SAROS EXPECTED TO START FOR PREDATORS:
Juuse Saros is reportedly expected to start for Nashville, according to The Athletic's Adam Vingan. If Saros starts, he'll be making his season debut and the Islanders will get a pass on reigning Vezina Trophy winner Pekka Rinne. Saros was 11-5-7 last season with a 2.44 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and three shutouts.
PREDATORS PROJECTED LINES:
Filip Forsberg - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvidsson
Calle Jarnkrok - Kyle Turris - Craig Smith
Colton Sissons - Nick Bonino - Ryan Hartman
Kevin Fiala - Frederick Gaudreau - Zac Rinaldo
Roman Josi - Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm - P.K. Subban
Anthony Btietto - Matt Irwin
\Projected lines per Brooks Bratten
Tweet from @NYIslanders: TONIGHT. #Isles pic.twitter.com/NPOxYOOPK7*
TROTZ ON PREDATORS:
Head Coach Barry Trotz had lots to say about his 15-year tenure coaching the Nashville Predators on Saturday morning. The Islanders coach is four years removed from his time in Nashville, but said he still feels tremendous pride about what he helped build in Tennessee.
"I was there a long time and still consider Nashville my home. I spent so much time there. Probably that was the one place I've spent more than any other place I've ever lived, even my hometown. I have so many good friends and so many good memories. I was a part of something that you only get one chance to do - expansion. I was on the inside, I was picking carpet colors and figuring out where people [families] were sitting, designing dressing rooms, scouting players. I had that luxury that one year. I got hired the year before and [GM] David [Poile] kept me on the inside in all that. I got the best hockey education…Expansion was a little different then compared to now. You had to struggle and to see that city… you didn't know if you were going to make it, but now you see the fanbase and what they've been able to do and the culture they've created and you were a part of that.
The greatest pleasure I have in Nashville is that you're apart of something and that when I take my grandkids to a game in Nashville or on the road, [to know] that I was a part of that success that helped grow some roots because it wasn't easy back then."
