nicely done. i've never not missed a former Pred as much as i don't miss Hammer. would he even crack our top 6 now?
- OneTimer

Give me a break, you guys are whining about needed another D and yet Hammer would not be able to make the team? Please explain, he is usually lights out in Van-not to mention last years playoffs.

Thanks that means a lot coming from you. Take it easy buddy I was just messing with you guys a little. Like I said I like your team and the players on it, don't take things so personally. I enjoy watching the 2 teams play against each other especially when Keslord takes over.
- CanUSA17

Yeah. I think he read too much into your comments.

It was a good game to watch last night. No dull moments to speak of and some great efforts from both teams. However, we could have used the extra point.

Paul, great comment regarding the tremendous OT push by the Preds. So close to finishing it. (I did not want to see a shootout.)

Give me a break, you guys are whining about needed another D and yet Hammer would not be able to make the team? Please explain, he is usually lights out in Van-not to mention last years playoffs.
- Delta-Bravo

His history here was less than stellar - often was the Goat for Pred fans. However, I won't deny that he's done well there. Good for you and good for us. Both teams won imo.

His history here was less than stellar - often was the Goat for Pred fans. However, I won't deny that he's done well there. Good for you and good for us. Both teams won imo.
- blueline

True-but i mean the guy is in no way offensively gifted, but he is a beast in his own zone. The amount of 2 on 1s and break-away's he has stopped is ridiculous.

His history here was less than stellar - often was the Goat for Pred fans. However, I won't deny that he's done well there. Good for you and good for us. Both teams won imo.
- blueline

Didn't he play with Weber for the majority of his time in Nash? If so i could see the scape goat theory...

I would have to agree with the above post. The biggest need for the Preds right now seems to be on the D side. If you think back to the St. Louis & Vancouver games - the Predators offense put plenty of pressure on the opponent. In both games, I think Rinne got outplayed. Halak was a stone wall in the St. Louis game. The Preds should've had 6 goals.

Same last night - the Preds could've easily scored 5. Luongo let in a softy - but he stood on his head for 6 minutes in the 2nd period. The game was lost on the Defensive side. And all the late pressure in the 3rd from the Canucks - the Preds D couldn't win a battle along the boards or clear a puck.

I would love to see DP add a big, consistent forward. I mean look what the Sedins & Kesler mean to Vancouver. (Good luck finding that right now in the trade market...by the way). But the way this team is structured currently, the Preds biggest hole is on that second and third defensive pair. The St. Louis goal and two of the Vancouver goals last night were direct results of mediocre defensive play.
- holycow_75

Crispy and Pete both gave them down-the-road for the Canucks always being behind our net to get the puck and no gold jerseys back there. On that 1st goal the D disappeared in front of the net!

Rinne outplayed Halak
Rinne outplayed Lou - but close
All year we have know our D is young and small
Nice options are Gill & Obie (as reported are avaliable)
- buelleo

I don't see how any hockey fan (even a Preds fan like I am) could watch those two games and think that Rinne clearly outplayed either Halak or Luongo. The Predators out-worked, out-shot & out-chanced both teams. And both of those goalies played like bricks. Not that Rinne didn't play well. He had some highlight reel saves in the St. Louis game. Maybe that was a toss up. But he didn't single-handedly keep the Preds in the game last night. Luongo did that for the Canucks in the second period. They were clearly beaten 3-4 times, and he stopped shots that should've been goals.

Rinne played well, but come on. Try to be somewhat objective & take off the homer glasses. I love Pekka. He's one of the top goalies in the league. But he does get outplayed sometimes. Sheesh.

nicely done. i've never not missed a former Pred as much as i don't miss Hammer. would he even crack our top 6 now?
- OneTimer

Are you kidding me?

You're suggesting that the Canucks top 1-2 defensemen wouldn't crack the Nashville's defensive pairings at all? A bit of a silly suggestion, dont you think?

Didn't he play with Weber for the majority of his time in Nash? If so i could see the scape goat theory...
- Delta-Bravo

Hamhuis's last season in Nashville, he was paired with Kevin Klein. This was not a good match but for whatever reason the coaches would not break the two up. We've seen that not just anyone can be paired with Klein since Hammer left. Unfortunately when you have Weber and Suter playing ahead of you and Klein is your partner, Hammer found himself being the scape goat a lot. No doubt that Hammer is a top 4 defenseman on any team in the league and a top 2 on most.

Hamhuis's last season in Nashville, he was paired with Kevin Klein. This was not a good match but for whatever reason the coaches would not break the two up. We've seen that not just anyone can be paired with Klein since Hammer left. Unfortunately when you have Weber and Suter playing ahead of you and Klein is your partner, Hammer found himself being the scape goat a lot. No doubt that Hammer is a top 4 defenseman on any team in the league and a top 2 on most.
- Mainert

The prominent memory I have of Hammer in Nashville is when Hossa laid him out into the boards in the first round and (In my opinion) should have been kicked out of the game, only to come back and score the winner...

Interesting visualization (and interpretation) of momentum swings which are more felt than seen on a chart. (It would seem difficult to come up with concrete stats/facts to create such a graph but I think they did a pretty good job.)

Are those graphs available for all NHL games?
- blueline

Thought it was kinda cool. Actual never seen it before until this recent update. Definitely something you can only feel than see on some chart, but still interesting to see someones take on it in some graph.

I don't think it's available for all games, or at least have never seen it at all.

Don't talk too much crap about us or we'll stop sending the JD your way. We make that down here, ya know.
- sbrambo

I apologize on behalf of all of Canada.

Hamhuis's last season in Nashville, he was paired with Kevin Klein. This was not a good match but for whatever reason the coaches would not break the two up. We've seen that not just anyone can be paired with Klein since Hammer left. Unfortunately when you have Weber and Suter playing ahead of you and Klein is your partner, Hammer found himself being the scape goat a lot. No doubt that Hammer is a top 4 defenseman on any team in the league and a top 2 on most.
- Mainert

You're letting Hamhuis off easy. He was good for at least four own goals a season. He was also constantly out of position. That was not Klein's fault and Klein played well that season with Bouillon. For all we know, being paired with Hamhuis probably hurt Klein more than it helped him.

Hamhuis was also paired with de Vries. That was another crappy pairing. He was NOT the player in Nashville that he's apparently becoming in Vancouver.

You're letting Hamhuis off easy. He was good for at least four own goals a season. He was also constantly out of position. That was not Klein's fault and Klein played well that season with Bouillon. For all we know, being paired with Hamhuis probably hurt Klein more than it helped him.

Hamhuis was also paired with de Vries. That was another crappy pairing. He was NOT the player in Nashville that he's apparently becoming in Vancouver.
- Predaceous

OMG THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!

You guys need to go over to Jaeckel's blog the Hawks are falling apart!!!!

OMG THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!

You guys need to go over to Jaeckel's blog the Hawks are falling apart!!!!
- im4preds

I can't think of a fanbase that wouldn't be the exact same way after a 7 game losing streak. Well, a fanbase that doesn't expect to lose that is.

I don't see how any hockey fan (even a Preds fan like I am) could watch those two games and think that Rinne clearly outplayed either Halak or Luongo. The Predators out-worked, out-shot & out-chanced both teams. And both of those goalies played like bricks. Not that Rinne didn't play well. He had some highlight reel saves in the St. Louis game. Maybe that was a toss up. But he didn't single-handedly keep the Preds in the game last night. Luongo did that for the Canucks in the second period. They were clearly beaten 3-4 times, and he stopped shots that should've been goals.

Rinne played well, but come on. Try to be somewhat objective & take off the homer glasses. I love Pekka. He's one of the top goalies in the league. But he does get outplayed sometimes. Sheesh.
- holycow_75

Yeah - anyone that knows anything about my posts...the first thing they will say is that Im a homer.

Props on the Hamhuis comment. Watched the highlights only, as am in Africa, but noticed the mental crowd. Great to see. Van quickly becoming a conference rival??

Props on the Hamhuis comment. Watched the highlights only, as am in Africa, but noticed the mental crowd. Great to see. Van quickly becoming a conference rival??
- ownhalfgoal

I think so. Plus, both cities make for good travel destinations. (Well, not for Scooby_Doo. No WWE.)

Yeah - anyone that knows anything about my posts...the first thing they will say is that Im a homer.
- buelleo

Truth!



edit: but ok too.

- I have to say it... I wonder what Dan Hamhuis thought of the Tuesday night crowd in Nashville?

I thought the same thing last night....
- buelleo

Uh... reported attendance was 16,232. The arena holds 17,113. That's not a bad crowd by any stretch, but he now plays in front of 18,890 every time at home, no exceptions. Not quite there yet, guys.

Certainly bigger than a press conference though.

Uh... reported attendance was 16,232. The arena holds 17,113. That's not a bad crowd by any stretch, but he now plays in front of 18,890 every time at home, no exceptions. Not quite there yet, guys.

Certainly bigger than a press conference though.
- micah555

1970 vs 1998 - were OK

Uh... reported attendance was 16,232. The arena holds 17,113. That's not a bad crowd by any stretch, but he now plays in front of 18,890 every time at home, no exceptions. Not quite there yet, guys.

Certainly bigger than a press conference though.
- micah555

Yeah, I mean I don't know when we will get to the point of being able to sell out every game. It may take a few more Fortune 500 companies moving to the area. We're making progress though.

As much as I don't want to play you guys in the playoffs, it would be exciting. We'll see how it unfolds.

1970 vs 1998 - were OK
- buelleo

It's not a linear path. But I'm very happy for you guys that the team is playing well and the building is getting more full. An NHL with full buildings is a better league than the one with no fans and lots of dire financial reports.

The prominent memory I have of Hammer in Nashville is when Hossa laid him out into the boards in the first round and (In my opinion) should have been kicked out of the game, only to come back and score the winner...
- Mattjd123

Oh gee! Thanks for picking that scab

- I have to say it... I wonder what Dan Hamhuis thought of the Tuesday night crowd in Nashville?

I thought the same thing last night....
- buelleo

He probably wondered why were still short of a sellout...