On Saturday nights at Bridgestone Arena, SlapShot Radio’s photographer captures the color and the action from Smashville, so here are your Sunday Shots… this week includes pictures from the main game and the Wings/Preds alumni game as well…
 |
| From Predators vs Red Wings |
It was an odd reversal last night at Bridgestone Arena. In a game that looked like something out of 1999, the Detroit Red Wings came to town, finishing a long road trip and came away with a hard fought 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Pred Nation saw that often enough in the early years of this franchise, the reversal was the kind of game coming from the Wings… clutching, grabbing, obstruction… the same type of game that the Minnesota Wild played on Thursday night. The type of game the Nashville Predators had to play early on in their existence to compete in the NHL.
The result for Nashville… two consecutive home losses in regulation for the first time this season, and a fairly frustrated Predators team that heads back up to New York today. Are we really going back here NHL? After working so hard to speed the game up?
It appears that Pred Nation will have to deal with something important to a team with expectations of a deep run in the playoff, something good teams need to figure out. Fighting through adversity. The team has already successfully dealt with the first one, an injury to a key player… Now a late season slump… a bad patch… a run of play where the bounces and the calls aren’t going your way. Anaheim’s dealing with one… Chicago’s dealing with one as is St. Louis. Now… it looks like it is Nashville’s turn.
It usually happens during the dog days of the season, the time where you want to hurry up and get to the playoffs without major injuries or exhaustion. Overcoming the adversity of these bumps in the playoff road is a critical skill for a team, as they can expect to see one during the second season, especially if they want to go deep into May and potentially June.
This is important, more than important... it is critical, as playoff hockey is a different animal.
The Predators effort in the last two games really can’t be faulted, their energy and skating were both there, they continued to shoot the puck, they continued to play hard. If anything, the thing that cost the last two games was the bounces, and frustration. This year’s Predators have shown a cool calm ability to maintain their composure… something that hasn’t been evident in the last two contests. Obvious frustration penalties due to a great game plan from Minnesota and last night’s frustration with some of the rather… shall we say… interesting calls from the guys in stripes and a few retaliatory actions that drew the rain.
The Nashville Predators needs to spend the next week or two countering the obvious book that has been written on beating this team. It seems to be the 4 F's... forecheck, forecheck, forecheck and frustrate… it was successful over the last two games, even as Nashville mounted an outstanding comeback after falling behind 0-2 last night.
Fear not Pred Nation… This team will work through this… they have the experience, skill and leadership in the right places and every team that makes a run has to go through it. The next game is tomorrow at MSG against the Rangers in the first post trade deadline game of the season.
Here are your highlights courtesy of nhl.com…
-----------------------------------
I am really disappointed in Dave Hodge’s take on the salary cap in the NHL on his current Sportsnet column. Do I believe it’s perfect, no… but the reason that there are still disparities between top and bottom teams have nothing to do with the cap, and everything to do with how the top and bottom teams are managed.
-----------------------------------
Tickets are now on sale for the SlapShot Radio Cook Off. Predators forward Eric Nystrom and I will be battling it out at The Chef and I in Lenox Village on Monday night, March 23rd. If you have never been to The Chef and I, it is an “open kitchen… restaurant that allows you to watch the chef create your dinner! An incredible, accessible and unique experience. Eric and I will be taking over the show kitchen to compete in an “Iron Chef… like battle to win the Cup!
Measuring Cup that is…
It’s all to raise money for the Nashville Predators Foundation and should be a lot of fun! Tickets are on sale at our EventBrite site all tickets include a three course gourmet meal prepared by Chef Chris Rains. There is VIP Seating available that includes a ring side seat for all the action!
Please join us for all the fun, for a great cause! And by the way… you might want to check out The Chef and I’s website… they handle catering, conduct fun cooking classes and run a fantastic restaurant. Chris and Erica Rains are amazing people!
-----------------------------------
Random Notes
- Standings update after play on 2/28 – Nashville’s lead over Montreal in the President’s Trophy race is now down to two points and four points over Anaheim. The Canadiens have a game in hand over the Ducks and Preds. Nashville’s lead in the Western Conference is four points over the Ducks, their lead in the Central stands at 5 points over St. Louis and 10 over Chicago. The Blues have a game in hand over Nashville and Chicago.
- The Western Wild Card – Winnipeg (63 games played) remains in the first wild card slot with 74 points. The second slot is currently owned by the Minnesota Wild (62) with 73 points. The Calgary Flames (62) trail by three with 70 points. San Jose (63) has 68 points.
- Very nice to see Lord Stanley’s mug in town… I extended a personal invitation for a late spring return trip… let’s hope he heard me.
- Man… I’d like to see a Preds / Red Wings series this season… it would be an absolute war considering how chippy last night’s game got.
- With the trade deadline only a day away, the prices for middling talent is going through the roof. In a desperation move, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Antoine Vermette for their 2015 1st round pick AND a prospect. Vermette’s a good player, but scarcity is driving price to insane levels.
- Some reports had Boston balking at the price for Vermette… not hard to disagree with.
- The rumors coming out of the Chicago locker room are very disquieting. I really hope they are not true.
- Annnnnd here comes the criticism of the San Jose Sharks… well deserved criticism as they slip slowly down the standings and out of the playoff race.
- Watch out for the Ottawa Senators as they sneak up on the Eastern Conference pack… they just finished a California sweep, beating a slumping Ducks team, snapping LA’s win streak and taking out the Sharks on a third period 3 goal comeback. Taking a sweep like that is tough.
- Six games in the NHL today – Kings @ Jets, Lightning @ Panthers, Blue Jackets @ Penguins, Maple Leafs @ Capitals, Ducks @ Stars, Blues @ Canucks.
--------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------
SlapShot Radio is back every Wednesday at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network… latest podcast is posted below. We will be welcoming popular You Tube personality and Sportsnet broadcaster Steve “Dangle… Glynn. More to come for this week’s show…
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!
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… and here is our latest podcast…
-------------------------------------
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Predators Buzz, a one-stop feed for all things Predators-related on HockeyBuzz. Your subscription includes a free 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month thereafter. For more information, click here.