Tolvanen could debut as Predators seek possible clincher (Mar 30, 2018)
It might be a case of the rich getting richer.
When the Nashville Predators host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night, they might put 18-year old Eeli Tolvanen in the lineup for his NHL debut, adding potentially more scoring punch to one of the league's most explosive teams.
Tolvanen scored 19 goals and added 17 assists in 49 games with Jokerit (Finland) in Russia's KHL, then tallied six goals and an assist in 11 playoff matches. Shortly after his team was bounced from the playoffs, Tolvanen signed a three-year entry-level contract with Nashville.
He arrived in the Music City on Thursday and has practiced with the team the last two days. Coach Peter Laviolette won't divulge until Saturday if Tolvanen will be in the lineup, but with the team playing a huge game in Tampa Bay on Sunday, common sense would dictate a softer landing spot for his first NHL game.
Regardless, the 5-foot-10, 189-pound Tolvanen is ready to test his skills in the world's best league.
"It feels kind of crazy that I'm here right now," Tolvanen said. "It's been crazy, all the immigration things, all the packing and saying goodbye to all my teammates. It was tough, but it feels good to be here right now. I'm excited to be here."
Tolvanen's possible debut is just one storyline from what could be a historic night for the Predators (50-16-11). If they beat Buffalo (24-41-12) and Winnipeg loses in regulation at Toronto, they will wrap up their first division title in franchise history.
Nashville's 5-3 victory over San Jose on Thursday night allowed it to set a franchise record for points with 111, as well as reach the 50-win mark for the second time in team history. It has a three-point lead on Tampa Bay for the NHL's best record.
The Predators got a tie-breaking goal halfway through the third period from Ryan Ellis and 39 saves from Juuse Saros, including 24 in a wild third period that saw the Sharks' Logan Couture fail on a potential game-tying penalty shot with less than two minutes left.
"He really did put on an unbelievable performance, especially in the third period," Laviolette said.
Saros (9-5-7, 2.46 goals-against average, .925 save percentage) might get another start against the Sabres, even though Laviolette usually plays him on the back end of back-to-backs to get starter Pekka Rinne a rest. Rinne (41-11-4, 2.25, .929) blanked Buffalo 4-0 on March 19, making 35 saves.
The Sabres come into town fresh off a 6-3 loss at home Thursday night to Detroit. It will be a homecoming of sorts for first-year coach Phil Housley, who was an assistant for Laviolette the last three years, helping Nashville make a run to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring.
"Saturday night in Nashville is really a tough place to play, and the crowd will be roaring," Housley said to the Buffalo News. "It's one of the most entertaining places."
Chad Johnson (9-13-3, 3.32, .897) will start in net for the Sabres, who own wins in their last two visits to Bridgestone, including a 5-4 verdict last season in which Jack Eichel scored the game-winner in overtime.
