New pictures are posted from last night's game at the SlapShot Radio Facebook page.


Let’s start off with this. The Chicago Blackhawks are playing some excellent hockey right now. They are the best team in the Western Conference. It is an undeniable fact that was on display in front of a sold out Bridgestone Arena last night. The Blackhawks have finished the first 12 games of their season at 10-0-2 clip, 22 out of a possible 24 points.

Now that is the way to start a short season.

On the Nashville side of things, there are concerns about scoring… being shutout of your only three regulation losses will do that, but the team is in a good spot heading into tomorrow night’s game with San Jose. Last night was an example of a Predators team that ran into a buzzsaw. After a solid, but scoreless first period, Nashville looked to be in decent shape, but weather it was the relentless Blackhawk pressure or the back half of a back-to-back, Chicago slowly, methodically wore down the Preds, until they popped two quick goals in less than 90 seconds. The game, for all intents and purposes, was over after that, the only question left was the number of shots the Predators were going to put on net.

The frustrating thing to this observer is not the lack of shooting… well, OK, that is part of the frustration. But it is the lack of finish that is hurting this team. Full marks to Chicago netminder Corey Crawford last night, but the Predators have to finish, they have to bury scoring chances when they present themselves.

But again, the team is in a good spot, standing third in the division and 6th in the conference after the first quarter of the season. That being said, there is only a 5 point difference between the four teams tied at the bottom of the conference and 8th… Still plenty of work to be done…

Next game is tomorrow night at Bridgestone Arena against the San Jose Sharks. Puck drop is 7:07pm.

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Random Notes

- The schedule doesn’t let up for the Predators during this homestand, San Jose tomorrow, Phoenix on Thursday and Anaheim on Saturday.

- What a finish to the Detroit / LA game yesterday. That’s a soul-killer for the Kings, who look to be in real trouble.

- Chicago is threatening to run away with the conference. They have a five point lead after 12 games.

-San Jose is starting a bizarre road trip tomorrow night… one that features the team going home for three days in the middle of it.

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Our most recent SlapShot Radio podcast is posted, This week’s show features Phoenix broadcaster Tyson Nash and a special guest host… Jeremy Gover from Section303.com. Join us Wednesday at 7pm won’t you?

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