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Most times there is a reason that a cliché is a cliché. In hockey you hear of the “back-breaker” goal, usually describing a goal in the last minute of play in the second period. Last night, the Calgary Flames got that kind of goal and it lived up to its’ reputation. When Olli Jokinen banged home a rebound with 18 seconds to go in the second period, it gave the Flames a 2-0 lead and essentially, the win.
This is one you put behind you, but keep in the back of your mind for next week when the Preds play their final game of the season series with Calgary. The Flames swept on Sommet Center ice, the Preds now have the opportunity to do the same at the Saddledome.
Preds are back in action Thursday night at home against Carolina.
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It’s rare a rematch lives up to its’ hype. After last Thursday night’s round robin thriller between Team Canada and Team USA in the World Juniors, I thought that there was no way the two teams could top it.
I was wrong.
Last night’s gold medal game was awesome. An up and down affair that saw both team’s goaltender’s pulled, Team USA blowing another two goal lead, Team Canada’s Jordan Eberle taking the team and his country on his back and single handedly forcing overtime, and a clutch game and gold winner from John Carlson. This game had it all. I hope that the NHL Network replays it.
Congratulations to Team USA, it is obvious that USA Hockey’s NTDP is starting to show the same results at the team level as it has been showing in the NHL Draft. With 9 players eligible to return for next year, and a gold medal winning U17 ready to feed more into the U20’s, this team is set to be highly competitive when the tournament hits American ice in December.
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Wednesday Notes
- I have a question… why does Nashville’s paper, when integrating the attendance number into their hockey stories, always feel the need to say “in front of an announced crowd of…” every time they refer to the Predators? I cannot recall an instance where the paper has used the same terminology with Vanderbilt, UT, the Sounds or the Titans. I was at the Titans/Dolphins game a few weeks ago where a full third of the stadium capacity didn’t show up but yet I still didn’t see the “announced” qualifier when referring to the crowd. I’m just sayin’…
- Great crowd last night at Sommet Center, over 15,000 on a Tuesday night, traditionally a tough sell.
- The buzz around the Sommet Center last night about the WJC Championship game was a sign that this tournament is starting to make inroads into the US. I was being pelted with questions on scores, what was happening, etc.
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TONIGHT’S HOCKEYBUZZ RADIO
HockeyBuzz Radio hits the road as Pete Weber and I go live to Dave and Buster’s in Opry Mills to be part of WNSR’s Hockey Block.
We have some great guests lined up including Kevin Allen from USA Today, Dan Wood from the Anaheim broadcast team, and Joe Burch from the OHL to give us his take on the just ended World Juniors. HockeyBuzz Radio on the air at 6pm on SportsRadio 560, WNSR… you can listen online at HockeyBuzz Radio's website
Then at 7pm, it’s the season premier of the WNSR Predator’s Player Show, the show is hosted by Greg Pogue and is scheduled to have Dan Hamhuis and Jerred Smithson as guests for the first show.
Come on out to Dave and Buster’s in Opry Mills for a great night of hockey talk!
Wed. 1/13 - HockeyBuzz Radio welcomes famed sports writer Jim Kelley and we’ll also talk trades that may happen before the Olympic break with Eklund… that and more on next Wednesday’s HockeyBuzz Radio.
You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates… I’ll also be updating during Pred home games in season with information and explanations from the PA box.
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