SlapShot Radio’s photographer captured the action, the fans and the color last night at Bridgestone Arena, here are today’s Sunday Shots.

From Predators vs Kings December 28, 2013

Courtesy DLM/SlapShot Radio
Click here to enjoy the entire photo album.

Now… on to last night…

The Nashville Predators delivered an exhilarating 3-2 victory over a Stanley Cup contending Los Angeles Kings last night in front of a sellout crowd that was looking for something to believe in. Looking for signs of hope in a season that has seen way to many hopeless games, way too many roller coasters, way too much inconsistency. Hope was found in a veteran that put a team on his back and said… this way boys.

Mike Fisher stepped up when necessary. He scored the go ahead goal with a little over three minutes remaining in the game, then brought the response ten seconds after LA tied the game in the last minute, sealing the win and sending Pred Nation home happy for the first time in quite a few games. That’s not to slight the rest of the team, the Predators played a complete team game, responding to LA’s chippy play with their own physicality, getting excellent goaltending from Marek Mazanec and great blueline play from Shea Weber, Seth Jones and the entire defense corps. A special shout out to Mattias Ekholm who made the most of his chance back in the lineup posting a +2 in his 16 minutes of ice time.

The attention turns to how this team can launch themselves from this win and build off the momentum. The Predators have shown this capability this season, what they haven’t shown is an ability to prevent losing streaks. Here are your highlights from last night…


Excitement is in the air for Monday night’s Detroit visit. HBO’s 24/7 cameras will be there and Smashville will be ready. Limited tickets remain, puck drop at 7pm.

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Random Notes

- A tiny rant… I don’t understand the reticence of referees to call the instigator penalty, if we have to deal with it, then call the freaking thing. Last night’s bizarre roughing/fighting combination call on LA’s Kyle Clifford was just silly. The Preds Matt Hendricks delivers a perfectly clean, legal hit… Clifford takes off from Memphis directly after Hendricks, grabs him from behind… and Clifford gets an extra rough instead of the ? Bizarre.

- Speaking of chippy play, lots of post-game talk about Jake Muzzin’s high hit on Seth Jones. While the politically correct things were being said, that hit deserves to be reviewed.

- Nice to see some bounces go the Predators way last night, I was wondering if the hockey gods had completely lost their way to 501 Broadway.

- Meanwhile, in the World Juniors… Team Canada dropped a disturbing loss to the Czech team yesterday. For those thinking it has a larger impact, Canada always seems to get an early wakeup call in this tournament.

- Team USA continues to roll along in their defense of their World Juniors Championship, they are undefeated thusfar and in the midst of destroying Germany as I write this.

- The annual Canada/USA showdown in New Year's Eve. Puck drop on that one at 10:30am Tuesday.

- Forecasts have a chance for snow for the Winter Classic. We know that it’s going to be cold… wind chills will be single digits, potentially lower.

- Man… the St. Louis Blues own the Chicago Blackhawks this season.

- Ten games tonight – 4pm starts – Capitals @ Sabres, Canadiens @ Panthers. 5pm starts – Penguins @ Blue Jackets, Blues @ Stars. 6pm starts – Hurricanes @ Maple Leafs, Rangers @ Lightning. 6:30pm start – Canucks @ Flames. 7pm starts – Islanders @ Wild, Jets @ Avalanche. 9:30pm start – Ducks @ Sharks.

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