Barry Trotz was the only head coach that the Nashville Predators ever had since their founding in 1998 before finally being fired last summer. Trotz will return to Nashville for the first time as an enemy coach when the Washington Capitals visit the Predators on Friday night to highlight another big week of action. Let’s take a look at Friday’s top games.
Friday
Philadelphia vs. Washington: NBCSN Rivalry night coverage begins at 8 PM ET at Verizon Center where the red will be rocking again. Washington was playing its best hockey of the season with seven wins in ten games to climb into a sixth place tie with the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference. First year Caps coach Barry Trotz has made an immediate and significant impact with the team’s defense as Washington ranked a much improved ninth for goals against and 12th for shots against.
Best of all the increased emphasis on a full 200-foot game has not cost the Caps offensively as they ranked eighth for goals scored and fourth for the power play. The Flyers were in free fall with six losses in eight games as head coach Craig Berube is on the hot seat, although the Flyers problems are hardly his fault. Philadelphia is paying the price for their neglectfulness of drafting and developing quality defensemen. The Flyers offense that bailed out the defense last year has been missing in action and ranked a disappointing 18th for goals scored.
Washington vs. Nashville: This will be an emotional homecoming for Trotz as he planted firm roots during his long tenure in Nashville. This is also a fantastic hockey matchup as well that could be a preview of the Stanley Cup Final. The Predators are responding with excellence to the increased emphasis on offense by first year head coach Peter Laviolette. Nashville was red hot with seven wins in nine games to climb to first overall in the NHL. G Pekka Rinne is back with a vengeance after his lost season last year due to injury.
The Preds rank first in the NHL for goals against as Rinne flashed a .930 save percentage with a 1.98 goals against average with three shutouts. Nashville C Filip Forsberg was acquired two years ago in a heist from Washington and led the Predators with 14 goals and 24 assists. Laviolette has ignited the most exciting team in Nashville history. The Preds have arguably the best defensive corps in the game led by Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm and second year prodigy Seth Jones. Washington LW Alex Ovechkin had 21 goals and was a much improved +10 as he has found the area code for the back end under Trotz.
