Nashville Predators’ Mike Fisher practices, prepares for Stanley Cup Finals
By Jeff Hawkins
With No. 1 center Ryan Johansen out of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Nashville Predators remain optimistic captain Mike Fisher, who practiced Thursday, will dress for Monday’s Game 1.
The Nashville Predators received a much-needed personnel boost.
When the Predators returned to practice Thursday, Mike Fisher skated with the NHL club for the first time since suffering an undisclosed injury May 18. While team doctors still must clear Fisher, the Predators remain hopeful the team captain will not suffer a setback before Monday’s Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
“I feel pretty good,” Fisher said, reported by NHL.com.
Sustaining a blow to his head in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Fisher absorbed a knee from Anaheim defenseman Josh Manson. Despite the absence of Fisher and top line center Ryan Johansen, the Predators earned their first trip to the Cup final by upending the Ducks in six games.
The Predators, who begin the final series on the road, will learn their destination Thursday night, following the Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators.
During Thursday’s practice at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville, Tennessee, Fisher was inserted on a line with forwards Harry Zolnierczyk and James Neal.
‘Getting ready’
“Just getting ready, that’s the main goal,” Fisher said after the workout. “Keep our minds focused on what we’ve got to do.”
One of the first things Fisher, 36, must do if the Senators win Thursday is begin rounding up extra tickets for Games 1 and 2. Fisher played 11 years with the Senators (1999-2011) and he is bracing for an abundance of potential ticket requests.
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“It’s going to cost me,” Fisher said. “Honestly it’s one of those things where I still follow (the Senators) with some of those guys, [I’m] still friends with some of those guys. Really, may the best team win, that’s kind of the whole deal, but obviously in Ottawa there would be a lot more family close by, so that would be kind of neat. But we’ll see (Thursday).”