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Sunday Shots and a High Five

October 19, 2014, 9:59 AM ET [6 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
So incredibly excited about the All-Star Game announcement on Friday, that we have a special Sunday Shots from the presser.
From Press conference - 2016 All Star Game.

Courtesy DLM/SlapShot Radio

A successful back-to-back roadie inside the Central Division completed last night with the Preds dropping an OT decision to the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1. But it is hard to complain about the start this Nashville Predators team is off to… five games, three wins, one shutout and eight points.

I’ll take that any day and twice on Sunday.

Five games into this very young season and we are beginning to get a picture of this team… a picture that kinda reminds me of the old saying about what a bride needs…

• Something Old – The something old with the new era of the Nashville Predators? Defense, resiliency and work ethic. Nashville has gotten back to playing the kind of defense that is in the DNA of this franchise, showing the kind of resilience that Pred Nation is used to seeing. Work ethic, frankly… this team doesn’t quit, they up their game as every game progresses

• Something New – Shooting and scoring chances. This team is completely unafraid to shoot the puck, a real departure from times where the word “shoooooot” was raining down on the ice inside the friendly confines of Bridgestone Arena. The team is certainly generating more scoring chances and frankly, they will begin to convert as they continue to hone the chemistry on the team.

• Something Borrowed – The Goaltender Whisperer 2 – Nashville’s goaltending play has been excellent. Pekka Rinne looks like himself again between the pipes and save for a tough 5 hole goal in last night’s game, Carter Hutton proved he deserved the 2 year contract he signed. Goaltending coach Ben Vanderklok is showing that he learned quite a bit from the original Goaltender Whisperer, Mitch Korn in the five seasons he spent as his assistant.

• Something Blue (and Gold) – The additions to this team are rounding into form. James Neal is starting to finish chances as is Mike Ribeiro. Derek Roy has seamlessly fit into his new surroundings, adapting to a new system at a lightning pace.

So as the Predators have completed their first road trip, five games into the season, they sit without a regulation loss, on top of the Central Division, tied with Anaheim for 2nd and a point behind conference leading San Jose. Ask me if that is what I expected, I would say no… but, again… I will take it.

The Predators are back in action on Tuesday night as they welcome the Phoe… errrr… Arizona (gotta get used to that) Coyotes to town… great deals on tickets are available and it should be a good one as the Desert Dogs are coming off a shellacking at the hands of St. Louis. Then, it’s a rematch with Chicago on Thursday and a Saturday showdown with Pittsburgh before the team heads out on its annual CMA road trip.

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Random Notes

- Last night the Predators gave up a shorthanded goal for the first time in 105 games, a streak dating back to 2012. That is a simply amazing stat.

- Checking the Vegas odds on Tuesday night’s game… the over/under on me calling the Arizona Coyotes the Phoenix Coyotes is set at 1.5… the over/under on me calling the Coyotes the Arizona Cardinals is set at .5 :-)

- Checking in down on the farm… the Milwaukee Admirals are off to a torrid start to the AHL season, 4-0-0 and scoring goals in bunches. Last night, the baby Preds took out the Iowa Wild 4-0 on the strength of a natural hat trick from Viktor Arvidsson. MArek Mazanec had the shutout.

- Injuries last night include the Blues’ Paul Stastny, the Lightning’s Victor Hedman and the Caps Brooks Laich. More updates on these players today or Monday.

- The Flyers took down the Stars in OT in a wild one that featured multiple comebacks for the Fly-guys.

- Reports coming out that the NY Islanders sale price was $485 million. Original sales price for the former owner? $187 million.

- Sidney Crosby picked up his 500th career assist last night. Crosby’s Penguins visit Music City on Saturday night.

- Six games in and Colorado is 1-4-1… the #fancystats guys are dancing in the aisles. It may be a little premature, I do expect them to break out.

- Two games tonight – Toronto @ NYR at 6pm CT and Winnipeg visits LA at 9pm CT

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