Before we get started, mark your calendars. SlapShot Radio is back for our playoff run on Wednesday night April 16th. We will be broadcasting live from Tavern 96 at Bridgestone Arena, so make your plans to come on out, watch the opening night of the NHL Playoffs and listen in as Pete Weber and I bring you the best hockey talk in the south.
It’s a Left Coast game night as the Predators make their last trip to California for the season to take on Anaheim tonight and San Jose tomorrow. The Ducks have taken five straight from Nashville over the past two seasons and it has been almost three seasons since the Predators have won in Anaheim.
Only modest goals left for Nashville with six games remaining in the season… finish over .500, solidify Shea Weber’s place as the obvious choice for the Norris and see what some of these kids can do in the bigs. We will focus on a couple of these players that have seen time in Nashville
Colton Sissons – The 2012 2nd round draft pick (50th overall) has been up for 16 games now and seems to have made the speed adjustments necessary for a player making the jump from juniors to the AHL to the NHL in the span of 12 months. That has shown by his increased ice time over the past five games. Good speed, solid ice sense and he does seem to have some headroom, given that he still has the lead in goal scoring in Milwaukee. Sissons has made a case to be penciled in as a roster player come September camp.
Calle Jarnkrok – A bit of a revelation, in his first 6 games with the big club he is showing why Detroit was so reticent to part with him… and I can see why Red Wing fans were so aggravated with the deal. Jarnkrok has fit seamlessly into the Nashville system, not afraid to backcheck, will go to the hard areas and actually shows some finish. The 22 year old Swede certainly appears to be ready for prime time, but caution abounds in Pred Nation as the one thing that hasn’t been seen yet in only six games is consistent performance over a season, but hope springs… and Pred fans can dream…
Filip Forsberg – Twelve games at the start of the season and a single game callup in Chicago has Pred fans scratching their heads a bit with the 11th overall pick in the 2012 draft. One word to those folks… STOP! Expectations have been huge for this 19 year old, both in Washington and in Nashville. This player needs more time to develop his professional game. Remember the days when players had to develop and season in the minors for a year or two? Yeah… this. Forsberg will be a player in this league, he needs to put a little more meat on his frame and get used to p[laying against men. That will come. Let’s not rush this young Swede, I know that offense is a crying need, but let’s think a little more long term with this player.
Anaheim is tuning up for the playoffs and trying to solidify their seed, game time is 9pm central with coverage on Fox Sports South and 102.5 the Game.
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Random Notes
- Tonight is the first of a back-to-back, post-game, the Preds travel to San Jose for tomorrow’s 9:30pm game.
- Craig MacDonald has been named the director at the Ford Ice Center, currently under construction in Antioch. The new ice surfaces will bring the total sheets in middle Tennessee up to six.
- Tonight is the last time Nashville will face Teemu Selanne as the 43 year old is retiring after this season.
- The Predators “Tragic Number… is down to 2. Winnipeg was eliminated last night. A loss in regulation tonight mathematically eliminates the Preds from playoff contention.
- The old Central is making some noise in the east as both Detroit and Columbus are in Wild Card position as of this morning. They look pretty solid to remain there as Toronto is folding (despite last night’s OT win)and Washington is struggling.
- Mark your calendar for Saturday May 3rd for Petey’s 5K Face-Off, the annual run/walk to support the Peterson for Parkinsons Foundation. It was a blast to do it last year so make sure to join the SlapShot Radio team for this fun event. More information is available at the PFP Website.
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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
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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 return for our playoff run on Wednesday April 16th and we are live from Tavern 96 at Bridgestone Arena.
Don’t forget to visit our season’s advertisers… The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills, 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 cover the playoffs 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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