Paul McCann: Game Night In Smashville - Hey, Barry's Back!

Paul McCann: Game Night In Smashville - Hey, Barry's Back!
- pmccann

Be interesting to see how important Rinne was/is...

I think you guys will just keep rolling along.

I'm not worried a bit.

I'm not worried a bit.
- Scottrod83

I NEED A DRINK OF WHAT YOU ARE DRINKING.

I NEED A DRINK OF WHAT YOU ARE DRINKING.
- predswilrule

If he misses 3 weeks will be roughly 10 games. Looking at those games and who we play my guess would be somewhere around 2-6-2 if we are lucky.

If he misses 3 weeks will be roughly 10 games. Looking at those games and who we play my guess would be somewhere around 2-6-2 if we are lucky.
- jl639s

In those 10 games, we play the top of the east (WAS, DET, MTL, PIT, NYR), top of the West (STL, ANA) and 2 bubble teams (COL, TOR). All we're missing to get the top 8 teams in the league (since we've already played our quota of bleckhawks games) is the Islanders, and who would have thought I'd ever be saying that in a Predators thread....I'm not as pessimistic, but 3-5-2 wouldn't be unexpected and would likely drop us to 3rd in the central....cuz Central.

In those 10 games, we play the top of the east (WAS, DET, MTL, PIT, NYR), top of the West (STL, ANA) and 2 bubble teams (COL, TOR). All we're missing to get the top 8 teams in the league (since we've already played our quota of bleckhawks games) is the Islanders, and who would have thought I'd ever be saying that in a Predators thread....I'm not as pessimistic, but 3-5-2 wouldn't be unexpected and would likely drop us to 3rd in the central....cuz Central.
- HockeyHop

Yeah I took into consideration that Col is actually playing pretty well right now. Its a tough test for sure but I am going to keep my hopes low and then if I get surprised it will be a good thing.

I don't think Hutton has had a win all year if I'm not mistaken... Hopefully Nashville can give him some good support. I have a feeling Hutton is going to step up big time while pekka is out. Can't wait to find out. Preds have easily been my fave to watch this season. I had a feeling they'd be good this year, and every hockey writer/ blogger I corresponded with over the summer basically said they'd be the bottom feeders of the central division. Glad I was right, and they were wrong maybe I should be a hockey writer.....

If he misses 3 weeks will be roughly 10 games. Looking at those games and who we play my guess would be somewhere around 2-6-2 if we are lucky.
- jl639s

Debbie Downer..

Pekka is a great goalie by any measure, but Hutton is no slouch. He's only started 5 games this year and yes, they were all loses, but they were spaced so far apart that he hasn't gotten a chance to get into any kind of groove! We need him to play more games anyway. Pekka can't be expected to carry the load through the regular season and the playoffs! Just my opinion; what do I know....

I don't think Hutton has had a win all year if I'm not mistaken... Hopefully Nashville can give him some good support. I have a feeling Hutton is going to step up big time while pekka is out. Can't wait to find out. Preds have easily been my fave to watch this season. I had a feeling they'd be good this year, and every hockey writer/ blogger I corresponded with over the summer basically said they'd be the bottom feeders of the central division. Glad I was right, and they were wrong maybe I should be a hockey writer.....
- benjichronic

There were so many variables in play at the start of the season. There was no telling how they were all going to fit together:

1. Is Rinne REALLY 100%?
2. Is James Neal really going to be the answer for more goal scoring?
3. Will Mike Ribiero be worth a darn at all?
4. Will Forsberg develop into an NHL ready forward?
5. Can Wilson step up his game with the new coach?
6. Can Stalberg put last year behind him?
7. Can the coach really turn it all around in one year?

With so many questions, it's easy to believe not all of them are going to come true. However, no one predicted Rinne would play to this level. No one predicted Forsberg would be an all-star. No one said Ribiero is going to be a quality top line center. People had given up on Wilson. It was mentioned that Laviolette can turn teams around quickly, but no one was betting on it.

Of course we're all very pleased that at least five of those big questions were answered positively.

Debbie Downer..

Pekka is a great goalie by any measure, but Hutton is no slouch. He's only started 5 games this year and yes, they were all loses, but they were spaced so far apart that he hasn't gotten a chance to get into any kind of groove! We need him to play more games anyway. Pekka can't be expected to carry the load through the regular season and the playoffs! Just my opinion; what do I know....
- Scottrod83

If the Preds aren't in full search for a back-up goaltender then they have their heads in the sand.