Before I get to last night or more accurately, last night and this morning… I would like to remind everyone about the BeardAThon to raise money for the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund. If you are so inclined, please kick a few bucks in, here's the link. Thanks! If you donate using that link before puck drop tomorrow night, you will be entered into a drawing to win a Roman Josi signed stick. Also… don’t forget about SlapShot Radio tonight, we are on 94.9 Game 2 tonight in Nashville and the SlapShot Radio Network in Alabama and Kentucky. We get it started at 7pm CDT.
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So, the sun came up in Music City today. I know at about 1:15am a lot of Pred Nation wondered if that would occur. There’s a lot of people going to be late for work this morning so, if there is a Predator fan in your office, be a little kinder… they are probably running off very little sleep and trying to shake off the effects of a triple overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center earlier this morning. Trying to shake off the fact that Chicago, in two of their three wins (games 2 & 4) hasn’t even held the damn lead during play.
That is frustrating.
The loss of two leaders of this team, two of the players with the most playoff experience, two players counted on to eat minutes, run the power play, be physical. Not to mention the impact of the shuffling that has to happen to accommodate…
That is frustrating.
But none of that can be a frustrating as what is going on inside the room. This Preds team is incredibly frustrated at being down 3-1 in a series that they could and some would argue, should be leading by the exact same count.
But none of that matters. The Nashville Predators need to win the next three games in order to keep a season that started with such promise alive. The good news? Two of them are at home, that is a positive. Pekka Rinne was excellent last night, that is a positive. Pred Nation will be out in its full throated fury, that is a positive. This series ain’t over and Pred Nation is taking up the battle cry of “LA did it last year……
Game five is tomorrow night at Bridgestone Arena, the team has delayed its return for a few hours and are scheduled to arrive at Signature Air (801 Hangar Lane) at around 3:15pm, depending of course on air traffic out of Chicago. 102.5 the Game is organizing a welcome back rally for the team, feel free to jump out to the airport and join ‘em… listen in for details.
So, for now, the job ahead of this team can be described by an old joke… Q: How do you eat an elephant? A: One bite at a time.
Down 3-1 … It is now “eat the elephant… time for the Nashville Predators. First bite is tomorrow night in Smashville
Here’s the highlights from nhl.com
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Random Notes
- Colin Wilson continued his hot play, scoring his fourth of the playoffs last night. Each of his goals in this series have been “go-ahead… goals.
- Why did that game go Triple OT? Two words… Pekka Rinne.
- Nice to see James Neal hit the scoresheet, the Hawks have done an excellent job in bottling him and Filip Forsberg up.
- Kevin Fiala didn’t get a lot of ice time last night, but did gain some very valuable experience. I am very excited about the offensive prospects of this team going forward with Forsberg, Fiala, Steve Moses and Jimmy Vesey.
- One more time… the NHL blows it when it comes to discipline… Dustin Byfuglien should have gotten at least a game for his sucker punch Monday night. If he would’ve gotten a game misconduct from the officials on the ice, I’d be thinking differently, but a minor for that… nope.
- Speaking of discipline… don’t get me started on the complete dumpster fire that the DOPS is exhibiting while mishandling the Calgary/Vancouver series.
- To the Chicago fans I so offended by using the term “out of nowhere… to describe Scott Darling, a couple of questions, who was your backup goaltender to start the season? And where was Scott Darling to start the season? Darling HAS had an excellent stretch, but it can be accurately described as “out of nowhere.… Sheesh, quit looking to be offended, you guys have been here before, act like it.
- Glad to see Alex Burrows out of the hospital… I may not like the way the guys plays, but I wish him no ill. He was diagnosed with a broken rib.
- Wow… Islander fans are taking it on the chin over the past few games for the behavior of just a few, but dumping a beer on a player... c'mon LI, go out with some class.
- First it’s Rob Rossi complaining about the mean man in Pittsburgh who took umbrage with his work… now the Hockey News is whining that Dustin Byfuglien wasn’t nice to them? Oh grow the $#@%! up. I’m getting tired of media whining about their job… just shut up and cover the games.
- The irony of all the THN whining… most of the complaints they have ummm... kinda describe the writer doing the complaining.
- Two potential series enders tonight… and two tomorrow.
- Interesting move by the Buffalo Sabres, according to Bob McKenzie, they are looking to sign Jack Eichel’s college linemate, nice.
Four games tonight with national coverage options… - Montreal @ Ottawa – MTL leads 3-0 – 6pm CDT faceoff – CBC, USA Network - New York Rangers @ Pittsburgh – NYR leads 2-1 – 6pm CDT faceoff – NBCSN, SN360 - St. Louis @ Minnesota – MIN leads 2-1 – 8:30pm CDT faceoff – NBCSN, SN360 - Anaheim @ Winnipeg – ANA leads 3-0 – 8:30pm CDT faceoff – USA Network, SN
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SlapShot Radio is back with comprehensive playoff coverage all the way to the presentation of the Cup. Tonight we are on 94.9 Game2 in Nashville and the SlapShot Radio Network. Our guests include Jeff Marek from Hockey Night in Canada, Butch Goring from the New York Islanders and Derek Wills from the Calgary Flames.
Our premier, day one sponsor is Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at 615-872-7762.
We’ve got room for your business to be part of the SlapShot Radio family with effective and affordable playoff advertising packages for every budget. Be part of the excitement of Nashville hockey… Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base via email at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
Radio station owners/programmers, join the SlapShot Radio Network, the perfect companion to hockey play-by-play… it helps to not only entertain, but deepen your listeners knowledge and enhances their enjoyment of the game… contact me using the email above to carry SlapShot Radio on your station, we are satellite delivered every week via SkyView on the SlapShot Radio Network. Each show contains two full breaks for your usage.
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