UPDATE – 4pm ct – The Nashville Predators seemed to have started the dominos falling as they acquired goaltender Devan Dubnyk from the Edmonton Oilers for forward Matt Hendricks. My first reaction was being slightly stunned. While Dubnyk does have significantly more NHL experience than either of the current roster goaltenders, is he really an upgrade?
The answer may be yes.
Devan Dubnyk has had NHL level responsibilities with an AHL level defense. Edmonton’s blueline has been awful and Dubnyk could’ve sued them for non-support. That being said, Dubnyk has not played well this season and may do well with a new start.
Matt Hendricks and the three and a half years left on his contract end up with the Oilers, adding much needed grit to Edmonton’s lineup. The subsequent pickup of Ben Scrivens from LA fills the Dubnyk hole for the Oil.
Should be an interesting couple of days as the pieces begin to move.
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From earlier…
Starting off, SlapShot Radio is back tonight at 7 central on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network with an excellent show featuring USA Today’s Kevin Allen, ESPN.com’s Craig Custance and Philadelphia Flyers broadcaster Steve Coates.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT! – Welcoming a new sponsor to the SlapShot Radio family tonight… go check out The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills for your adult beverage needs. This is no run of the mill spirit shop, they handle spirits, wines and high gravity beers that you can’t find anywhere else. Everything in the store is quality, from the knowledgeable staff to great selection of quality product. Besides… they are also huge hockey fans! Please go by to The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills they are located at 2109 Abbott Martin Road. Call ‘em at 297-5220 and don’t forget to let them know that you appreciate their support of hockey coverage in Middle Tennessee… besides… today is Wine Wednesday, 10% off all wine in the store! Let’s face it… bigger isn’t better, BETTER is better… The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills
Now that business is taken care of… on to last night’s game. Coming into their fifth game in eight days, the Nashville Predators needed a win, check that… desperately needed a win to salvage a .500 record on their homestand. The fact that they got a 4-2 victory over a struggling Calgary team was very good news to Pred Nation. The fact that Nashville game out firing and kept firing, pouring shot after shot on Flames goaltender Karri Ramo was even better news for frustrated fans of the fang.
The scoring got started on a howitzer from Shea Weber that Ramo is still looking for, give Calgary credit for responding well to the power play goal, scoring the equalizer 1:04 before the first period ended, sending the teams to the room tied at one. Nashville continued to pressure Ramo in second, as both goaltenders kept the score knotted through the period. Carter Hutton turning in a solid performance after being publically called out by Predators head coach Barry Trotz after a less than stellar effort against Carolina ten days prior.
A sense of unease was settling over Smashville as the third period started. Pred Nation has seen this movie before, dominating a game everywhere but the scoreboard only to see the puck bounce the wrong way and another loss. Those visions were shattered just :55 seconds into the third period as Ryan Ellis blasted a slap shot past Ramo putting the Predators up 2-1. Two minutes later, Craig Smith got his 14th of the season on the power play, the Viktor Stalberg delivered Frostys to a happy bunch of Pred fans, effectively icing the game.
Here’s the highlights…
The Predators practice this morning before heading up to Philly for tomorrow’s game against the red-hot Philadelphia Flyers. Game time is 6pm central.
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Random Notes
- Last night’s win, combined with Minnesota’s loss has the Predators eight back of the Wild for the final wild card spot in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.
- The blueline is heating up at the right time. The offense for this team fires off the defense…
- Talk of the trade deadline is beginning to ramp up. The deadline is March 5th, but the Olympic Break does cause a trade freeze to be in effect for a little over two weeks from February 7 through the 24th.
- Three games tonight – 6:30pm starts – Sabres @ Maple Leafs. 7pm starts – Capitals @ Penguins. 9:30pm start – Canucks @ Ducks.
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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, Join Pete Weber and I as we chat with hockey’s best, every Wednesday night at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network. We are very excited about our Winter Premier episode, featuring a star-studded lineup… USA Today’s Kevin Allen, ESPN.com’s Craig Custance and the Host of Coatsey’s Corner on CSN, Flyer’s analyst Steve Coates. Pete will be joining us from the City of Brotherly Love.
We are proud to announce the latest member of the SlapShot Radio sponsorship family, The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills… a great place to get your adult beverages and the owners are HUGE Pred fans.
SlapShot Radio is also brought to you by Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (615-872-7762), Nolensville Collision Repair Center and Burger Republic, check their excellent menu out at their website, Defend Quality… Burger Republic.
Want to be part of the SlapShot Radio family?
Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base, we have special deals available as we head toward the holidays with the best hockey talk in the mid-South. Contact me at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
Radio station owners/programmers, contact us to carry SlapShot Radio on your station, we are satellite delivered every week via SkyView on the SlapShot Radio Network.
Our podcasts are posted… Click here to download or listen to any of this season’s podcasts.
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