The completion of a revenge back-to-back saw the Predators avenge their Saturday night loss to the Detroit Red Wings with a 3-2 win at Little Ceaser’s Arena in the Motor City. The Predators learned their lessons from the weekend loss, jumping out to an early lead, survived a bad second period and got a timely goal to blunt a pushback to get the win, snapping a seven game losing streak to Detroit.

Scott Hartnell got the scoring started early as a Roman Josi shot went off his boot and past Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. The assist was Josi’s 200th career NHL assist. Five minutes later, the Preds doubled the lead on a patient play from Kyle Turris, gathering in a rebound and sliding the puck home for Turris’s 10th of the season. A solid first period for the Predators that put the Wings behind the eight-ball and unable to play their trap. A key to winning against a team like this.

The second period… well… was not so good. The energy dropped and Detroit took advantage… the only reason the Preds kept their lead was between the pipes. Juuse Saros was outstanding, covering for giveaways and defensive mistakes. The only goal Saros gave up was on a breakaway from Andreas Athanasiou… the Predators survived the period, and had a nice pushback in the last two minutes… but you knew… unless the Preds found the energy to finish the game, they would drop their 8th straight to the Wings.

A strong start to the third resulted in a typical Arvy Hustle play, PK Subban found Viktor Arvidsson on a spectacular outlet pass, Arvidsson split the defense and deposited a nasty wrister to restore a two goal lead with the eventual game winner.

The Red Wings managed to close to within one again but they couldn’t crack Saros as time wound down and the Predators completed the revenger back-to-back sweep.

Here are the highlights…


Nashville is back in town, a light day today before San Jose comes to town on Thursday night.

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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 are first in the Central Division with 81 points, two points ahead of Winnipeg (1 GIH) and nine points ahead of Dallas (0 GIH) … the Preds lead St. Louis (2 GIH) by nine points and Minnesota (0 GIH) by ten points. The Predators trail Vegas (0 GIH) by one point for the Western Conference lead.

Impact games tonight (all times Central) – 9pm – DAL @ ANA. 9:30pm – CGY @ VGK.

Playoff Odds Courtesy SportsClubStats.com - The Predators playoff chances are at 99.9%, they need 16 points in 23 games to get to the 97 point line.

The Playoff Point Line - I look at the point level needed for at least a 75%+ chance to make the playoffs… right now, 97 points gets you at 82.5% chance of making the playoffs, 96 gets you a 65.2% chance.

Playoff odds and playoff point line courtesy of SportsClubStats.com

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Random Notes

- No SlapShot Radio tonight, Smashville Live! is on at 7pm... we will be on Saturday morning at 8am this week.

- Team USA will finish out of the medals as they were eliminated by the Czech Republic earlier today 3-2 in a shootout.

- Gutty effort from the Preds last night, somehow finding the energy to close it out.

- Winnipeg dropped a big one last night, losing to Los Angeles at home.

- Could Team 32 be too far away? The group behind Seattle’s effort to join the NHL has submitted their entry fee and application. Next step? Season ticket drive that is scheduled to start on March 1st.

- Eeli Watch – Eeli Tolvanen finishes the Olympic tournament with 3 goals and 6 assists in 5 games. Team Finland was eliminated by Canada this morning.

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Tweets by @PredPAPaul


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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. This week we step aside for the player show… Our next show is Saturday at 8am with Dan Keczmer in the co-host chair.

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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