in action tonight in Nashville following a 4-3 win over Dallas. It won't be an easy game as Shea Weber is finally rounding into form and Pekka Rinne is putting together a Vezina calibre season.

Matchup: Vancouver Canucks (9 – 3 – 4) v Nashville Predators (8 – 4– 5)
Venue: Bridgestone Arena
Time: 5:00 pm
TV/Radio: Sportsnet, Team 1040

Game Notes

It's the first meeting of the year between the two clubs in an arena that Nashville has dominated opponents in, earning a point in all but one home game so far this season and giving up an average of just 1.63 goals per game in doing so. The teams split the season series last year in half.

What to Watch: Nashville

After a slow start without Ryan Suter, Shea Weber has three goals and three assists in his last four games, including the overtime winner Tuesday night against Detroit.

Colin Wilson leads the team with five goals and 14 points. Mike Fisher is riding a four game point streak while Sergei Kostitsyn has points in three straight, and the Predators are 4-1-1 in their last six games.

Pekka Rinne has three shutouts in eight home starts.

The Predators have scored first 11 times this year and are 6-0-5 when doing so.

Line-up

Gabriel Bourque-Mike Fisher-Patric Hornqvist
Colin Wilson-David Legwand-Martin Erat
Sergei Kostitsyn-Craig Smith-Brandon Yip
Matt Halischuk-Nick Spaling-Richard Clune
Roman Josi-Shea Weber
Jonathon Blum-Kevin Kline
Scott Hannan-Ryan Ellis
Pekka Rinne

What to Watch: Vancouver

The Canucks finally came out on the right side of a 4-3 decision, snapping a three game losing streak with a win last night in Dallas. The team will have to find some energy to compete in a building that isn't friendly to road teams.
It hasn't been announced yet, but don't be surprised to find Roberto Luongo between the pipes.

Jannik Hansen will be back from exile and back in the lineup after serving his one game suspension.

Line-up

Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Alex Burrows
Chris Higgins-Ryan Kesler-David Booth
Mason Raymond-Jordan Schroeder-Jannik Hansen
Zack Kassian-Maxim Lapierre-Dale Weise
Dan Hamhuis-Kevin Bieksa
Alex Edler-Chris Tanev
Jason Garrison-Keith Ballard
Roberto Luongo

Injuries

Both teams are healthy, which is a first.

Prediction

Not a lot of goals, nobody misses the Tootoo whistles, and Jannik Hansen successfully goes a game without developing a taste for human flesh.