Preds turn to Hartnell to bring physicality
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Scott Hartnell mostly has been relegated to spectator status this postseason, but an opportunity to make an impact will arise Thursday when the veteran forward enters the Predators' Game 4 lineup against the Winnipeg Jets.
"The same thing I always do," Hartnell said when asked how he intends to contribute. "I'm going to play my game, get up in the play and get physical. I'm not looking to start anything, but I'm most effective when I'm playing a physical brand of hockey, especially in front of the net."
Hartnell is expected to replace Kevin Fiala and presumably skate with Kyle Turris and Craig Smith, adding a sandpaper element to that line. The Jets boast impressive size and speed throughout their roster, and they haven't shied from clobbering the Predators whenever possible.
"This is my second game in a month," said Hartnell, who last played April 20 in Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche. "This series has been so fast that I need to do everything I can to make sure I don't get caught out there with the difference in speed."
Subban: 'What boos?'
Predators defenseman P.K. Subban inspires the most hostility from opposing fans. They usually tell him in unison that he stinks, though in harsher terms.
Subban was asked Thursday about the frigid reception from the Bell MTS Place crowd.
“What boos? I don’t know. When were they booing me?" Subban said in jest. "That’s just a part of pro sports. I’m sure there’s a lot of athletes that see it in sports. You know what, I’ll take it as a compliment and continue to play. My focus is just on our team. It becomes a distraction if we pay too much attention to that . ... You lose your focus for a second it can cost you.”
Breaking out is hard to do
The strength of the Predators' defense lies in its puck-moving ability, but the Jets have prevented Predators defensemen from executing clean breakouts.
The Point, an analytics-based website, produced a video Thursday that quantified just how much the Predators have been neutralized in that regard.
Nashville's defense, according to the video, carried the puck out of the defensive zone eight times Tuesday, four below its season average. The amount of time that Predators defensemen possessed the puck in regulation also decreased in each of the first three games of this series, from 9:36 in Game 1 to 5:40 in Game 3.
"I think they're aggressive," Predators captain Roman Josi said. "They forecheck pretty hard. Really aggressive. It's tough . ... We'e got to a better job of getting it by them. It's always five guys trying to work it out. Obviously we have to make plays as a (defense) corps and get it by their first two guys, but their (defensemen) are aggressive, too."
Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.