We had a little fun last night on The Eric Nystrom Show as SlapShot Radio announced the “SlapShot Radio Cook Off… that will take place on Monday March 23rd from 6 – 8pm at The Chef and I in Lenox Village. It’s a little bit Chopped, a little bit Iron Chef, a little bit Cutthroat Kitchen and should be a whole lotta fun as Nystrom and I go head to head in a cooking competition. There will be celebrity judges, a great meal and a great time to be had. More details including how to get your tickets will be released in the next few days. Circle March 23rd on your calendar and be there! The event will benefit the Nashville Predators Foundation.
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After three early season games and a three month break, the Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators renew acquaintances tonight and there will be a lot of eyes on those Jets to see if the blockbuster trade made yesterday pays any immediate dividends. Sending Zach Bogosian and the injured Evander Kane to Buffalo for Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford shook the league yesterday and was the first domino falling in the run up to the trade deadline.
It will be a different looking Jets team as Dustin Byfuglien moves back to the blueline, new D pairings will be unveiled as head coach Paul Maurice integrates both Byfuglien and Myers into the rotation. The Jets are in the thick of the Western Conference Wild Card race and are looking to build on their five point lead for the top WC spot.
Nashville, on the other hand, is looking to continue the domination they have shown on home ice. Owners of a three game overall win streak, the Predators are 22-3-1 at Bridgestone Arena. The Preds are still listing Colin Wilson and Mattias Ekholm as day-to-day and Colin Wilson will probably be a game time decision. Full marks to Anthony Bitetto who played well Tuesday night in his first home NHL game. I was impressed by Viktor Stalberg’s play as well, so the reinforcements seem to be handling things well while Wilson and Ekholm recover.
In net for Nashville… Pekka Rinne. For Winnipeg, it’s not so clear. Onrej Pavelec is the presumed number one for the Jets, but Michael Hutchinson has been the go-to guy as of late. We’ll get a better idea on this at day of game skate.
Game time is 7pm… this is the last game of the season where there is no TV. Coverage on 102.5 the Game begins with pregame at 6:30, the Predators Radio Network joins at 7pm for faceoff. Limited tickets remain for this Central Division matchup.
Here is your preview, courtesy of nhl.com…
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I’d like you to know about the Peterson for Parkinson’s fundraiser happening on February 16th at the Franklin Theatre. It’s called “Songwriters and Storytellers… and will feature performances from some of Nashville’s premier songwriters. Writers of hits for artists like Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean… just to name a few. For more information, including how to purchase tickets Click here. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm… it should be an awesome show for a great cause.
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Random Notes
- Standings update after play on 2/11 – No substantive changes in the race for the President’s Trophy, the Predators continue to lead the Ducks by three points, Tampa Bay and St. Louis by four. The Preds have a four point lead in the division over the Blues and an eight point lead over the Blackhawks, the Preds and Blues have a game in hand over Chicago. The Predators also have a game in hand over Anaheim and two games in hand over Tampa Bay.
- The Western Wild Card still has Winnipeg (Games played – 56) in the first Wild Card and now has Calgary (54) in the second. San Jose (56) is second in the Pacific with a one point lead over Vancouver (53). Minnesota (53) trails the final playoff spot by four points. Los Angeles (53) and Dallas (54) trail the final playoff spot by five points and Colorado (54) trails by eight.
- The Predators are at or near the top in most NHL Power Rankings.
- Pekka Rinne is 6-0-0 against the Jets, posting a 1.83 GAA.
- So, now some members of the Toronto media are turning on Peter Horachek. After screaming for blood until Randy Carlyle was fired… now the entire problem is Horachek. Culture change takes time, and Horachek seems to be pulling the right strings, even though the results don’t seem to be showing it… but herein lies the problem in Toronto. There is never any time nor leeway given to effect change.
- The best example is David Clarkson. Clarkson can be a good player, not the level at which he is being paid, but good. He has been terrible this year… benching him was the right thing… he hasn’t been producing and it is the coach’s job to address that… now the question becomes, Is Clarkson getting the message?
- The NHL is scheduled to make #FancyStats guys really happy when they roll out a new advanced stats package on NHL.com on February 20th.
- Hmmmm… I kept hearing that an eight game homestand would be just the ticket to cure Chicago’s woes. Two games in… 0-0-2.
- Buffalo made some very smart moves yesterday. Acquiring talent with an eye on next season, without really impacting their chances in the McDavid/Eichel sweepstakes. Very smart.
- The two teams in the Central made moves yesterday to shore up weaknesses. Dallas desperately needed goaltending and they got it with Jonas Enroth. They still need help on the blueline, but this move should help the Stars in their battle for the last playoff spot.
- Winnipeg’s move was more to get rid of a distraction… mission accomplished there.
- Evander Kane can’t seem to win… even when he is gracious on Twitter and Instagram, thanking his teammates and the Jets, I still heard him criticized on NHL Network Radio because it “wasn’t a full page ad in the Free Press.… C’mon… cut the kid a break and give him a chance to grow up.
- Nine games in the NHL tonight – Maple Leafs @ Islanders, Ducks @ Hurricanes, Oilers @ Canadiens, Penguins @ Senators, Blues @ Lightning, Jets @ Predators, Panthers @ Wild, Rangers @ Avalanche, Flames @ Kings.
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! 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.
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SlapShot Radio will be back Wednesday night at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network… Our premier, day one sponsor is Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at 615-872-7762. Also The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills and Burger Republic are back in the fold!
We’ve got room for your business to be part of the SlapShot Radio family with effective and affordable 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… 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.
Our podcasts are posted… Click here to download or listen to any of this season’s podcasts.
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