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What a stinker

December 23, 2016, 9:12 AM ET [4 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
A key tonight will be the kind of fast start we saw Tuesday in New Jersey

Well… that didn’t happen.

A 4-0 stinker of a loss to the Los Angeles Kings in front of a sold out Bridgestone Arena leaves a sour taste in the mouth of Pred Nation heading into the Christmas break. Head coach Peter Laviolette called out the club’s inconsistency in his post-game press conference. The team was back on their heels all night, never seeming to get their legs under them.

Oh… and by the way… anyone who thinks that Nashville is better without PK Subban in the lineup, well… I submit last night as example one of how that is not true.

Santa showed up early last night and brought Kings goaltender Peter Budaj a gift, a nicely wrapped up shutout. The Predators were the gang who couldn’t shoot straight, abusing the glass behind the Kings netminder and showing no touch and no finish at all around the net.

One of those games you just want to forget about as quickly as possible… but perhaps it is good that it may marinate a bit over the break… how the team reacts upon return will show if they have learned any lessons from it.

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The original Predator, first overall draft pick (#2 overall) of the franchise back in 1998, David Legwand announced his retirement from the NHL yesterday. The smooth skating center was the face of the franchise for the early years and watched this team grow from doormat to contender. Over parts of 15 seasons with the Predators, Legwand established and still holds franchise records in goals scored, assists, points, and games played. Legwand finished his career with stints in Detroit, Ottawa and Buffalo.

Legwand was a polarizing figure in Nashville… and that showed in some social media banter last night as a battle broke out over the notion of retiring his number.

I like David personally, he was welcoming and always very nice to me when I became the PA guy for Nashville, that being said… I am not sure if his numbers justify jersey retirement. His service to the franchise should and most probably will be recognized, his place in franchise history is assured.

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Random Notes

- A lot of players and coaches are hitting the road this morning, going to be with their extended families for Christmas.

- Congratulations to Jaromir Jagr on passing Mark Messier for second on the all-time points list.

- Sheesh… there is no cooling off the Columbus Blue Jackets… their win streak is now at 11 with a chance for a dozen later tonight.

- Twelve games in the NHL tonight, all times CST – 6pm – BUF @ NYI, MIN @ NYR, NJD @ PIT, TBL @ WSH, MTL @ CBJ. 6:30pm – DET @ FLA, BOS @ CAR. 7:30pm – COL @ CHI, LAK @ DAL. 8pm – VAN @ CGY, TOR @ ARI. 9:30pm – EDM @ SJSI.

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