The Nashville Predators got back to work yesterday after their all-star vacation, with two additions to the Bridgestone Arena ice. Jordin Tootoo and Steve Sullivan. Tootoo had his first practice since voluntarily entering the NHL/NHLPA’s substance abuse program in late December. He is only cleared to practice so far. Steve Sullivan skated for about an hour yesterday and afterward it was revealed that the lower body injury is to his groin and is not a back issue, sending a sigh of relief through Pred Nation.
The team is home for its’ first game inside the friendly confines of the Bridge since January 15th, facing off against the Calgary Flames, these two teams met last Monday night in Calgary with the Flames taking a 3-1 victory. The Predators have not beaten the Flames on home ice since January 15, 2008, going 0-5-0 during that stretch.
While there is good news in Tootoo and Sullivan’s first steps in returning to the lineup, the injured reserve list continues to grow for Nashville. The Preds now list five players on IR, along with Sullivan, Lombardi and O’Reilly, the team added Francis Bouillon and Marek Svatos over the break. Svatos is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his knee, Bouillon is getting over a concussion. Calgary is not exactly healthy, listing Daymond Langkow, Steve Staios and Raitis Ivanans as out for tonight's match.
Puck drops at 7:08pm, coverage on 102.9 the Buzz and FS Tennessee. Please join Greg Pogue and I at Rippy’s for the WNSR pre-game show at 6pm.
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Random Notes
- Congratulations for Pekka Rinne on winning a well deserved Third Star of the Month for January.
- More congratulations to Predators trainer Dan Redmond for being honored as the Trainer of the Year. The award is given by the Tennessee Athletic Trainer’s Society.
- Chris Mueller and Matt Halischuk were recalled from Milwaukee yesterday.
- The word is out that the Buffalo Sabres will announce their sale to Pennsylvania billionaire Terrance Pegula on Thursday. The selling price has been estimated as low as $165 million and as high as $190 million.
- Ratings for the NHL All-Star game in the USA were up 29% over the last one in 2009. They were also up in Canada.
- Tampa Bay unveiled their new logo and unis yesterday. Clean, simple… I kinda like ‘em.
- The NHL's Guardian Project has certainly drawn its fair share of abuse. Those abusers don’t get it… this thing is aimed at kids and anime freaks… it’s kinda like old white guys (like me) who go around and complain about hip-hop, saying “I don’t get it…” Guess what… YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO!!!!
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game!
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COMING UP ON THE NEXT SLAPSHOT RADIO…
Wednesday’s SlapShot Radio features Craig Custance from The Sporting News, Tim Panaccio from CSN Philly joins us to preview the Preds/Flyers game and Pete Weber goes Behind the Bench with Preds head coach Barry Trotz… it’s all tomorrow at 6pm on SlapShot Radio. Listen on air on SportsRadio 560 WNSR, online at www.wnsr.com or on podcast at
the SlapShot Radio podcast page.
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • 
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