Preds Pleased with Results in Final Scrimmage of Training Camp

The second and final scrimmage of Predators Training Camp presented by Vanderbilt Health ended in favor of Team Blue, but the effort was a win for all involved.
Sunday night's contest at Bridgestone Arena concluded in a 5-2 final, and players on both sides - as well as those behind the bench - were pleased with what they saw as a collective unit. That left a positive feeling, especially considering this was the final game action the Preds will see before they open the season on Thursday night.

"It was a competitive game, and I didn't think there was a lot of easy ice out there, which was something that we really wanted to see tonight, because that's what the regular season is going to be like," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said. "You can see some of the improvements of some areas that we talked with the guys about between the scrimmages, video-wise and practice-wise, showed up in the scrimmage. Part of being ready to play is knowing you've put the work in and you put the work in the right way. I think we did that tonight, so it's another day that we didn't waste. We put in some good work, and now it's time to move forward."
"The game had a ton of intensity," Preds forward Matt Duchene said. "Guys are playing hard, guys are finishing checks and I felt like the intensity wasn't like a training camp scrimmage intensity, I felt like it was game-like."
Nick Cousins scored twice for Team Blue, while Duchene, Luke Kunin and Eeli Tolvanen also converted for that squad. Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson tallied for Team Gold, with two more goals for the JOFA line to close out the scrimmages.
Pekka Rinne minded the net for Team Gold, while Juuse Saros stopped pucks for Team Blue, and both goaltenders played the entire 60-minute game.
In addition to the trio of Johansen, Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg, Duchene centered Kunin and Erik Haula on Sunday night. Cousins was with Colton Sissons and Eeli Tolvanen, and Rocco Grimaldi saw time with Brad Richardson and Calle Jarnkrok. On the blue line, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis were together again, as were Mattias Ekholm and Dante Fabbro, Mark Borowiecki and Matt Benning, plus Jarred Tinordi and Alexandre Carrier.
Kunin scored his second goal in as many scrimmages, and after joining camp last Wednesday by signing a two-year contract, the Nashville newcomer is already feeling comfortable with his club.
"The pace of play was really good tonight from both teams," Kunin said. "There was a little more detail, a little more structure than the first one, which is good. We're trying to get some things detailed and worked out that we've been working on, so I think that was good. And as far as playing with [my linemates]: two great players. It was fun to play with them, and I thought we got better as the game went on, created more chances, and hopefully we can just keep building trust."
All of a sudden, the Preds have just two practices remaining before the Columbus Blue Jackets come to town on Jan. 14. With the scrimmages now in the rearview, the Predators are eager to continue improving as they have every day throughout camp, and that continues on Tuesday.
"The scrimmages were great, but there's definitely some things we can look at as a system-wise and work on those things in the next two practices," Josi said. "But I thought intensity was really good, and the rest, it's going to come."
Hynes concurs, and after he and the rest of his staff take Monday to review video and continue to make decisions on who will be on the final 23-man roster - which is due on Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT - they'll get back on the ice with some added anticipation knowing the real thing isn't far away.
"The guys have got to come back to the rink energized and ready on Tuesday, and then we probably won't add much more to what we've done," Hynes said. "We've got a good foundation in place to how we want to play, then it's going to be able to practice with an intensity and a focus level to sharpen up in those areas… We'll do that over those couple days, continue to work on some special teams, touch on some 5-on-5 things…and fine-tuning things that we feel we really wanted to hammer home in this camp and get ready to play on Thursday."
Notes:
After not participating in Friday's scrimmage, Preds forwards Matt Duchene, Erik Haula and Rocco Grimaldi all suited up for Sunday's outing.
Prior to Sunday's scrimmage, Preds Head Coach John Hynes gave a pair of personnel updates. First, forward Mikael Granlund is close to receiving his visa to come to Nashville, and the Preds are hopeful he will be in town within the next couple of days. However, due to quarantine requirements, the Predators are planning for Granlund to miss the start of the season.
Second, Hynes said prospect Philip Tomasino is in Nashville after representing Canada in the World Junior Championship. Tomasino is fulfilling his quarantine requirement, and the Preds are hopeful he could be on the ice sometime this week.
The Predators will have Monday off and then just two more practices prior to Opening Night on Jan. 14 when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.