The game fairly screamed “trap!” The Predators coming off an emotionally charged win on Saturday, the day before a rematch with that same team, taking on a team at the bottom of the NHL standings and for all intents and purposes… playing out the string. That was the situation last night for a rare Monday night game at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators posted a workman-like 4-1 dispatching of the Columbus Blue Jackets, ending their season series (and Columbus’ misery) with a 5-0-1 record against the Jackets. The scary part for Columbus… that 5-0-1 record indicates improvement over previous seasons as the regulation loss was Columbus’ first win in Nashville since Bush was President.
Excellent games from Mike Fisher and Pekka Rinne highlighted the evening… but the biggest moment may have come with about 30 seconds remaining in the second period when the elusive Goo Goo Goal finally happened. Nashville initiated a promotion this year, when a Preds goal is scored in the last minute of the second period, everyone in attendance gets a Nashville candy tradition… a Goo Goo Cluster, a fabulous combination of nuts, chocolate and all kinds of bad for you things! Pred Nation was 0-25 on the “Goo Goo Goal” until Mike Fisher banged home the rebound of a Shea Weber point shot to put the Preds up 2-1 and Pred fans into confectionery ecstasy.
The last minute goal, especially in the second period is almost always a back breaker and Columbus had no response, Matt Halischuk had the best possible reaction to being a healthy scratch, he went out and scored his 11th of the season to give the Preds a two goal pad. Patric Hornqvist sealed the game with his Frosty goal with just over three minutes to go.
So, it’s off to the Windy City for a rematch with the Blackhawks, who have been stewing since their loss on Saturday in Nashville. This is the last game for both teams before the All-Star break and I am sure that each would like to go into the off week with a win.
Chicago comes into tonight with Dan Carcillo and Patrick Sharp on IR and Jonathan Towes out with an “upper-body injury” that appears to be a hand injury he re-aggravated Saturday night. Towes may miss the All-Star Game as well. Nashville lists Francis Bouillon as questionable for tonight.
Corey Crawford gets the nod in net for the Blackhawks, an opportunity for redemption after his poor showing in Nashville. In his post-game comments last night, Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz said that the decision on who to start is in Pekka Rinne’s hands. Trotz was quoted as saying “It will be his call and not mine.” I expect Rinne to start and continue his hot play.
Game time is 7:30pm central, coverage on 102.5 the Game and Fox Sports Tennessee.
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I have to jump up on my soapbox here... if you are already tired of the whole Tim Thomas thing, just skip down to the Random Notes...
Let me start off by saying that Tim Thomas has guts and I believe he had the absolute right to bravely refuse to go to the White House for a team event yesterday. He joins the tradition of athletes like Muhammad Ali, Tommy Smith and John Carlos to use his athletic standing to make a statement. All these athletes were heavily criticized for their protests, as Tim Thomas is being criticized now. I will state it clearly… It is his right, and I will fight to death to keep those rights.
That being said, Tim Thomas also gets to take responsibility for his actions, because all rights come with responsibilities. Protests invite criticism, contrary to popular belief, that criticism doesn’t deter free speech, it validates it. I’m not going to put on the tin foil hat and look for silly conspiracy in children’s names, etc. I will take Mr. Thomas at his carefully chosen words on Facebook and I appreciate that he says he would’ve done this no matter what the party of the President. It doesn’t change his responsibility for the disrespect shown to a constitutionally mandated office, you know, the document he says he is so committed to?
After considering the whole situation… I have one simple question…
When has it become acceptable for politics to trump simple respect?
Respect for your country… for the office… for your team.
The usual political rants were all over Twitter yesterday… messages of politically aligned support or criticism of Mr. Thomas’ actions, most everyone (save for a few reasoned voices) looking to make their political point, blind to the destruction that situations like this cause. That’s right… I said destruction, because when you identify yourself as a member of a political party or movement over the country that you are a citizen of, that is a destructive force, one that I believe is seriously damaging our country and its’ people.
Yesterday’s event was a traditional celebration of team, the invitation of championship teams to visit the White House and meet the President goes back decades as a recognition of team spirit and accomplishment. By choosing this moment to make a political statement, Tim Thomas put himself above the team… and calls into question all of his statements about team wins and supporting the team.
His words say one thing… his actions scream another.
Retired players chose to attend, players that are no longer on the Bruins chose to attend, it is sad that one of the only two Americans on the Bruins chose to not to, and in so choosing, cast a shadow over his team’s day, causing his teammates to have to answer all the questions while he was nowhere to be found.
I know I sound hopelessly Pollyanna when I say this, especially in an election year… but
we need to come together as a country, not as political parties, not as political beliefs, but as a country.
The identification as democrat or republican or libertarian, conservative or liberal, over the identification of individuals as Americans is the kind of divide and conquer politics that have been way too successful over the past 40 years or so, much to the detriment of our country. I can hope that this situation gets us thinking a bit more that way, country over party... but until the wonderful differences in our country are respected again, from
ALL political beliefs, it will only fracture our country further. Tim Thomas’ actions, while brave, serve to deepen that divide and do not serve his team or our country well…
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Random Notes
- Things are getting mighty interesting in the Central. The Predators stand 6th in the West, 4th in the Central, two points behind Chicago and St. Louis, five points behind division and conference leading Detroit. St. Louis plays tonight, Detroit play tomorrow before the All-Star break officially begins.
- It was the “Paula Deen” hat trick last night… A Goo Goo Goal, a Frosty and a Xyence Energy Drink for all that attended… Yikes! Pred Nation will be sugared up today!
-Mike Fisher sure loves to play the Blue Jackets… 6 of his 11 goals this year have come against Columbus. His performance earned him the number two star of the night on nhl.com.
- The Shanahammer fell on Alex Ovechkin as he got three games for his hit on Zbynek Michalek. Seems about right…
- Detroit’s home win streak is at 17 and counting… the Preds don’t visit the Joe until February 17.
- Congratulations to former Pred, and all around great guy, Scott Nichol who played in his 600th game last night. Another former Pred (who also happens to be an awesome person as well) hit a milestone game last night also… Chris Mason played in his 300th game. Congrats to both
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