Before I get started, I want to send out thoughts and prayers for legendary Kings broadcaster Bob Miller who will be undergoing heart bypass surgery. Bob is an incredibly kind a generous soul that has been a great friend to SlapShot Radio and we wish him a speedy recovery.
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OK, as excited as I am for All-Star Weekend in Smashville, I will say it… Now we get a break??? This team finally gets it turned around… and now we get a five day break? The Nashville Predators head into that break with a tailwind after posting their fourth consecutive win last night, completing a Canadian sweep, hanging on for a 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames. A game that featured a tired team on the back end of a back-to-back and a little controversy.
The Predators did show that fatigue, taking some careless penalties in the first period that could’ve really bit them, but a solid PK and great play from Carter Hutton between the pipes certainly helped blunt the impact of those power play opportunities. And speaking of Hutton, you can’t say enough about how he has grown into the backup role… learning how to come in every 5 or 6 games and perform like he has is a mental skill that Hutton seems to have grasped and implemented well. The kind of play that he has exhibited does give the coaching staff some confidence in being able to rest Pekka Rinne every couple of games as the playoff chase heats up.
The goaltending ship seems righted as Predator netminders only allowed 4 goals on the roadie, stopping 103 out of 107 shots for a .963 save percentage between them… not bad at all… and needed for the Predators as the stretch run commences post-break.
Heading into the break, the Predators seem to have found their resiliency and find themselves back in playoff position after a brief stint on the outside looking in. The schedule, at least location-wise, breaks in their favor as 18 of the final 32 games of the season are within the friendly confines of Bridgestone Arena, but the first four back will not be easy as the Preds welcome St. Louis, Philadelphia, San Jose and Washington to Smashville following the break…
Here are the highlights… courtesy nhl.com…
Oh… I did mention a controversy… check this out, in case you missed it…
#GottaSeeIt: Flames' Dennis Wideman runs over the ref after taking a scary hit. https://t.co/Mdi6DVzz6w pic.twitter.com/78WdDbaFHh
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 28, 2016The NHL Rule Book states the following
40.2 Automatic Suspension – Category I – Any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an official shall be automatically suspended for not less than twenty (20) games. (For the purpose of the rule, “intent to injure… shall mean any physical force which a player knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.)40.3 Automatic Suspension – Category II – Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category I), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, or who spits on an official, shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.
Not much wiggle room there.
I am not going to join the torches and pitchfork crowd that is calling for Wideman to be drawn and quartered, but I am also not going to explain it away as “gee, there was an apology… and that’s just hockey.…
Wideman was upset after the no call on a hit in the corner, he did appear to be shaking off the cobwebs, he also may not have known that it was an official he was hitting… I will grant that… but it cannot be described as an inadvertent hit. Wideman extended his arms and cross-checked. You can even perceive the look on his face as he sat on the bench as an “awwww s#!t… moment. I’m sorry, but I am having a hard time swallowing the whole “it was completely unintentional… story. Just as you are responsible for your stick, an apology doesn’t wipe away a 4 minute high sticking call, you are responsible for your body.
I appreciate the apology and the sentiment that “he’s not that kind of player… … but the rule book is fairly clear here. This is not a question of if Wideman should be suspended, but a question of how long as this is one of those lines that cannot be crossed… Flames fans should not expect to see Wideman play until February 23rd and should hope that absence isn’t until March 14th.
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Here’s the podcast from last night’s SlapShot Radio featuring Greg Wyshynski and Mark Spector…
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Random Notes
- “Where They Stand… - Entering the All-Star Break, the Nashville Predators 5th in the Central Division 1 points ahead of Minnesota (-1 games in hand) and one point behind Colorado (2 games in hand,) they trail St. Louis by 8 points (2 GIH) Dallas by 11 points and Chicago by 14 points (3 GIH.) The Predators are also currently in the second wild card slot and one point behind the first wild card spot currently occupied by the Avalanche.
- With last night’s win, the Predators finished January 6-5-1… yes, that means before this win streak they were 2-5-1 to start the month… nice turnaround.
- Shea Weber’s game winner was a screamer of a slap shot that Flames goaltender Kari Ramo is still looking for.
- Speaking of Weber, more collateral damage as Eric Nystrom took a Weber shot off his foot in Tuesday’s win over Vancouver and played the entire third period on a broken foot. Toughness, thy name is hockey player. Nystrom was scratched for last night’s Calgary game.
- News breaking late last night that Alex Ovechkin will miss the All-Star Game with a lower-body injury.
- Hmmmm… ya think Sidney Crosby will be the Great 8’s replacement for the Metropolitan team?
- Colorado is doing the bull dance and feeling the flow as they came back to beat LA last night.
- The NHL is in the All-Star Break – No games until Tuesday 2/2
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