Smashville Scope: March 23

The Smashville Scope presented by JOCKEY prepares fans for the week ahead with news, videos and clips from the past week, plus, game and event info for the next seven days. Use promo code "GOAL" to save 25% on your next JOCKEY purchase.
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The numbers are teetering on the verge of utter ridiculousness. Perhaps we're already there.
But what Roman Josi has done - and continues to do - on a nightly basis for the Nashville Predators has never been seen in these parts before. The NHL as a whole isn't quite sure what to think either.
Nashville's captain - the best defenseman in the League, as Predators Head Coach John Hynes, and so many others, have already stated - is producing numbers that have only been attained a few times in NHL history, let alone over the course of this franchise.

You have to read them to believe them - so, without further ado...
As of Wednesday morning, Josi leads NHL defensemen and is seventh in the NHL in points this season with 78 (18g-60a). He was named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday, the first such honor of his career.
He's established career highs in goals (18), assists (60) and points (78), and his 18 goals are the second-most among NHL blueliners. He's also second among all NHL skaters in assists. Josi's 60 assists are the most in a season in Predators history; his 78 points are the most by a defenseman and are the second-most among all skaters in a season in team history.
He's currently on a season-best 11-game point streak (4g-21a), and he became the first active defenseman to record multiple point streaks of at least 10 games in his career and first since Nicklas Lidstrom (1999-00 and 2010-11). Josi's 60th assist of the season came in his 62nd game, the fewest games by a defenseman to reach the mark since Sergei Zubov (61 GP in 1993-94 with NY Rangers).
Josi is the fifth different defenseman in the last 25 years to record 60 assists in a season, joining John Carlson (2019-20 with Washington); Brent Burns (2018-19 with San Jose); Erik Karlsson (2015-16 with Ottawa); and Nicklas Lidstrom (2005-06 and 2007-08 with Detroit). His 25 points (4g-21a) in March are the most by a defenseman in a calendar month since Brian Leetch in December 1991 (3g-22a-25pts in 14 GP).

Josi recorded four straight games with at least three points (2g-11a) from March 13-19. The great Bobby Orr (6 GP in 1970-71) is the only other defenseman in NHL history to accomplish the feat. He was the sixth different defenseman in NHL history to reach 75 points through 60 games and the first since 1990-91 when Paul Coffey (21g-56a-77pts) and Al MacInnis (22g-53a-75pts) did so.
He reached the 70-point mark in his 59th game of the season. Only six defensemen in NHL history have reached the 70-point mark in fewer games: Paul Coffey (7x; last: 54 GP in 1990-91), Bobby Orr (6x; last: 37 GP in 1974-75), Denis Potvin (3x; last: 51 GP in 1978-79), Brian Leetch (57 GP in 1991-92), Phil Housley (57 GP in 1991-92) and Al MacInnis (57 GP in 1990-91).
He's tallied four four-point games this season, the first defenseman to do so since Kevin Hatcher in 1992-93; no other NHL blueliner has more than one in 2021-22. Josi has posted 10 games with at least three points, the most among NHL defensemen; he's recorded 21 multi-point games, tied for the most among League blueliners.
Finally, he recorded his 500th career NHL point on March 2 at Seattle. He reached the 500-point mark in 732 games; among active defensemen, only Erik Karlsson (613 GP) achieved the milestone in fewer contests. Only four defensemen over the past 25 years have recorded 500 career points in fewer games than Josi (732 GP): Erik Karlsson (613 GP, achieved in 2017-18), Sergei Zubov (680 GP, achieved in 2001-02), Nicklas Lidstrom (701 GP, achieved in 2000-01) and Sandis Ozolinsh (728 GP, achieved in 2002-03).
So, what does it all mean? Simply put, the best Swiss player ever is having a campaign of epic proportions. The Josi for Norris drum deserves to be beaten, and the vibrations are only crescendoing.
And enjoy what you're witnessing, Smashville. We may never see anything like it again.

Poile's Vision Coming to Fruition:

Shortly after the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline had arrived on Monday afternoon, David Poile stated the goal for his club had not changed since the very first puck drop in October.
Although seemingly no one outside of the organization did, Nashville's general manager believed his team could make the playoffs. Five months later, with the Preds in the thick of the postseason race, Poile's objective remains the same.
There are a number of reasons why the Predators have accumulated 37 wins and 78 points through 64 games to this point of the campaign, but a few stand out to Poile in a season that the makings to be one of the most memorable in franchise history.
And while there is still work to do over the remaining five-plus weeks if the Preds are to keep playing into the month of May, Poile continues to like what he sees from his club - and that original goal may very well come true for the eighth-straight year.

"The coaching staff has done a great job, the players have all bought into John [Hynes] and his coaching staff and the years people are having - like [Filip] Forsberg and [Matt] Duchene both over 30 goals each - that's fantastic," Poile said. "Tanner Jeannot, we protected him over a couple of players that people thought we maybe shouldn't have, but that was a good decision on our group to do that, and Tanner looks like a keeper, and we agree with that. [Juuse] Saros [taking over for] Pekka [Rinne], you saw Saros play really well, but did you think Saros could play all these games and play so well and be the first or second star every night that he plays? Just a lot of good stories.
"I mean, Mark Borowiecki and Matt Benning don't get a lot of publicity, but these are the kind of guys that helped John and our team forge the identity and the way that we wanted to play. Tanner Jeannot has been playing like that, and that's why we got Jeremy Lauzon [from Seattle]. We like our team, and I like watching our team. It's fun, and the effort is there. Win or lose, the effort is there every night. It's not like you go down and you're disappointed with somebody or something. The guys are really trying hard every night."

Matt Duchene's Biggest Fans:

The video was posted a couple of weeks back, but it deserves a spot in the Scope.
Matt Duchene's adorable children - Beau and Jaymes - have had plenty to cheer about this season with their dad tallying a career-high 34 goals and counting, but the scene captured recently at the Duchene house was one for the ages.
Even if you've already seen Beau and Jaymes celebrating their dad's offensive abilities, it's worth another 95 views or so. Enjoy.

Milwaukee Admirals Update:

The Admirals split a back-to-back set over the weekend that began with a 4-3 win over Texas and concluded with a 3-2 loss to Rockford. Egor Afanasyev and Tommy Novak were among those who tallied in the victory, and then Novak and Cole Smith found the back of the net in the loss.
Rocco Grimaldi continues to lead the Ads with 26 goals and 52 points, followed by Cole Schneider with 23 goals and 48 points, and then Cody Glass with 37 assists and 47 points. Connor Ingram is second in the AHL with 25 wins and first among all goaltenders with five shutouts.
Milwaukee has 15 games remaining in the regular season, and they currently sit third in the AHL's Central Division with 31 wins and 69 points.

Goal of the Week:

Assist of the Week:

Save of the Week:

Predators Official Podcast:

One of the busiest times of the year has arrived. The NHL Trade Deadline is quickly approaching, and Predators General Manager David Poile details how he feels about his club. The Preds have a record-breaking night in Philadelphia as the postseason push continues; plus, Predators Chief Operating Officer Michelle Kennedy joins the show for a fun interview to discuss her path to the NHL. Finally, Brooks Bratten and Kara Hammer revive their Josi for Norris campaign and answer listener questions.

Upcoming Bridgestone Arena Events:

In addition to Predators hockey, there are plenty of other exciting events coming to Bridgestone Arena. Make plans to attend your next concert or show today.
Coming Soon:
March 26: Mount Westmore with Snoop Dogg & Ice Cube & Too Short & E-40.
Click here for tickets
.
March 30: Jim Gaffigan: The Fun Tour.
Click here for tickets
.
April 1: Harlem Globetrotters.
Click here for tickets
.
April 6: BPC Presents "MAXWELL - The Night Tour w/ Anthony Hamilton & Joe."
Click here for tickets
.
April 8: 2CELLOS, The Dedicated Tour.
Click here for tickets
.

Week In Review:

Preds Conclude Back-to-Back Set with Loss to Kings
Forsberg Sets Another Franchise Record as Preds Beat Ducks
Preds GM Poile Talks Forsberg, Lauzon as Trade Deadline Concludes
Predators Acquire Alex Biega from Toronto
Josi Named NHL's First Star of the Week
Predators Sign Jachym Kondelik to Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract
Predators Acquire Brayden Burke from Los Angeles
Predators Acquire Jeremy Lauzon from Seattle
Forsberg Sets Franchise Goal Record as Preds Beat Maple Leafs
Preds Foundation Awards SuperGrant to Bridges Domestic Violence Center
Rogers Appreciates 2,500 Games Milestone as Time with Preds Marches On
Predators Prospect Report: March 18
Nashville Predators to Honor Terry Crisp During Home Game on April 17
Preds Ultimately Fall to Flyers on Record-Breaking Night in Philadelphia
Mullins Cherishes Opportunity to Sing National Anthem for Preds Games
Preds Partner with UnitedHealthcare to Promote Small Businesses
Saros, Josi Lead Preds to Victory Over Penguins