The Predators bested the Blackhawks in a pretty even game tonight, and in so doing, jumped them in the standings, taking third in the Central Division and the fifth seed in the Western conference. 9-1 in their last ten, the team has definitely earned a full week break (their next game is January 31 in Minnesota).
Nashville played a solid road game tonight, in that they took the lead earlier and didn't blow it. Craig Smith opened the scoring at 11:49 in the first on a Halischuk-style-spin-and-shootTM, after he and Matty ice combined on some solid forechecking. The Preds then went back On the Forecheck® after a hellish shift from Ellis-Hillen, and Patrick Hornqvist kicked the puck to Mike Fisher, who scored his fourth in four games.
The good guys avoided their patented second-period slide by spending the first eight minutes of it on some type of special teams assignment (an early PK, followed by a four minute block of 5-4 advantage). The third period was a little more stressful, with the Hawks converting one of three power play chances. A too many men call late, however, allowed the Preds to close out the game on the power play, and Colin Wilson put it on ice with the empty netter.
Notes, video highlights, & errata after the jump.
highlights:
notes:
The Preds are still way to cute. Evidence:
9:30 into the first- Hornqvist forgoes a 2' shot on a 2-on-1 to try a backhand pass to Mike Fisher. Turned over to Duncan Keith
18:50 into the first- Erat tries a drop pass to Kostitsyn, who can't hit the open net. (This one was actually OK, but symptomatic of the larger problem)
6:09 into second--Predators end their best power play possession of the night by trying 3 passes through the box, before finally turning it over.
16:02 into second--Nick Spaling forgoes a wide-open slot shot to pass it to Jordin Tootoo, who has a much inferior angle. Turned over.
1:50 into third--Wilson passes 2-on-1.
18:04 into third--Kostitsyn passes 2-on-1, Erat off the crossbar.
other notes:
Ryan Ellis handles the puck very well. His 2:30 shift with Hillen in the first, though, was brutal and reminiscent of the one that yielded the first goal in the Rangers game. Had the Preds gotten one puck deep, the Blackhawks would have had two fewer scoring chances that period.
Are the coaches ever going to challenge Ellis with serious minutes? If not he needs to either (A) take Suter's PP minutes so Sutes can focus on PK or (B) go back to Milwaukee (pending Bouillon's return). I'm not convinced the Predators don't need to add a defenseman.
Halischuk and Smith have worked well together. I'd still prefer to see Smith centering Tootoo's line. If the coaches could get Smith hot and more minutes, his scoring touch could really be helpful through a tough post-break schedule.
Great poke check by Pekka on Stalberg. The best weapon against breakaways is having absurdly long arms, I guess.
That's twice in two games Kostitsyn has watched an empty net chance go by because he arrived to the play a second late. He could shooting at 40% by now!
Weber did a great job after the Preds' first power play to take the puck off Hossa's stick on a 1-on-1 and turn it up ice for an odd-man rush.
Yip is doing everything he can to earn a spot, apparently. Typically, I'm against instigating a fight with a lead, but this one actually ruined a 2-on-1 for the Hawks. Also props to Yip for winning. Nice comment from hockeyfights on this one: "What a punk Montador is!! He looks like the second coming of Stortini here." Poor huggy bear.
Weber called for someone to cover Bolland on the play that became the Hawks only goal, but unfortunately Halischuk was only able to give Bolland a nice pat on the back.
In case there was an lingering doubt that Erat's shot hit the crossbar:
Now we have six days to watch exhibition hockey/fret about Suter's contract/hope Poile trades for a forward. Yay...?
has been the best Pred and player on the ice in so many games, but only 2 first star selections? I guess the Three Star Votes aren’t exactly scientific, but still…..
Peks was first star for the team in the MONTHS of October, November, and January (little fall of in December what with Trotz playing him until his legs nearly fell off)…….
I wonder if ASG selections were today, would Pekka get the call with/the Dynamic Duo?
Quick is from my hometown of Milford, CT so gotta pull for him.
Anyone else hear petersons comments pregame or have a link cause from the quote i saw he said something about getting a good stay at home d guy to help ellis out … is hillen on the way out after this season? I think so
I think the only way that’s going to happen is the Preds are #1 in the West and the Hawks sneak in at #8. Seriously. The reverse ain’t happening, and the Hawks have a very tough rest of the season to play out.
and now the Hawks will struggle to just make the playoffs?
I’m not trying to troll your board, but it would take a monumental collapse on the Hawks part to be in danger of missing the playoffs. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t the 2010 Blackhawks redux. We have two top forwards out with injury, another top forward in a deep slump, five rookies in our starting lineup, and a goalie who is under-performing (though he played well last night). The Hawks are 9 points up on the 8th place team but only 3 points back of first. I’m not sure how that correlates to a team on the verge of missing the playoffs.
The Preds caught the Blackhawks with their heads down, so to speak.
I don’t think most Preds fans think that are going to win 12 out of every 14 here on out, or the Blackhawks or going to continue to tread water after the break.
Well, then there is PekkaPontiff….he has predicting Stanley Cups since he moved to Nashville in 2006-2007, based largely on J.P. Dumont’s point a game potential. Heck, maybe JP is the big deadline acquisition that will prove the Pontiff right this year……He’s gotta be right one of these years, right? :)
The ebb and flow of an 82 game season, eh. Times when we feel like we da man, and times when you want to trade everyone on your team, especially the goalie-(well, maybe not Nashville)
Hell, that was a very good game last night, enjoyable to watch despite the less than desirable outcome. The Preds seem to be more offensive minded this year. in the past, it seemed the Preds would take a lead and try to sit on it. I could be wrong but it seemed like they pressed the attack more than usual.
The hawks fan. Give me a minute to let that sink in. Ok I’m good now. It would take a monumental collapse for the Hawks to not make the playoffs. I know they have a tougher schedule but they’re 9 points ahead of 8th. I just don’t see a way the Hawks miss the playoffs
Don’t worry, Lynch1, you’re not alone. I agree too.
And in my honest opinion, last night’s game was one of those tight ones where a guy like Jonathan Toews can really make a difference. Man, I wish he wore a Preds jersey.
Anyway, lets hope both teams are healthy for their next bout – except Carcilo, of course. Carcilo can stick to his radio career. After all, he’s got a face made for radio.
Indian, I don't think ANY Preds fan would be stupid enough to think the Hawks won't make the PO's
5 of the 9 next road games on the Hawks upcoming long road trip, so Disney on Ice or whatever the hell it is can have the United Center, are against the bottom feeders of the NHL. LA will pick it up the 7th spot or better, so a few suck ass teams will battle for the 8th spot. The Hawks are a lock for 7th to 4th depending on how all your rookies gel and if Crawford can play more consistant. EVERYBODY will be terrified to see Toews and Sharp come back. BTW, that’s a great newletter you write for pre-game opponents. A real fun read with lots of potty mouth!
That was more in reply to DonBorvio's post on SCH coupled with what was posted here
That 9-game road trip and just generally tougher rest of the season is going to be a real test for the Hawks. With 3 other teams breathing down their necks just in the same division I’m not sure that they won’t be on the edge like last season: praying for the spoiler to knock out the 8th seed.
My point was also, if the Hawks do stumble just a little, the Wings, Blues, and Preds will all be right there. It could easily push them to be a bubble team. Hawks have probably the toughest schedule with the least home games for the rest of the season.
Preds could easily be anywhere from 1st to 8th as well. February is going to show a lot about our two teams.
You have a lot of holes right now. Goaltending. Defense. 5 rookie forwards (2 when T&S get back). It’s easy to rack up a bunch of wins at home over the first half of the season, but how will you fare on your 9 game road trip?
If you can make it through that trip, then kuddos to ya. But we’ll see what happens. I’m not saying you are or are not great, and I’m not saying we are or are not great. I’m just saying that you’re not as good as you were two years ago, so what exactly you are remains to be seen. I’d say that you’re a 4-5 seed, just like us.
There aren't many teams that were/are as good as the '10 Hawks
That was a deep team with the right amount of chemistry. Most nights, our #2 line was better than many other teams #1 line. But that could not be last due to the capocalypse. Everyone knows that was likely a once in a lifetime team. Ladd, who we sorely miss and was a secondary line player, is now captain of his team. No one in their right mind would compare this team the the Stanley Cup team.
That team was expected to get to the Finals and win
and anything less than a Finals appearance would have been disappointing.
You can’t say that now; its more like ‘expect to make the playoffs and perhaps make some noise when they get there’. Which puts them in the same boat as the Preds and about, oh, most of the teams in playoff contention. Outside of the Bruins, Rangers, Canucks, Red Wings, Sharks; those teams have to go deep or its a failed year.
I wouldn’t fret over two losses to the Preds in January; two losses in a row in mid-April, though, in a 4-5 series however…….
But we were far from the favorites because no one thought our goaltending would hold up. As I recall, the Preds made us earn a first round playoff. What if, was it Erat?, freezes that puck in the fifth game and the Preds head back to Nashville up 3-2. And although we swept the Sharks, “every” game was a nail biter.
it takes hot goaltending, hard work and more than a wink from Lady Luck.
Personally, if we remain healthy, I beleive we have a good enough team to contend with in the playoffs. Veterans tend to rise to the occaision.
By the way, Don’t hand Detroit our division championship yet.
More talking about expectations, not division winners
Detroit deserves to expect more than just “making it, and lets see if we can make some noise, when we get there”. I would say that about Detroit, even if they were a 4/5 seed. It all depends on how they play going into the playoffs though.
My view on the Game 5 debacle:
if the Preds have a 5 min PP with a minute left, a faceoff in CHI’s end, give up a goal to tie, then give up a goal immediately after Hossa steps out of the box, they didn’t deserve to win.
Pretty much confirmed when they didn’t offer much resistance in the 2nd or 3rd period of Game 6, instead of trying to force the equalizer. They killed the hot home crowd.
The Shark series was close, but Heatley et al. came up short every single time.
The Hawks do have a bunch of guys who know what it takes to win, and who have won, recently, all in key positions. Those teams are always dangerous. But then, the goaltending…..we shall see………
but the Wings don’t scare me as much as the Rangers, Bruins or canucks.
They’re good, but for some reason the word elite just doesn’t enter my mind when I’m talking about them. I realize there’s a good chance I’m wrong, but playing you or the Blues is juast as tough a match up right now.
When healthy, the Hawks lineup looks impressive due to the big 4 forwards they have, but when they’re missing a few guys, especially Toews, it’s really not that impressive anymore. I can see why they’d like to get a good 2nd line forward after these past two games. Would prefer we get one instead!
Trotz is putting himself right back into the Jack Adams award consideration again. The way he keeps this team focused every night is impressive. Yip was also impressive with getting the better of Montador……..good way to get on your teammates good side!
Rinne was huge on that Hawks PP they had right after they scored. Must have made 3 or 4 quality blocker glove saves during that 2mins. The D did a good job blocking shots as well.
And in other news, the Blues lost in another shootout tonight. They would be the #1 team in the league if they won just half of their shootouts. Capt. Kangaroo must be hopping mad about this! (Get it, kangaroo……hopping?). :D
Shadow of the team they could be tonight, and Saturday. Still, Peks and the D limited chances and controlled play. Preds are catching them when they are down (they were hot a few weeks ago) but its still the Preds job to kick them when they are down, and they did.
Not a fan of the shootout…..can’t wait until they do 3 point games, and SO are rightfully discounted. Still, its a part of the game right now, and the Blues have been horrible right now. Not sure why they aren’t scoring goals, seems like Perron, Oshie, Backes, Stewart, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Berglund, lots of firepower…..the Preds have easily outproduced them this season though.
Great goaltending and D will only get the Blues so far in the playoffs, without timely scoring (says Predators, 2004-2011 edition).
What, excuses for the Hawks but none for the Preds? Recall that Suter didn’t play in the Hawks game. And Toews played the first half of the game until the blowout was underway.
By my count that means we woulda won 5-0 instead of 5-2. I’m surprised you didn’t make an excuse for the road-weary Hawks. Oh wait, we (and Pekka) just played the day before but managed not to lay an egg.
Is Chicago shorthanded? Sure. Are we? Yes. But we still whooped their collective A$$E$.
Yeah, Toews and Sharp make them better undoubtedly.
The Preds are on a hot streak right now, 12-2. Unless you think they would win 70 games in an 82 game season, and this streak appropriately reflects a whole year?
The Hawks are on a down streak right now, a shadow of the team they were before, only won 5 out of 12 games in January.
Or you think that is reflective of them not being a playoff team?
There are hot streaks and cold streaks, and its good timing to be playing lights out when a division opponent is struggling. Or the Blue Jackets, but you can afford to be more liberal with the timing (say, instead of facing CHI in January, face CLB in 2000-2012)
They've also played the most home games in the NHL....
….or close to it.
We’ll see what the Hawks are after their 9 game road trip after the ASG in that rat-infested crap-hole of a 51st state capital.
And maybe the Hawks are struggling cause they had to play the juggernaut that is the Preds? That’s my final answer. Everybody makes excuses for the Hawks. Just admit that they’ve received a beating in the past two games they’ve played against us and be done with it.
when I was sitting with you in the lower bowl watching the Preds manhandle the Senators in December 2006
and after the Preds demolished the Red Wings 8-0 in late February 2009 one of the (due to lack of playoff success)
Greatest Moments in Franchise History™.
The Senators and Red Wings would make the Stanley Cup Final when the Predators would a) get smoked in the first round, and b) miss the playoff altogether.
If only the Stanley Cup was decided in a 2 game series with a struggling team in January…….you will never learn, I guess.
Just to appease ya, I’ll toast the Preds:
Here’s to the 70 win pace! May it continue until April.
The Senators and Red Wings would make the Stanley Cup Final when the Predators would a) get smoked in the first round, and b) miss the playoff altogether.
Must’ve been quite awhile ago. Trying to recapture a little of the glory years? Try listening to Bruce Springsteen for that.
you awarding the Cup because the Preds beat the Hawks in Jan 2012. Like you decided who was going to make a run in Dec. 2006 (you were wrong) and Feb 2009 (dead wrong; Preds didn’t even make the playoffs).
Perspective, big picture, like Grizzled said.
Again, slowly: You can’t award the Cup based on a January game. Is that what you do on your Playstation?
Like how you call the Hens a premier franchise that is a legit cup contender?
Cause they haven’t been in 100 years. What’s that say about them? I didn’t award us the Cup even though you persist on accusing me of that. Just sayin’ that we’re one of the best teams in the NHL right now, cause we are.
And I know you’re agitated cause the Hens can’t beat LA or Phoenix (I hear those west coast road trips can be brutal). But you’ll climb back into the chase of the east soon enough when you get to load up on the Torontos, Montreals and Buffalos of the NHL.
Beating the Senators 6-0 in December,
beating the Wings 8-0 in January,
or beating the Blackhawks TWICE in january?
You are pretty excited bout the Hawks whoopin, but
I remember you proclaiming that the Preds will be unbeatable come playoff time after that 8-0 game….you were right, they didn’t lose a single game in the playoffs.
You are new to hockey obviously, but while you were busy playing Fantasy Nascar and doing your 10 year degree,
the Senators won their first series in 1997-1998, were divison winners in 1998-99 (#1 seed in East, #2 record in the NHL), and were expected to make runs every year until 2008 when they just snuck in the playoffs. Or wait, do you need to beat the Wings 8-0 and miss the playoffs to be a contendah, Rocky?
Let me know when you realize that being the best team in January is meaningless. Do you still replay the VHS tape of that 8-0 game? Good times.
But seriously…10 years to graduate? You must have loved being a student, since you like being taken to school and all!
On the other hand,
its good enough to be the NHL’s first dynasty and have its own display in the Hockey Hall of Fame (you’ve been?)….
Toronto fans forget part of the reason there was a big gap in there is that they took a bit of hiatus from 1934 to 1992….the Leafs don’t have that excuse, do they?
I sent PfPP several links to the Predators being immortalized into the HHOF:
Moreso the NFL than the NHL. Like that last Ravens non-TD at the end of the game. NHL refs can make bad calls, but unless they are overturning obvious goals – the team can still beat the “fix”.
But with me and him, its just one of those rinse and repeat chirps we do every so often. Sens suck, Preds can’t win in the playoffs, Ottawa hasn’t won a Cup in a 100 year, etc etc……
My fear is that GMDP thinks just like PfPP and will chortle at the idea of needing to trade for a good forward before the trade deadline. Just because you like your chicken salad sandwich doesn’t mean it can’t be improved upon. ;)
Consider too that the Blues will (hopefully for these two players) get MacDonald and Steen back from their concussions and the Wings and Hawks will likely add some Ruutu type players in the next month as well. GMDP needs to get cracking!
isn’t the GM. He’d think a winning streak in January was the mountain top, and anything else that follows is just gravy….
waitasec, now that I think about, GMDP probably thinks that about making the playoffs…..
Seriously, all indications are that he’s keeping everybody on deck, and going to add somebody. Very excited to see who it is……doesn’t have to be Parise or Ryan. Lots of options out there, and those options will go up in coming weeks (but so too will the cost)
As I recall last year, you guys were ridden with the injury bug...
Fisher, Lombardi and a few others. Others really stepped up to the plate. Can’t use injuries as an excuse in our two humiliating losses to the tenacious Preds.
I’ve watched enough of these games to note both teams better bring their A-game when they play each other. As you noted above, Trotz seems to have a knack to getting the players to show up every game. The Preds are a very disciplined, fast and defensively responsible team.
By the way Pekka for Pred Pont- “We’all are as good as we think and will be kicking you asses on Valentines day.” Forgit that Charlie Daniels crap about the “South gonna do it agin.” :)
Really, when you look at all the players the Hawks have lost since the Cup season (Brouwer, Ladd, Bif Buff, Campbell, Versteeg, etc.), it’s not surprising that the Preds are right there with them in the standings. The Hawks are dangerous when all their top forwards are healthy, but the depth isn’t there like it used to be. Add to that the advantage in goal the Preds, Wings and Blues have in goal over the Hawks and you can see that it won’t be an easy ride for Chicago this year.
what team doesn’t. Funny, almost any of the enemy sites I read say they want the same thing – a shutdown top four d-man and a top six power foward or center.
although out tending has been shaky, it’s not terrible. crawford had four shut outs last year with what I think was a weaker team in front of him. Your right though, this season it seems like we have to try to outscore the other team.
Sometimes the road can bring teams togehter – we’re about to find out.
…….as for me, I’ll believe it when I see it. Y’all gonna be runnin’ round like a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin’ chairs when our “death by a thousand bee stings” approach beats y’all down again.
Seriously, Chicago’s a good team and all Pred fans look forward to the challenge of settling it on the field. I mean on the frozen pond.
We snuck up behind some evergreen bushes in front of this one families kitchen window. We were eavesdropping on there conversations they ate dinner. All of the sudden I start feeling all these pricks and realized we were being assaulted by a swarm of angry wasps. we tore through those thick bushes like they were made out of paper and headed for the field across the street. (probably did not check both ways for cars either.)
So much for being clever. Just wanted to let you know i could really relate to your descriptive imagery. ya know, there’s a lot of good teams in our conference. I like the Preds new uniforms by the way. we’ll have to dress John scott and get a little blood on them next time we lace em up.
Blues and Redwings fans say they aren’t looking forward to meeting up with us after the break. I’m glad our team is finally getting some freaking recognition around the league.
I think one of the big things to take away from this game
is that this was a night where Nashville was NOT getting good bounces. Just looking at the highlights (had to work but listened to a lot on the radio) if Nashville had converted on some of those shots that hit the post, it could have easily been 4-1. The two goals came from good puck awareness, solid forecheck, and good old fashioned hard work. On a night our boys decide to shoot about an inch lower, with our solid defense and unholy goal-tending, we are damn near unstoppable.
Which I wasn’t. Not the way the Hawk fans were Saturday night anyway. In fact, not even close to that extent. I think the poor showings of late have got them on edge a little.
added a poll
Sam Page - January 25, 2012
YAY!!!
JBoogie22 - January 25, 2012
"Yip'd"
Rec’d
davisca - January 25, 2012
(In theory, at least. If you could rec a caption.)
davisca - January 25, 2012
added the yipmeister to the poll
Sam Page - January 25, 2012
would've voted for suter if i would've read the comment next to his option
Please Suter, how can you not want to stay with this team???
JBoogie22 - January 25, 2012
Posting this here too. Pekka 3rd star *OF THE SEASON SO FAR*
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
That's AWESOME.
Also, Pekka has had almost 100 more shots than Quick.
davisca - January 25, 2012
Pekka
has been the best Pred and player on the ice in so many games, but only 2 first star selections? I guess the Three Star Votes aren’t exactly scientific, but still…..
Peks was first star for the team in the MONTHS of October, November, and January (little fall of in December what with Trotz playing him until his legs nearly fell off)…….
I wonder if ASG selections were today, would Pekka get the call with/the Dynamic Duo?
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
yay got 2 and 3
Quick is from my hometown of Milford, CT so gotta pull for him.
Anyone else hear petersons comments pregame or have a link cause from the quote i saw he said something about getting a good stay at home d guy to help ellis out … is hillen on the way out after this season? I think so
Shadow23 - January 25, 2012 via iPhone app
i don’t see resigning cube either.
predwheels - January 25, 2012
From SCH:
Woop woop.
davisca - January 25, 2012
or your cannon if you are Columbus.
Predmonton - January 25, 2012
Speaking of which... (I've been perusing their GDTs)
davisca - January 25, 2012
I think the only way that’s going to happen is the Preds are #1 in the West and the Hawks sneak in at #8. Seriously. The reverse ain’t happening, and the Hawks have a very tough rest of the season to play out.
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
4th playing 5th could make that happen.
Grizzledbear - January 25, 2012 via mobile
I think the Wings and Blues are going to make that highly unlikely.
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
I think 4 and 5 is realistic.
cisar - January 25, 2012
Your team takes two in a row from the Hawks
and now the Hawks will struggle to just make the playoffs?
I’m not trying to troll your board, but it would take a monumental collapse on the Hawks part to be in danger of missing the playoffs. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t the 2010 Blackhawks redux. We have two top forwards out with injury, another top forward in a deep slump, five rookies in our starting lineup, and a goalie who is under-performing (though he played well last night). The Hawks are 9 points up on the 8th place team but only 3 points back of first. I’m not sure how that correlates to a team on the verge of missing the playoffs.
IndianHeadCrest - January 25, 2012
Preds are hot
Blackhawks are not.
The Preds caught the Blackhawks with their heads down, so to speak.
I don’t think most Preds fans think that are going to win 12 out of every 14 here on out, or the Blackhawks or going to continue to tread water after the break.
Well, then there is PekkaPontiff….he has predicting Stanley Cups since he moved to Nashville in 2006-2007, based largely on J.P. Dumont’s point a game potential. Heck, maybe JP is the big deadline acquisition that will prove the Pontiff right this year……He’s gotta be right one of these years, right? :)
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
Because we are going to win them all!
cisar - January 25, 2012
Preds are hot...
The ebb and flow of an 82 game season, eh. Times when we feel like we da man, and times when you want to trade everyone on your team, especially the goalie-(well, maybe not Nashville)
Hell, that was a very good game last night, enjoyable to watch despite the less than desirable outcome. The Preds seem to be more offensive minded this year. in the past, it seemed the Preds would take a lead and try to sit on it. I could be wrong but it seemed like they pressed the attack more than usual.
it appears the playoff season has commenced.
wardrums - January 25, 2012
i agree with...
The hawks fan. Give me a minute to let that sink in. Ok I’m good now. It would take a monumental collapse for the Hawks to not make the playoffs. I know they have a tougher schedule but they’re 9 points ahead of 8th. I just don’t see a way the Hawks miss the playoffs
lynchc1 - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Don’t worry, Lynch1, you’re not alone. I agree too.
And in my honest opinion, last night’s game was one of those tight ones where a guy like Jonathan Toews can really make a difference. Man, I wish he wore a Preds jersey.
Anyway, lets hope both teams are healthy for their next bout – except Carcilo, of course. Carcilo can stick to his radio career. After all, he’s got a face made for radio.
Chas-E - January 25, 2012
Indian, I don't think ANY Preds fan would be stupid enough to think the Hawks won't make the PO's
5 of the 9 next road games on the Hawks upcoming long road trip, so Disney on Ice or whatever the hell it is can have the United Center, are against the bottom feeders of the NHL. LA will pick it up the 7th spot or better, so a few suck ass teams will battle for the 8th spot. The Hawks are a lock for 7th to 4th depending on how all your rookies gel and if Crawford can play more consistant. EVERYBODY will be terrified to see Toews and Sharp come back. BTW, that’s a great newletter you write for pre-game opponents. A real fun read with lots of potty mouth!
TSCinSFO - January 25, 2012
That was more in reply to DonBorvio's post on SCH coupled with what was posted here
IndianHeadCrest - January 25, 2012
I saw that and I just posted over there too
The gap between the teams battling for the 8th seed and the rest of the top 7 is way too wide to worry about. Not compared to last season at all.
TSCinSFO - January 25, 2012
I wouldn't get too cocky yet
Preds have a couple of weeks in Feb that go VAN, OTT, BOS, CHI, DET, DAL, VAN.
That will be a huge test of what this team is truly made of.
Melissa Vanderpool Wallace - January 25, 2012
My point was also, if the Hawks do stumble just a little, the Wings, Blues, and Preds will all be right there. It could easily push them to be a bubble team. Hawks have probably the toughest schedule with the least home games for the rest of the season.
Preds could easily be anywhere from 1st to 8th as well. February is going to show a lot about our two teams.
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
Maybe y'all aren't as good as you think you are?
You have a lot of holes right now. Goaltending. Defense. 5 rookie forwards (2 when T&S get back). It’s easy to rack up a bunch of wins at home over the first half of the season, but how will you fare on your 9 game road trip?
If you can make it through that trip, then kuddos to ya. But we’ll see what happens. I’m not saying you are or are not great, and I’m not saying we are or are not great. I’m just saying that you’re not as good as you were two years ago, so what exactly you are remains to be seen. I’d say that you’re a 4-5 seed, just like us.
Just sayin.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
There aren't many teams that were/are as good as the '10 Hawks
That was a deep team with the right amount of chemistry. Most nights, our #2 line was better than many other teams #1 line. But that could not be last due to the capocalypse. Everyone knows that was likely a once in a lifetime team. Ladd, who we sorely miss and was a secondary line player, is now captain of his team. No one in their right mind would compare this team the the Stanley Cup team.
IndianHeadCrest - January 25, 2012
That team was expected to get to the Finals and win
and anything less than a Finals appearance would have been disappointing.
You can’t say that now; its more like ‘expect to make the playoffs and perhaps make some noise when they get there’. Which puts them in the same boat as the Preds and about, oh, most of the teams in playoff contention. Outside of the Bruins, Rangers, Canucks, Red Wings, Sharks; those teams have to go deep or its a failed year.
I wouldn’t fret over two losses to the Preds in January; two losses in a row in mid-April, though, in a 4-5 series however…….
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
that 09/10 team was good, yes...
But we were far from the favorites because no one thought our goaltending would hold up. As I recall, the Preds made us earn a first round playoff. What if, was it Erat?, freezes that puck in the fifth game and the Preds head back to Nashville up 3-2. And although we swept the Sharks, “every” game was a nail biter.
it takes hot goaltending, hard work and more than a wink from Lady Luck.
Personally, if we remain healthy, I beleive we have a good enough team to contend with in the playoffs. Veterans tend to rise to the occaision.
By the way, Don’t hand Detroit our division championship yet.
wardrums - January 25, 2012
More talking about expectations, not division winners
Detroit deserves to expect more than just “making it, and lets see if we can make some noise, when we get there”. I would say that about Detroit, even if they were a 4/5 seed. It all depends on how they play going into the playoffs though.
My view on the Game 5 debacle:
if the Preds have a 5 min PP with a minute left, a faceoff in CHI’s end, give up a goal to tie, then give up a goal immediately after Hossa steps out of the box, they didn’t deserve to win.
Pretty much confirmed when they didn’t offer much resistance in the 2nd or 3rd period of Game 6, instead of trying to force the equalizer. They killed the hot home crowd.
The Shark series was close, but Heatley et al. came up short every single time.
The Hawks do have a bunch of guys who know what it takes to win, and who have won, recently, all in key positions. Those teams are always dangerous. But then, the goaltending…..we shall see………
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
i don't know why....
but the Wings don’t scare me as much as the Rangers, Bruins or canucks.
They’re good, but for some reason the word elite just doesn’t enter my mind when I’m talking about them. I realize there’s a good chance I’m wrong, but playing you or the Blues is juast as tough a match up right now.
wardrums - January 25, 2012
Watched the game at Village Pub in East Nashville
Good atmosphere and met the owner who is a Preds STH. Plus they’ve got $1 off Yazoo beers on game days.
It might be a good place for a meet-up at some point.
Tim P - January 25, 2012
Nice to know!
davisca - January 25, 2012
We met up there last season!
It’s a pretty good place.
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
we should! i live in east nasty!
JBoogie22 - January 25, 2012 via iPhone app
Agreed.
Watched downtown with friends. Not the same. Pub is my favorite place to watch Preds games in town.
mrcaptain - January 25, 2012
i love the description of the poll choices. well done sam
predmama - January 25, 2012
the Blue Jackets now have half as many points as us…. and they have Lebda. Major hockey fail, BJ’s!
Creeping Death - January 25, 2012
Lebda scored!
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
shut up. :P
CAustin - January 25, 2012
Two things tonight:
1.Every team in the Central now has at least twice as many points as the Blue Jackets.
2. Lebda scored for said Blue Jackets.
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
vols7381 - January 25, 2012
I'll rec that.
davisca - January 25, 2012
Another interesting stat for the Central.
Their Goal differential: -48
The Red Wings: +48
Symmetry?
vols7381 - January 25, 2012
the wings goal differential
took a big hit from the Habs game last night. hahaha
Only Fan In J.C. ? - January 26, 2012
you hush too. :P
CAustin - January 25, 2012
Finally now on front page on NHL.com
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
heading: pek-tak-u-lar
predmama - January 25, 2012
Hawks without Toews and Sharp ain't so special.
When healthy, the Hawks lineup looks impressive due to the big 4 forwards they have, but when they’re missing a few guys, especially Toews, it’s really not that impressive anymore. I can see why they’d like to get a good 2nd line forward after these past two games. Would prefer we get one instead!
Trotz is putting himself right back into the Jack Adams award consideration again. The way he keeps this team focused every night is impressive. Yip was also impressive with getting the better of Montador……..good way to get on your teammates good side!
Rinne was huge on that Hawks PP they had right after they scored. Must have made 3 or 4 quality blocker glove saves during that 2mins. The D did a good job blocking shots as well.
And in other news, the Blues lost in another shootout tonight. They would be the #1 team in the league if they won just half of their shootouts. Capt. Kangaroo must be hopping mad about this! (Get it, kangaroo……hopping?). :D
Grizzledbear - January 25, 2012 via mobile
I would agree
Shadow of the team they could be tonight, and Saturday. Still, Peks and the D limited chances and controlled play. Preds are catching them when they are down (they were hot a few weeks ago) but its still the Preds job to kick them when they are down, and they did.
Not a fan of the shootout…..can’t wait until they do 3 point games, and SO are rightfully discounted. Still, its a part of the game right now, and the Blues have been horrible right now. Not sure why they aren’t scoring goals, seems like Perron, Oshie, Backes, Stewart, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Berglund, lots of firepower…..the Preds have easily outproduced them this season though.
Great goaltending and D will only get the Blues so far in the playoffs, without timely scoring (says Predators, 2004-2011 edition).
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
You make it sound like we were healthy.
What, excuses for the Hawks but none for the Preds? Recall that Suter didn’t play in the Hawks game. And Toews played the first half of the game until the blowout was underway.
By my count that means we woulda won 5-0 instead of 5-2. I’m surprised you didn’t make an excuse for the road-weary Hawks. Oh wait, we (and Pekka) just played the day before but managed not to lay an egg.
Is Chicago shorthanded? Sure. Are we? Yes. But we still whooped their collective A$$E$.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
Where did I reference health?
Yeah, Toews and Sharp make them better undoubtedly.
The Preds are on a hot streak right now, 12-2. Unless you think they would win 70 games in an 82 game season, and this streak appropriately reflects a whole year?
The Hawks are on a down streak right now, a shadow of the team they were before, only won 5 out of 12 games in January.
Or you think that is reflective of them not being a playoff team?
There are hot streaks and cold streaks, and its good timing to be playing lights out when a division opponent is struggling. Or the Blue Jackets, but you can afford to be more liberal with the timing (say, instead of facing CHI in January, face CLB in 2000-2012)
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
They've also played the most home games in the NHL....
….or close to it.
We’ll see what the Hawks are after their 9 game road trip after the ASG in that rat-infested crap-hole of a 51st state capital.
And maybe the Hawks are struggling cause they had to play the juggernaut that is the Preds? That’s my final answer. Everybody makes excuses for the Hawks. Just admit that they’ve received a beating in the past two games they’ve played against us and be done with it.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
You sound as confident as you were
when I was sitting with you in the lower bowl watching the Preds manhandle the Senators in December 2006
and after the Preds demolished the Red Wings 8-0 in late February 2009 one of the (due to lack of playoff success)
Greatest Moments in Franchise History™.
The Senators and Red Wings would make the Stanley Cup Final when the Predators would a) get smoked in the first round, and b) miss the playoff altogether.
If only the Stanley Cup was decided in a 2 game series with a struggling team in January…….you will never learn, I guess.
Just to appease ya, I’ll toast the Preds:
Here’s to the 70 win pace! May it continue until April.
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
I don't remember this:
Must’ve been quite awhile ago. Trying to recapture a little of the glory years? Try listening to Bruce Springsteen for that.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
A long time ago indeed
2007 and 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, for sure.
You know what is longer?
12 years to get out of the First Round.
Never, as in never making the Finals. Never is a long time!
I totally agree with you though, if they awarded the Stanley Cup based on who is hottest right now, the Preds would get the trophy.
Plan the parade, my friend, like you do every year. I’ll meet you there……
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
That's 5 years ago.
And like me bragging how the Rams are one of the premier franchises based on the Greatest Show on Turf days.
You make no sense.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
Still true today
you awarding the Cup because the Preds beat the Hawks in Jan 2012. Like you decided who was going to make a run in Dec. 2006 (you were wrong) and Feb 2009 (dead wrong; Preds didn’t even make the playoffs).
Perspective, big picture, like Grizzled said.
Again, slowly: You can’t award the Cup based on a January game. Is that what you do on your Playstation?
You’ll get it some day, chum.
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
Like how you call the Hens a premier franchise that is a legit cup contender?
Cause they haven’t been in 100 years. What’s that say about them? I didn’t award us the Cup even though you persist on accusing me of that. Just sayin’ that we’re one of the best teams in the NHL right now, cause we are.
And I know you’re agitated cause the Hens can’t beat LA or Phoenix (I hear those west coast road trips can be brutal). But you’ll climb back into the chase of the east soon enough when you get to load up on the Torontos, Montreals and Buffalos of the NHL.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
So what deserves a bigger trophy?
Beating the Senators 6-0 in December,
beating the Wings 8-0 in January,
or beating the Blackhawks TWICE in january?
You are pretty excited bout the Hawks whoopin, but
I remember you proclaiming that the Preds will be unbeatable come playoff time after that 8-0 game….you were right, they didn’t lose a single game in the playoffs.
You are new to hockey obviously, but while you were busy playing Fantasy Nascar and doing your 10 year degree,
the Senators won their first series in 1997-1998, were divison winners in 1998-99 (#1 seed in East, #2 record in the NHL), and were expected to make runs every year until 2008 when they just snuck in the playoffs. Or wait, do you need to beat the Wings 8-0 and miss the playoffs to be a contendah, Rocky?
Let me know when you realize that being the best team in January is meaningless. Do you still replay the VHS tape of that 8-0 game? Good times.
But seriously…10 years to graduate? You must have loved being a student, since you like being taken to school and all!
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
I like school, what can I say?
But 10 years? Whodat?
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
And I'm sure you're proud of Ottawa's rich tradition of greatness.
But with your crown came nothing.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
Jimmy Howard gave up 4 goals
in the first to Montreal.
By Pontiff Logic, (checks watch, confirms its January), the Habs are going to be unstoppable in the playoffs!
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
6-0 now. There are times when I do think sports is fixed (puts on tin foil hat).
Grizzledbear - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Sound like a Wings fan w/ conspiracy theories
The last Detroit Montreal Blowout I remember was when Roy told the owner I’m done.
Methinks Howard took it a little more in stride…
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
I thought the Senators won it all in 1927.
cisar - January 25, 2012
heh
one one hand,
if was an embarrassingly long time ago.
http://www.nhl.com/cup/dynasties.html
http://www.hhof.com/htmlTimeCapsule/dyntmott.shtml
On the other hand,
its good enough to be the NHL’s first dynasty and have its own display in the Hockey Hall of Fame (you’ve been?)….
Toronto fans forget part of the reason there was a big gap in there is that they took a bit of hiatus from 1934 to 1992….the Leafs don’t have that excuse, do they?
I sent PfPP several links to the Predators being immortalized into the HHOF:
www.theydontdedicateanythingfortaking12yearstowinaround.com
www.theteamdumbenoughtoletweberandsutergo.com
and he actually clicked on the links, thinking they were legit at first…..
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
Whoops
misspelled the Predator HHOF links…..not that it matters, amiright?
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
Hope you didn’t direct PfPP to a site of ill repute, LOL!
Grizzledbear - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Moreso the NFL than the NHL. Like that last Ravens non-TD at the end of the game. NHL refs can make bad calls, but unless they are overturning obvious goals – the team can still beat the “fix”.
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
Unless the goalie is on the take. ;D
Howard took something tonight. :)
Grizzledbear - January 25, 2012 via mobile
I look like a genius buying all those aluminum futures.
cisar - January 25, 2012
Nothing wrong with taking the long road!
I took 10 years myself…
Dirk Hoag - January 25, 2012
Oh, I realize that Dirk
But with me and him, its just one of those rinse and repeat chirps we do every so often. Sens suck, Preds can’t win in the playoffs, Ottawa hasn’t won a Cup in a 100 year, etc etc……
Imagine if we WEREN’T friends!
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
ah, ok
sorry to interrupt the foreplay.
Dirk Hoag - January 25, 2012
Ha!
Preds of State - January 26, 2012
Ass
Pretty funny though.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 26, 2012
what's a Ram?
do you drive a Dodge?
Only Fan In J.C. ? - January 26, 2012
St. Louis Rams.
They’re my NFL albatross. I mean team.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 26, 2012
But don't let me stop you from trolling.
And I certainly won’t let the truth get in the way of your beeswax.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
He’s only trying to help you see the big picture, PfPP. :)
Grizzledbear - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Don't you start in on me Grizzly.
We kicked Chicago’s A$$E$ twice in the past 4 days. Had we lost Saturday night, nobody would have made any excuses for us.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
We are going to have to startup
The Pekka Pontiff Cup, in your honor, for the best team for a period of your choosing between November and January.
Sadly, has no bearing in April :(
But you can give it the Preds every year!
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
And I'll give the January Vezina to Billy Elliot.
Oh wait, you’ve already done that.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
My fear is that GMDP thinks just like PfPP and will chortle at the idea of needing to trade for a good forward before the trade deadline. Just because you like your chicken salad sandwich doesn’t mean it can’t be improved upon. ;)
Consider too that the Blues will (hopefully for these two players) get MacDonald and Steen back from their concussions and the Wings and Hawks will likely add some Ruutu type players in the next month as well. GMDP needs to get cracking!
Grizzledbear - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Thank Goodness PfPP
isn’t the GM. He’d think a winning streak in January was the mountain top, and anything else that follows is just gravy….
waitasec, now that I think about, GMDP probably thinks that about making the playoffs…..
Seriously, all indications are that he’s keeping everybody on deck, and going to add somebody. Very excited to see who it is……doesn’t have to be Parise or Ryan. Lots of options out there, and those options will go up in coming weeks (but so too will the cost)
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
Dan Ellis is going to win the Vezina next year! Mark it down!
That was April 2008. DanEllisProblems are aplenty, but shelfspace for a Vezina ain’t one of ’em.
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
He DID win the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award in 2007–08…
cisar - January 25, 2012
That’s close, right?
cisar - January 25, 2012
True
I still think its a little leap to go from that to Vezina, though, for a guy outta nowhere.
I guess Ken Drydens do happen…..but Jim Carey’s happen more often :)
PekKarlsson - January 25, 2012
on the bright side
the Preds and Hawks have 3 more opportunities to settle this before the playoffs start. 1 in Chi and 2 more in SMASHVILLE!
Only Fan In J.C. ? - January 26, 2012
As I recall last year, you guys were ridden with the injury bug...
Fisher, Lombardi and a few others. Others really stepped up to the plate. Can’t use injuries as an excuse in our two humiliating losses to the tenacious Preds.
I’ve watched enough of these games to note both teams better bring their A-game when they play each other. As you noted above, Trotz seems to have a knack to getting the players to show up every game. The Preds are a very disciplined, fast and defensively responsible team.
By the way Pekka for Pred Pont- “We’all are as good as we think and will be kicking you asses on Valentines day.” Forgit that Charlie Daniels crap about the “South gonna do it agin.” :)
wardrums - January 25, 2012
Really, when you look at all the players the Hawks have lost since the Cup season (Brouwer, Ladd, Bif Buff, Campbell, Versteeg, etc.), it’s not surprising that the Preds are right there with them in the standings. The Hawks are dangerous when all their top forwards are healthy, but the depth isn’t there like it used to be. Add to that the advantage in goal the Preds, Wings and Blues have in goal over the Hawks and you can see that it won’t be an easy ride for Chicago this year.
Grizzledbear - January 25, 2012 via mobile
We have some holes, no doubt.
what team doesn’t. Funny, almost any of the enemy sites I read say they want the same thing – a shutdown top four d-man and a top six power foward or center.
although out tending has been shaky, it’s not terrible. crawford had four shut outs last year with what I think was a weaker team in front of him. Your right though, this season it seems like we have to try to outscore the other team.
Sometimes the road can bring teams togehter – we’re about to find out.
wardrums - January 25, 2012
You keep banin' the drum for that......
…….as for me, I’ll believe it when I see it. Y’all gonna be runnin’ round like a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin’ chairs when our “death by a thousand bee stings” approach beats y’all down again.
Seriously, Chicago’s a good team and all Pred fans look forward to the challenge of settling it on the field. I mean on the frozen pond.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 25, 2012
Reminds me of when i was a kid
We snuck up behind some evergreen bushes in front of this one families kitchen window. We were eavesdropping on there conversations they ate dinner. All of the sudden I start feeling all these pricks and realized we were being assaulted by a swarm of angry wasps. we tore through those thick bushes like they were made out of paper and headed for the field across the street. (probably did not check both ways for cars either.)
So much for being clever. Just wanted to let you know i could really relate to your descriptive imagery. ya know, there’s a lot of good teams in our conference. I like the Preds new uniforms by the way. we’ll have to dress John scott and get a little blood on them next time we lace em up.
We got you guys 3 more times – eeeccchhh.
wardrums - January 25, 2012
He'll be waiting...
DonBorvio - January 25, 2012
What appropriate gloves
Dirk Hoag - January 25, 2012
Ha!
Preds of State - January 26, 2012
John Scott? Big Bad John?
can I think about that Coach Trotz?
wardrums - January 27, 2012
+1
Can’t wait!
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 26, 2012
frustration
how is crawford going to stop the puck when he broke his goalie stick???
trav16 - January 25, 2012
The comments on the NHL.com story are awesome
Blues and Redwings fans say they aren’t looking forward to meeting up with us after the break. I’m glad our team is finally getting some freaking recognition around the league.
Preds of State - January 25, 2012
Hustle-chuk?
I’m the only one? Really!?
Ian Kiracofe - January 25, 2012
Perhaps..
I’m the only one who got the obscure Matt Ryan reference?
Ian Kiracofe - January 25, 2012
I think one of the big things to take away from this game
is that this was a night where Nashville was NOT getting good bounces. Just looking at the highlights (had to work but listened to a lot on the radio) if Nashville had converted on some of those shots that hit the post, it could have easily been 4-1. The two goals came from good puck awareness, solid forecheck, and good old fashioned hard work. On a night our boys decide to shoot about an inch lower, with our solid defense and unholy goal-tending, we are damn near unstoppable.
Preds of State - January 25, 2012
You guys wanna take your in-house troll back?
We’ve grown tired of his shtick over at SCH.
IndianHeadCrest - January 25, 2012
Could be a little more specific?
cisar - January 26, 2012
How 'bout some initials?
PPP
IndianHeadCrest - January 26, 2012
Pension Plan Puppets?
Point-to-point protocol?
Pekka for Predators Pontiff?
cisar - January 26, 2012
Ding!
IndianHeadCrest - January 26, 2012
They said I was gloating :)
Which I wasn’t. Not the way the Hawk fans were Saturday night anyway. In fact, not even close to that extent. I think the poor showings of late have got them on edge a little.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 26, 2012
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