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Eight Straight and a Stadium Series Experience

March 5, 2018, 8:54 AM ET [0 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Well… I’ve seen crazier road trips, I must have, but boy I can’t remember when I did. The Nashville Predators completed a road sweep of their four-game trip, extending their winning streak to a franchise record tying eight games and figuring out new and creative ways to dig themselves into holes and then promptly crawling out of them.

Each game on this trip was a come-from-behind victory, yesterday’s 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche featured an actual lead in the first period and another one in the second. It also included an own-goal, a blast to tie things up late and a simply sick overtime game winner from Filip Forsberg…

Do you remember when Pred Nation used to dread the 3-on-3?

Austin Watson got the scoring started with a nice goal from the high slot, giving Nashville a rare thing on this roadie… a lead. It didn’t last long as Nikita Zadorov tied it up a few minutes later. Then in the second, the Preds converted on the power play as Kyle Turris buried a sweet setup from Ryan Ellis to take another lead.

Things got weird in the third period… five minutes in, the Av’s got a 2-on-1 break that Pekka Rinne stopped nicely, but the puck popped up off Rinne and landed in the blue ice… Kevin Fiala, in an attempt to clear the puck, was the victim of a bad bounce, inadvertently tapping the puck into his own net to tie the game for Colorado.

The break seemed to energize the Av's and Colorado took full advantage, pressing the play until finally converting on a power play opportunity to put the Avalanche up 3-2. At that point, like several other times on this roadie... Pred Nation could be forgiven to think… OK, this is where the win streak ends… it’s been a good run…

Not so fast there bucko…

With the net empty and the Preds pressing, Ryan Johansen unloaded a blast on Varlamov, the rebound came right back to the big center, who tapped it to PK Subban who then teed up Ryan Ellis at the top of the circle who blasted home a one-timer, his second consecutive game-tying goal (third one of the road trip) to send the game into the bonus period… where it didn’t take very long for the Prince of Scoresberg to return as Filip Forsberg won it a little more than a minute in to the overtime period.

Forsberg’s winner was a thing of beauty, he picks up the puck on a breakout from Ryan Ellis halfway into his own zone, skates casually down the left side, moves easily around Mikko Rantanen then snaps a shot from the bottom of the circle to beat Semyon Varlamov like a rented goalie. Filip uncorks a bad angle shot that goes five-hole for the winner. You’ve been seeing him heat up for the last few games and that goal may be the start of another Forsberg hot streak.

Here are the highlights…


The confidence is continuing to build inside this team, they simply refuse to believe they are ever out of a game. That confidence will get the ultimate regular season test over the next four games in Smashville. With games against Dallas, Anaheim, New Jersey and Winnipeg you may notice something… all four teams are in playoff position as I write this. It’s the second toughest stretch in March for Nashville, only exceeded by the Toronto, @ Minnesota, @ Winnipeg, Minnesota, San Jose stretch later in the month.

Limited tickets remain for tomorrow’s Central Division showdown… 7pm game time.

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I had the opportunity to perform the PA duties for the Stadium Series game on Saturday night at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. It was an amazing and exhausting experience. The Nor’Easter that hit the east coast over the weekend really played havoc on the preparation for the game.

After a cancelled flight, desperate rescheduling, a flight into Washington National that could only be described as a roller coaster ride and getting to Annapolis almost 12 hours later that I was scheduled, I came to find out that the weather was so rough that we couldn’t rehearse on Friday at all.

Now Annapolis is a great little town, so my wife and certainly enjoyed some unexpected free time in Maryland’s capital… sampling some outstanding seafood… I actually think it is illegal to go to Maryland without having at least one crab cake, and the one I had simply doesn’t resemble anything you can get outside of the Chesapeake Bay… all crab, simple seasoning and very little binder… simply scrumptious.

So… no good deed goes unpunished as the free time on Friday was paid for by rehearsals that began at 9am at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The wind had come down some, but it was still a stiff breeze that made things feel colder than the mid-40’s temperature would indicate. I was initially upset that I wouldn't be rinkside in my normal position, but after experiencing the cold and the wind for a few minutes... I was thankful to be in the pressbox.

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was a great place to do this game. A little more intimate with great sight lines. I like the outdoor games that are in smaller stadiums, it just seems to work better.

It a real shame that NBC didn’t carry all of the pregame… the TV coverage picked up after the middies were already lined up around the “aircraft carrier” set piece that framed the rink. The tradition of “Manning the Rails” is a deep one with the Navy, one I experienced only once when one of my brothers returned from deployment.

I was so honored to be asked to do this, the production people didn’t know this, but both of my older brothers are career Navy men, each putting in over 20 years of service… it is experiences like this that remind me of the sacrifice each of them made to serve our country. Those Midshipmen that are training to be the next leaders of our Navy are simply amazing people and deserve our thanks and respect.

This is the second time I worked with the NHL productions crew, the first one being Nashville's All-Star Weekend. This team of production people handle huge events like this all the time… they are fun, creative and frankly… a blast to work with. They are an amazing group of professionals who wouldn't let a little thing like a storm get in the way of a successful event.

Thanks to the NHL for allowing me this rare experience… and a big thank you to one of the classiest people out there, Washington Capitals PA Wes Johnson, who does a phenomenal job behind the mic. His help and more importantly, his support was simply amazing and I hope he knows how much I appreciate him.

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“Where We Stand” update… a daily tracking of where the Preds are in the standings and the games that impact them most, brought to you by Mark Lonsway - THE real estate professional for hockey fans!



After last night’s play the Predators remain first in the Central Division with 93 points, leading Winnipeg (0 GIH) by six points and twelve points ahead of Minnesota (1 GIH) … The Predators lead the Westren Conference holding a four point lead over Vegas (0 GIH.) The Predators trail Tampa Bay (1 GIH) by one point in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.

Impact games tonight (all times Central) – 7:30pm – OTT @ DAL.

Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are at 99.99%, they need 6 points in 17 games to get to the 96 point line.

The Playoff Point Line - I look at the point level needed for at least a 75%+ chance to make the playoffs… the numbers are becoming more volatile… right now, 96 points gets you at 71.1% chance of making the playoffs, 95 gets you a 55.3% chance.

Playoff odds and playoff point line courtesy of SportsClubStats.com

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Random Notes

- Austin Watson’s goal in the first period was the only goal scored in the first period of the road trip.

- Ellis became the second defenseman in NHL history to score a tying goal in the final three minutes of regulation in consecutive team games, joining Andy Sutton who did so with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2003-04.

- Nashville became the 12th team in NHL history to score a tying goal in the final three minutes of regulation and win in consecutive games, the last one being the Philadelphia FLyers from Nov. 2-3, 2016.

- Both Winnipeg and Vegas won yesterday to keep pace with Nashville.

- If the playoffs started today, Nashville would draw the LA Kings in the first round.

- One more note about the Stadium Series game… the Leafs white unis were just too much. They were either trying for a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man look or perhaps they were trolling Baltimore fans by wearing something that looked like an old time Colts uniform.

- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen’s Jokerit team tied their series with HC Sochi a one game each yesterday with a dominating 7-2 win. Tolvanen had 2 power play goals in the win, his first points of the series. The best of five reverts now moves to Sochi, where they will play tomorrow and Wednesday.

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Last night’s SlapShot Radio


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SlapShot Radio’s tenth anniversary season is on. As the longest running hockey show in the region, SSR feeds hockey fans what they crave… intelligent, fun, entertaining talk about their favorite sport and we do it from the opening of training camp all the way through UFA day… the only local hockey show that does that.

We are on every Wednesday night at 7pm on the Predators flagship station, 102.5 the Game. Our co-hosts, Dan Keczmer and JP Dumont bring a true insiders perspective to the show. Our next show is Saturday March 10th at 8am due to Predators Live on Wednesday at 7pm.

We have been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives results at a reasonable price. Just ask our sponsors… including day one sponsor Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762, Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799, and TurfMasters… check out their great service at TurfMasters.com. Also… The Crag… Nashville’s premiere location for indoor rock climbing. Newton Dominey and his awesome crew have a great location in Cool Springs and they have opened a new location in South Nashville at the corner of Old Hickory Blvd and Nolensville Rd. Check out their website at ILoveRockClimbing.com If you’ve never done it before… you need to try, they specialize on helping first timers.

We are also happy to welcome our latest sponsor… Patrick Brown’s Farmer Insurance Agency in Mt. Juliet… I switched to them a few years back and their service has been incredible! Give Pat and his team a call at 615-288-2086.

Advertisers… reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great preseason advertising deals available for our tenth season when you email me at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com

You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1 … Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.

If you are outside of the listening area, listen live online at The Game website or check out the podcast about two hours after the show at on SoundCloud.

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