SlapShot Radio’s photographer was busy during last night’s game at Bridgestone Arena for our regular Sunday feature… here are your Sunday Shots…
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| From Preds vs Blues Alumni Game |
If ever there was a bright line difference in hockey clubs, we saw it last night. The St. Louis Blues are the real deal and they showed it in a 4-1 decimation of the Nashville Predators in front of a sold out Bridgestone Arena. Plenty of Blues fans made the trip to Nashville for the game and I have to tip my hat to them for their good nature and respectful behavior.
It was a perfect execution of a pretty simple case of a tired Preds team on the back half of a back-to-back and an excellent Blues team readying for the playoffs. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, you have to look at this Blues team as a Stanley Cup favorite… maybe even the favorite. They6 seem to have it all. Ryan Miller has solidified the Blues goaltending in ways even the most wild-eyed optimist couldn’t predict. The Blues defense is rock solid and it seems the entire team has bought into Ken Hitchcock’s way of doing things.
It could be a fun spring in St. Louis… Here are the highlights from the game…
While the main game was intense and scrappy, following the game was the second annual Predators/Blues alumni game. Almost 2,500 fans hung around to see some familiar names skate in a fun 40 minutes of hockey. There were names familiar to Blues fans like Terry Yake and Kelly Chase and familiar Predators like Cliff Ronning and JP Dumont. It was all to raise money for the Predators Foundation and to have a good time.
It even included some craziness that would make the Harlem Globetrotters proud including a trick puck shot from Cliff Ronning and a mid-game trade that sent Mike Sillinger from the Predators to the Blues for a ham sandwich. Cliff Ronning dominated the game, scoring four goals including a natural hat trick in the second half as the Predators Alumni sent Pred fans home happy with a 10-7 victory.
You can check out some great pictures from the game at the SlapShot Radio website.
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Random Notes
- Victor Stalberg played in his 300th NHL game last night
- Pekka Rinne went back-to-back on Friday and Saturday for the first time since his return from the hip inflection.
- Calle Jarnkrok scored again for Milwaukee last night as the Admirals beat San Antonio 4-2, he has five goals in five games with the Ad’s.
- It was nice to see Darcy Hordichuk last night, he played for the Predators alumni for the first time.
- Gotta give big props to Predators broadcast personality Stu Grimson as he has done an outstanding job in getting the Predators Alumni organization active. It is growing every year.
- Check out this column on CBC.com about Barry Trotz. Here is the link. Perspective indeed…
- Congratulations to Team USA Men’s Sled Hockey for taking the gold in Sochi!
- Nine games today – 11:30am start – Flyers @ Penguins. 2pm starts – Canucks @ Panthers, Maple Leafs @ Capitals, Oilers @ Hurricanes. 3pm start – Sharks @ Rangers. 4pm start – Avalanche @ Senators. 6pm start – Canadiens @ Sabres. 6:30pm start – Red Wings @ Blackhawks. 7pm start – Stars @ Jets.
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