Hockey Tonk

Buffalo Sabres @ Nashville Predators (10/10/2009)

2009-10-12T00:43:00.000-05:00

Colorado Avalanche @ Nashville Predators (10/8/2009)

2009-10-09T11:27:00.001-05:00

Nashville Predators @ Dallas Stars (10/3/2009)

2009-10-09T11:25:00.002-05:00

Home Opener Sure To Be Entertaining Evening

2009-10-02T00:23:00.002-05:00

When the puck drops on the Nashville Predators regular season Home Opener in Smashville on Thursday, October 8, fans are sure to be entertained by the action both on and off the ice. The home opening matchup vs. the Colorado Avalanche will feature plenty of big hits, high-speed playmaking and heart-pounding thrills – and that’s only part of the excitement.

Returning to the ice this season are the Predators core group of players including team captain Jason Arnott, NHL All-Star Shea Weber and Masterton Trophy winner Steve Sullivan. Fans should also expect to see several new faces on opening night, as young players within the organization are poised to jump into the lineup and help contribute.

Predators games are some of the most entertaining events in sports and Preds fans are widely recognized as some of the best, most passionate and loudest fans around. The atmosphere at a Predators game is as friendly as it is ferocious and nothing can compare to a place so full of raw energy and gut-wrenching excitement. In Smashville, the unexpected is a nightly occurrence. Come to the game on Opening Night to experience it first hand.

With the help of the home crowd, the Preds have won 107 games at Sommet Center in the past four seasons – which marks an impressive third most home wins in the entire league. Make sure to be there on October 8 to help us pick up win number 108!

Tickets are going fast but there are still opportunities to guarantee your seat at this season’s home opener!

For information and prices on 2009-10 Nashville Predators individual game sales, season-ticket packages and partial plans in Smashville, visit NashvillePredators.com or contact a ticket representative at (615) 770-PUCK (7825).

From NashvillePredators.com

2009-10 Nashville Predators Preview

2009-09-29T23:26:00.003-05:00

The Predators strengths lie in stopping the opposition from scoring, but an inability to score is what kept them out of the playoffs. Not much changed over the offseason and this year's Nashville squad is going to have to try and win with defense once again.

Head coach Barry Trotz, the franchise's only coach in 10 years of existence, has been able to get the most out of teams that always seem to lack big-name talent. He'll have to do it again if the Predators want to get back in the playoffs.

FORWARDS - The Predators were ranked 24th in the NHL in offense during the 2008-09 season, averaging just 2.52 goals per game. The club's power-play unit was even worse as Nashville converted on just 15.7-percent of its chances and finished 26th in the league on the man advantage.

Nashville general manager David Poile is like Trotz in that he's the only man to hold his position in franchise history and is also asked by ownership to do more with less. This summer, that meant Poile couldn't simply improve his team's offense by luring a big free agent to the Music City.

Instead, the Predators will try and make due with a roster that scored just 207 goals in 2008-09.

Nashville's top line is anchored by veteran centerman Jason Arnott, who last year led the Predators with a club-record 33 goals and was second on the team with 57 points. Arnott's 33 tallies were by far the most by a Nashville forward as defensemen Shea Weber was next on the club with 23 markers in 2008-09.

The team would love for Arnott to add to last year's goal total, which equalled the personal best he had set as a rookie with Edmonton back in 1993-94. Arnott, who will turn 35 years of age on October 11, has scored at least 20 goals in 10 straight seasons.

Winger J.P. Dumont led Nashville in points last year with 65 points on 16 goals and 49 assists. Dumont is valuable as a playmaker on the top line, but he did score 29 goals two years ago for the Preds and the team would benefit greatly if he approached that total in 2009-10.

Steve Sullivan provided a great deal of inspiration for Nashville last season, as he returned to hockey after sitting out almost two full years with a back injury. After scoring 31 goals for Nashville in 2005-06, Sullivan suffered the injury in February of the following season. He came back in January of last season and finished the campaign with 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 41 games.

At 35 years of age, Sullivan is still an injury risk, but if healthy he could provide a big offensive boost on the top line.

The second line is expected to be centered by David Legwand with Martin Erat and Joel Ward on the wings. Erat had 50 points (17g, 33a) last season, while Legwand notched 20 goals and 22 assists. Ward set career-bests in games played (79), goals (17) and points (35) last year, prompting Nashville to sign him to a two-year deal.

The offensive production plummets even more after that, as no other player on this year's roster managed to score 30 points in the NHL last season.

DEFENSE - Thanks to Weber and his defensive partner Ryan Suter, the Predators are able to generate some offense from the blueline.

In addition to his 23 goals, Weber also set career bests in assists (30), points (53), power-play goals (10) and game-winning goals (4). He also became the first Nashville draft pick to play in the NHL All-Star Game.

Suter also had a banner year in 2008-09, setting personal bests in assists (38) and points (45). He also led Nashville in ice time, averaging 24 minutes, 15 seconds per game.

Dan Hamhuis is not as productive offensively as Weber and Suter, but he could be the club's best defensive defenseman. Hamhuis played in all 82 games last year and ended with 26 points (3g, 23a).

And the best thing about Nashville's defensive corps is that the players are still improving. Of that group, Hamhuis is the oldest at 26 years of age, while Weber and Suter are 24 and 23, respectively.

The rest of Nashville's blueline will also feature youngsters like 24-year-old Kevin Klein, who should see increased action this year after posting four goals and 12 points in 63 games for the Preds last season.

Rookies Cody Franson, Alexander Sulzer and Jonathon Blum, who was a first- round pick by Nashville in 2007, are expected to battle for the remaining defensive slots.

GOALTENDING - The biggest surprise of the 2008-09 season was the play of Pekka Rinne between the pipes.

Rinne, a 6-5, 207-pound Finn, was expected to back up Dan Ellis last year, but the rookie would eventually win the starting job. The 26-year-old Rinne played in 52 games in 2008-09 and posted a 29-15-4 record to go with a 2.38 goals against average and .917 save percentage.

The Predators couldn't have expected Rinne to reach those heights when they selected him in the eighth round of the 2004 draft, but Trotz trusted the rookie enough to start him in 30 of Nashville's final 35 games last year.

Meanwhile, Ellis will serve as Rinne's backup as he tries to regain his form from two years ago. As a rookie in 2007-08, Ellis went 23-10-3 with a 2.34 GAA and .924 save percentage. However, he took a big step back last year, going 11-19-4 with a 2.93 GAA and .900 save percentage.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Predators have a promising future ahead of them thanks to the young talent on defense and in net and that will help the team remain competitive in the fight for the postseason in 2009-10. However, the club's lack of offensive punch will likely leave them out of the playoff picture for a second straight year.

From The Miami Herald

NHL on Versus: Opening Night coverage starts at 6:30 PM ET

2009-09-29T23:12:00.001-05:00

Predators Keep Options Open for Forward Spots

2008-10-08T10:25:00.002-05:00

Only a few days before the start of the regular season, Predators coaches and management were still wrestling with roster moves on Monday. Goaltending and defense are set. But there are still plenty of questions at forward, ones that need to be answered no later than 2 p.m. Wednesday, when NHL rosters need to be set.

The Predators currently have 27 players, but that includes injured forwards Steve Sullivan and Jed Ortmeyer, who will begin the season on injured reserve. Nashville would like to carry 22 players, so it's possible that as many as three more forwards will be reassigned to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.

What we know so far is that prospect forward Patric Hornqvist has all but officially secured a spot, and that he's likely to begin the season on the top offensive line along with J.P. Dumont and Jason Arnott. Hornqvist scored only once during the preseason, but created a number of chances and has a goal-scoring track record in the Swedish elite league. "I would say he's pretty safe, based on the fact he plays a pro-style game,'' Coach Barry Trotz said. "He hasn't scored a lot, but he hunts down the puck and makes quality plays. I think he leads the team in shots, so there's a good feeling he's going to be able to adjust.''

Other issues that still need to be sorted out:

Who fills out the second line? David Legwand and Martin Erat are givens, but who's the third player?

Prospect forward Ryan Jones looked good at times here during the preseason, but the Predators have to decide if he's ready to handle that position on a regular basis. And if he's not playing on a skilled line in the NHL, would he be better off getting quality time in the AHL?

If Jones doesn't start the season on that line, versatile Rich Peverley could be an option. Other possibilities would be Jordin Tootoo or Vern Fiddler.

Will any other prospects stick? Antti Pihlstrom still looks like he has a good chance, as the Predators are intrigued by the possibility of an army-ant line of Pihlstrom, Scott Nichol and Tootoo.

Joel Ward may have had a better camp than Pihlstrom, but the Predators know more about Pihlstrom because he's been in the organization.

Will Nick Tarnasky be ready to start the season? Trotz said the team's new tough guy could probably play if he had to. But Tarnasky is still wearing a splint on his broken thumb, which would obviously be a drawback if he planned to drop the gloves.

If Tarnasky can't start the season, Josh Gratton may end up staying on the NHL roster.

Center Radek Bonk (hip flexor) looks like he'll be ready for the opener.

Will there be any new faces added before Friday's season opener? One reason the Predators are likely to trim the roster to 22 is to leave one spot open in case they decide to make a trade or pluck a player off waivers in the next day or two.

General Manager David Poile said no one on Monday's waiver wire interested him, but today could bring some bigger names. "There seem to be some teams that have extra players or players they don't want, so there's been a little more talk among general managers in terms of possibilities,'' Poile said. "But for the most part, I think I'd like to make decisions within our organization. We've come this far, and we're looking to give these players a chance that we said we would.''

From The Tennessean

Colin Wilson #7 Overall NHL Draft Pick - Nashville Predators

2008-07-01T18:03:00.001-05:00

Get to know the Predators' first round draft pick (#7 overall), Colin Wilson, who comes to the Preds from Boston University.

Preds to Loosen Purse Strings

2008-04-30T16:16:00.002-05:00

Last summer, NHL free agents steered clear of the Nashville Predators.
With the ownership situation in limbo, players such as Paul Kariya jumped ship. That left the Predators to scramble late last summer to meet the league's payroll floor.
This summer, however, is expected to be different.
"I will be shocked if the Nashville Predators don't have the biggest increase in payroll - both percentage-wise and in sheer dollars - of any team in the NHL," David Freeman, who heads the Preds' ownership group, told the Nashville Tennessean.
"There's always been that chicken-and-egg question about who should go first: Should the team increase its payroll and then hope fans and sponsors follow suit? Or should the fans and sponsors put up the money, and then the team will spend the money?
"We are very clearly saying we're taking the lead. We're spending the money first."
The Predators reportedly have about $34 million US committed for next season, with players such as goaltender Dan Ellis, defencemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, along with forward Martin Erat, unsigned.
Predators GM David Poile expects to sign the latter three, no matter what it takes.
"I'm working with David Freeman and ownership as to what it's going to take to sign players we'd like to bring back, in conjunction with a budget that works for the ownership," Poile told the newspaper. "But again, (the payroll) is going to be up considerably. So under different scenarios, there may be room for free agents and there may not be room for free agents."

From the Ottawa Citizen

Nashville Predators Coach Barry Trotz, Staff Get New Deals

2008-04-27T19:38:00.001-05:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Predators coach Barry Trotz and his staff received contract extensions after an unexpected fourth straight trip to the playoffs in what began as a shaky season.

The extensions for Trotz, associate coach Brent Peterson, assistant coach Peter Horachek and goaltending coach Mitch Korn were announced Tuesday by David Poile, Nashville's president of hockey operations and general manager.

The previous contract for Trotz, the expansion franchise's only coach, expired at the end of the season. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Trotz guided the Predators to the playoffs this season despite a chaotic year in which the franchise survived the threat of relocation, a botched sale, new owners, a long negotiation on their arena lease and the shedding of top players. He has coached all 738 regular-season games in the Predators' 10 years, going 324-308-106.

Nashville has yet to get past the first round of the postseason or win any road playoff games, falling in six games to the Detroit Red Wings in this year's Western Conference quarterfinals.

"Despite much adversity of the past year, the team never used that adversity as an excuse — a tribute to the efforts of the coaching staff," Poile said in a statement. "I am pleased that this group will remain together in our pursuit of a Stanley Cup for Nashville."

Just making the playoffs this season was considered a success.

Last year, the team let top scorer Paul Kariya leave for St. Louis as a free agent, traded away goalie Tomas Vokoun along with captain Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell. They managed to make up for the lost production, becoming only one of seven teams to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons.

The contract extension also keeps Trotz as the second most-tenured coach in the NHL with his current team. The only coach with a longer active tenure with one team is Buffalo's Lindy Ruff, who has been with the Sabres since 1997.

From the Associated Press

Preds Owe It to Fans, League to Re-Sign Goalie Dan Ellis

2008-04-24T09:31:00.000-05:00

The Nashville Predators have played a total of 12 home playoff games in the past four post-seasons and 11 of them have been legitimate sellouts. Come playoff time the fans in Nashville have been just as rabid and raucous as any others in the league and once the calendar hits mid-April, Music City gets a serious case of playoff fever.

It has been the same thing for the past four years, sadly, with the same result: A first round ouster.

Which is exactly why there’s little reason to believe this year’s playoff run will have any more of a long-term impact on this franchise than any other. Come next October, you’ll probably see the same sparse crowds, the same general ambivalence toward the on-ice product and the same stunning lack of enthusiasm from the corporate community.

Which is sad, really, because aside from the fact they haven’t been able to shake off their tag as first-round losers, the Predators have done almost everything right from a hockey operations standpoint.

Under GM David Poile, the Predators’ record for drafting and developing talent has been among the best in the league, for the most part their free agent signings and trades have been prudent and their front-office stability has been the envy of every other coach and GM.

And now it’s time for the new owners of the Predators to step up and prove they truly want NHL hockey to work in Nashville. They owe it to the diehards who support the team, they owe it to the fellow owners who supply the teat upon which the Predators rely for revenue sharing and they owe it to a league that shut its doors for a year, primarily to help teams such as the Preds survive.

So far, the Predators have gotten everything they’ve wanted. They got the CBA they so desperately needed and the City of Nashville is taking potential tax dollars out of things such as schools and social programs in an effort to keep the Predators from leaving town.

And like another CBA poster child – the Buffalo Sabres – the Predators have rewarded their fans by essentially stiffing them. Former owner Craig Leipold sold the team before getting a sweetheart deal to own the far more lucrative Minnesota Wild, but before doing that, forced Poile to strip the organization of some of its top veteran players in a desperate cost-cutting move.

This is where it must end. And it must end with the Predators doing everything they possibly can to sign goaltender Dan Ellis to a long-term contract extension. If they do, it will require a complete about face by team management, which, before the playoffs, seemed intent on allowing Ellis to depart as an unrestricted free agent and next season go with the tandem of Chris Mason and prospect Pekka Rinne.

But the way Ellis, who turns 28 in June, played down the stretch and in the playoffs should change everything. He recorded the best save percentage in the league during the regular season and was spectacular in defeat for the Predators, even though he was victimized by a one-bouncer that got past him in Game 6.

Ellis will command a long-term contract worth at least $3 million a season, one would think, and it will require the Predators to swallow hard before making that offer. This is a team, after all, which rewarded Chris Mason with a $3 million deal for his play last season, which was so good that when the Predators were forced to strip-mine their organization last summer, they traded Tomas Vokoun to the Florida Panthers.

Mason didn’t exactly prove to be the No. 1 goalie the Predators were seeking and signing Ellis to a similar, if not more lucrative, deal would require a leap of faith by Poile & Co. Not to mention the fact if Nashville was to pay Ellis on the same level as Mason, it’d be spending a total of $6 million on goaltenders. (Would they be overpaid in that case? Of course they would, because all goalies in the NHL are overpaid if you apply the laws of supply and demand. But hey, it’s the going rate.)

That move would hardly put the Predators in a class by themselves, though. At least 10 teams will be using up $6 million or more in cap space on goalies next season and, after all, this is a team that is willing to give up $4.5 million in cap room to David Legwand, who is essentially a third-line center.

What the Predators have in Ellis is a very good goalie who is about to enter his prime. And while - with the exception of guys such as Dominik Hasek and Martin Brodeur - fans generally don’t pay good money to watch goalies stop pucks, they do pay to watch teams win. And with Ellis in their net, the Preds give themselves the best chance to do that.

Should Ellis hit the UFA market July 1, there will be no shortage of suitors. It will be a shock if the Ottawa Senators don’t think long and hard about Ellis, and the Red Wings - who will be looking for goaltending next season - just had a front-row seat for Ellis’s playoff show. The Atlanta Thrashers and possibly the Los Angeles Kings will likely be looking at him, as will the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche if their No. 1 goalies bolt for other teams.

Signing Ellis long-term won’t guarantee the Predators any sustained playoff success or the future of the franchise in Nashville, but what it will do is show its fans and the rest of the NHL it will not allow other teams to pick its carcass the way they did last summer.

And in the absence of any tangible success in the post-season, doing that is just as important as winning in the playoffs for the Predators these days. If they are willing to let quality players go as soon as they put themselves in a position to get a good contract, why should anyone in Nashville stick with them?

From The Hockey News

Nashville Predators' Biggest Victory? Bonding, Creating New Fans

2008-04-21T21:28:00.000-05:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators' reward for surviving a year with enough twists and turns for a soap opera came in the form of a fourth straight playoff berth.

Still, coming up short in the first round against the Detroit Red Wings left the Predators disappointed after a chaotic season in which they survived the threat of possible relocation, a botched sale, new owners and a long negotiation on their arena.

They also endured a poor start after a fire sale shed their roster of their top four players.

"After the first eight games of the season, everyone thought we would be getting the first overall draft pick," forward Scott Nichol said. "This was very much a storybook season. Too bad it had to end in the middle of the book."

They can console themselves that they are just one of seven franchises to reach the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, and their 141 wins in that stretch ranks sixth best in the NHL. Their penalty-killing unit ranked third in the NHL this season.

Yet they still haven't cracked the first round of post-season nor won any playoff games on the road, a skid that now has reached 10 games.

Nashville coach Barry Trotz wants his team to be proud of its accomplishments.

"This was sort of a special group and in a way a ragtag group, and it was easy to fall in love with them because no one really gave us a chance," he said.

This is the team that let top scorer Paul Kariya leave for St. Louis as a free agent, traded away goalie Tomas Vokoun along with captain Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell. That left a big void in scoring and in net.

But Jason Arnott, who took over as captain, tied for the team lead with 72 points with J.P. Dumont, who agreed to a new deal that will keep him in Nashville. They finished with Dumont, Arnott, Alexander Radulov and Martin Erat each scoring at least 20 goals. They also scored 147 full-strength goals, second in the Western Conference.

Chris Mason struggled but still teamed with free agent pickup Dan Ellis to post 10 shutouts. But Ellis, who only signed a one-year deal, took over the net at the end of the season and was the only reason Nashville was able to push Detroit to six games in the playoffs.

Ellis had the fifth-longest shutout streak in the NHL since 1943-44 with 233:39 scoreless minutes between March 22 and 30 as the Predators went 5-0-1 to reach the post-season. He had 238 saves in the playoffs, including a franchise post-season record 52 in Game 5's 2-1 overtime loss.

"It went much better than I anticipated. I was just blessed with a great year. That's something you want to build on. You want to be considered a good goalie, not just a flash in the pan," Ellis said.

The new owners, stocked with plenty of local partners, finally got a new lease last week designed to help them make as much money as possible in the Sommet Center. They also made it clear they want to keep general manager David Poile around, giving him the title of president of hockey operations last December.

Trotz, the only coach this franchise has known in its first 10 years, is not under contract past this season. Some fans were unhappy with his coaching in the playoffs, but he was a big key in guiding this team into an improbable playoff berth.

The biggest key for this franchise may be that fans finally have claimed the Predators as their own. They sold out every playoff game and boosted attendance enough to qualify for their share of the NHL's revenue-sharing plan. They will have to do better next season.

But anyone curious about hockey love in Music City only had to show up for Game 5 last week. The game being played in Detroit lured 3,500 to the arena to watch on the scoreboard.

"We had a city that rallied behind us," Trotz said.

That might have been the Predators' biggest victory of the season.

From The Canadian Press

Social Distortion - "Ball and Chain"

2008-04-21T10:27:00.004-05:00

This song pretty much sums up the sentiment around Nashville as the Predators exit the playoffs early (again!) thanks to the Red Wings. Until next year...

Detroit Red Wings @ Nashville Predators (4/20/08)

2008-04-21T10:22:00.001-05:00

What can you say? The Predators put up a valiant effort against a superior opponent, yet again. Although moral victories are getting a bit old, you've gotta be proud of the boys for even getting into the playoffs, much less taking Detroit to six games. But looking forward, we're ready for some real playoff victories to go with the moral ones.

Proud Exit

2008-04-21T10:08:00.006-05:00

New ownership.

New fans.

Same old story.

For the fourth straight season, Nashville's Predators fell out of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round, this time losing to Detroit 3-0 on Sunday in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series.

"It would be nice to be on the other end of that handshake for a change," said Predators center Scott Nichol, who played despite a broken thumb on his left hand.

Thus ended a wild ride for this NHL franchise. Over the course of the past 12 months, there has been a change of ownership, a drastic rewriting of the roster, approval of a new lease at Sommet Center and the recruitment of a new wave of hockey fans.

On the ice, the Predators started the season 2-6 but eventually squeezed into the playoffs with a late flurry and split the first four games of this series before being eliminated with back-to-back losses in Games 5 and 6.

"It's been a roller coaster," said Jerred Smithson, who has been with the Predators the past three seasons. "We had some stretches where we were right at the bottom of our division and then we had some stretches where we were just pounding teams. We learned a lot about ourselves this season."

And Nashville learned a lot about the Predators. Seven of the last 11 regular-season games as well as all three home playoff games were sellouts. On Friday night, a crowd estimated at 3,500 came to Sommet Center to watch the telecast of Game 5 from Detroit.

"We had a city that rallied behind us," Coach Barry Trotz said.

Sommet Center was rocking again in the early stages of Game 6 when the Predators had several scoring chances. But after Detroit stretched its lead to 2-0 barely four minutes into the third period, a sense of resignation took hold. The Predators had no miracles left in them.

"It was a hard series," Detroit Coach Mike Babcock said. "They took a lot out of us."

First round an albatross

That's nice to hear, but it does little to soothe the sting of yet another first-round playoff loss. The idea is to survive and advance.

Granted, Nashville is one of only seven NHL franchises that have made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, but the Predators have yet to advance to the second round.

Beyond that, Nashville has yet to win a playoff game on the road. The Predators are 0-6 at Detroit in two series and 0-4 at San Jose in two series.

"As an organization, we're going to have to win a round in the playoffs. We're going to have to win a game on the road," Trotz said. " … We've got some goals and we know we can get there."

This time around, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. With captain Jason Arnott out for the second straight playoff game because of a concussion and with multipurpose center David Legwand playing on a badly bruised foot, the Predators couldn't generate enough offense to overcome a skilled, deep team like Detroit.

Meanwhile, the Red Wings had a telling 43-20 advantage in shots on goal.

"Everybody chipped in but we just didn't score enough goals to beat them," forward J.P. Dumont said.

Wings goalie turned tide

Detroit took the Predators' best shot early in the game and did not flinch. Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood made some big saves, and the first period ended 0-0.

"We weathered the storm the entire first period," Osgood said.

Osgood also stared down a five-on-three Predators power play late in the second period after Detroit had taken a 1-0 lead on Nicklas Lidstrom's bad-hop goal from center ice.

Credit Osgood and the Red Wings defense for changing the momentum of this series. Osgood replaced future Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek during the second period of Game 4 and allowed only one Predators goal the rest of the series.

"Ozzie comes in and plays unbelievable for us," Detroit center Kris Draper said. "He was huge early for us when we needed him, and he was huge for us on that five-on-three when we only had a 1-0 lead."

While Detroit zips into the second round of the playoffs, the Predators will reflect on things that might have been.

"Detroit is the best in the league, but I really believed we were going to beat those guys," Nichol said. "Hopefully we banged 'em up a little bit so they're a little sore going into the next series."

For the Predators, there's always next year.

From The Tennessean

Nashville Predators @ Detroit Red Wings (4/18/08)

2008-04-18T23:22:00.003-05:00

Barry Trotz said it perfectly...the Predators wasted an incredible goaltending effort tonight. Dan Ellis stood on his head time and time again to keep Detroit to a single goal in regulation despite taking over 50 shots. After pulling Ellis, the Preds manage to get a goal late thanks to Radek Bonk. But the Wings strike back OT as Johan Franzen takes advantage of a turnover to slip the game winner by Ellis. The Preds now need a win in Game 6 at home and their first playoff win on the road back in Detroit for Game 7. The series ain't over 'til it's over.

Jerry Reed - "East Bound and Down" (Movie Video)

2008-04-17T23:28:00.001-05:00

Since "Convoy" seemed to give the Predators an edge going into Game 4, maybe another trucker classic will do the trick for Game 5. Pay close attention to the end and you'll see Jackie Gleason do a dead-on Chris Chelios impersonation when a penalty call doesn't go his way.

Predators Pull Even with Red Wings

2008-04-17T22:51:00.000-05:00

The Nashville Predators are playing with the killer instinct often attributed to their first-round playoff opponent, the top-ranked Detroit Red Wings.

Greg de Vries scored what proved to be the winning goal 6:35 into the second period as the host Predators prevailed 3-2 over the Red Wings in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarter-final on Wednesday night.

"We haven't done anything yet," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said. "The only satisfaction is we got a win tonight."

Fittingly, the Predators relied on quick strikes — pouncing not once, but twice — to even the best-of-seven series 2-2.

First, Dan Hamhuis and Shea Weber scored 32 seconds apart to put Nashville ahead 2-0 before a supportive crowd of 17,113 at the Sommet Center.

Then, de Vries scored 11 seconds after Pavel Datsyuk put Detroit on the board.

"I wish I could bottle that," Trotz said. "I could probably make a fortune with my fellow coaches."

The Predators have scored twice in less than 35 seconds in each of the past three games, leading one to wonder if the Detroit is easily rattled at times.

"We lost a faceoff and it ended up in our net," Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock said. "To me, that is not running around or anything like that.

"That is losing a faceoff, so I think it is a different thing, totally. You can call it [rattled] if you want."

Martin Erat had two assists and netminder Dan Ellis, who led the NHL with a .924 save percentage, posted 39 saves as the eighth-seeded Predators were outshot in every period and 41-27 overall.

"We're starting to believe in ourselves a little more," Ellis said.

Datsyuk had both goals for the Red Wings, winners of the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top team for the third time in four years.

Dominik Hasek yielded three goals on 14 shots before being yanked in favour of Chris Osgood, who faced 13 shots.

"The one thing really hurting us in this series is we score a goal and they get one right away," Red Wings forward Kris Draper said. "When we get momentum, we have to figure out a way to keep it."

Predators strike twice

Hamhuis converted Alexander Radulov's centring pass for a power-play goal 5:18 into the contest, and Weber scored on a rising snapshot from the slot to make it 2-0 at 5:50 of the first period.

Detroit replied with a power-play goal 6:24 into the second period as Brian Rafalski threaded a pass through a crowded slot to Datsyuk, who faked a shot that forced Ellis to commit before firing the puck between his pads for his second.

But de Vries struck back at the 6:35 mark, beating a startled Hasek on a slapshot from the point.

Osgood replaced Hasek at that point, and held firm as the Red Wings pressured the Predators the rest of the way.

The Red Wings trimmed the deficit to 3-2 on a lovely play from Tomas Holmstrom, who circled the net and slid a pass back through the crease — and the legs of an unsuspecting defenceman — to Datsyuk, who flipped it into the open net for his second goal of the game and third of the series 3:23 into the third period.

From CBCSports

Detroit Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators (4/16/08)

2008-04-17T22:47:00.001-05:00

Predators goalie Dan Ellis comes up huge in Game 4 as the Preds hang on to a 3-2 win against the Red Wings and even the first round playoff series at two games apiece.

C.W. McCall - "Convoy"

2008-04-16T09:40:00.003-05:00

You had to know it was coming sooner or later. But in the spirit of crashing the net with authority, here's another 1970's classic country hit to get the Predators fired up for a huge Game 4 tonight. We still have the 45 of this song around here somewhere!

Predators Gain Confidence Heading into Game 4

2008-04-16T09:38:00.000-05:00

Nashville Predators goaltender Dan Ellis knows what it is like to win an NHL playoff game, but now he wants to find out how it would feel to have an early lead to work with.

Monday night Ellis was in net for the Predators’ 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the Sommet Center. He will be back between the pipes tonight at 8 when the Predators and Red Wings play Game 4 of their Western Conference Quarterfinals Stanley Cup Playoff series.

“It is always easier to play with a lead than battling from behind,” Ellis said. “We want to look to get out early and often in Game 4. Whenever you have the lead it takes the weight off of everyone’s backs. We can put the pressure on them and put them on their heels.

“That is what they have been able to do to us in the entire series. We want to make things easier on us. Sometimes the easy way isn’t the best way for this team.”

Ellis and the Predators will see what kind of a lift they get from their win as they try to even the series at 2-2 before returning to Detroit Friday for Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.

“It is a huge momentum-builder for us,” said Ellis. “To be able to battle back into a series that looked like it was somewhat slipping away from us was huge. You don’t want to get down 3-0 in a series. It’s very difficult to come back from that.”

Ellis faced only 26 shots in the win.

“We played a much more solid 60 minutes,” Ellis said. “We limited their opportunities much more than we did in the first two games.

“They were still able to break through with a few goals, but we didn’t give up as many odd-man rushes. We didn’t give up as many rebound chances as we did in the first couple of games. We want to use that momentum to push us into Game 4.”

Center Jason Arnott, the Predators’ captain, said he can still hear the sound of the more than 17,000 fans ringing in his ears. He thinks that kind of fan response will be the boost the Predators need if they are to again triumph.

“This should fire us up,” Arnott said. “Especially after coming back after being down by two and then being down by one in the third. We stuck with our game plan and stuck with each other and worked through it kind of like we did all season long.

“The crowd gave us that extra push to give us a chance to win. That should be a big confidence booster for us to come in Game 4 firing on all cylinders. We need contributions from everybody and we are getting that right now.”

Arnott was still feeling the effects of his goal celebration Monday night. Right wing Alexander Radulov knocked Arnott down and he was off the ice for the final 3:48 of the game. Both Arnott and coach Barry Trotz downplayed any injury that Arnott may have suffered.

“I was collecting my thoughts,” Arnott said with a laugh. “I told Radulov to slow down next time. He came at me pretty quick. It hurt a little bit, but not too bad. It was more or less excitement on his part I guess.”

Radulov is one of the more emotional players for the Predators. Trotz told him to be more careful about how he decides to celebrate.

“I told Radulov to hit the guys in red, not the guys in blue,” Trotz said. “You could tell he was excited and just ran Arnie over. Arnie got rattled. He bounced off of the boards. Arnie has more of a whiplash than anything, but he will be all right.”

Despite the euphoria of the win, the Predators have a long way to go in this series. Trotz mixed up his top lines with by pairing Arnott with wingers Martin Erat and Radulov and center David Legwand between J.P Dumont and Jan Hlavac.

“David is such a good two-way center man I can put him in any role,” Trotz said. “It doesn’t matter who Detroit puts out. I can put David out there and feel comfortable.

“We changed things up because you get a feel for which guys are going good and which guys you need together more. You have a Plan A and work yourself through to Plan Z if you need to do it. We have to be flexible and change when we need to do it.”

Detroit Red Wings @ Nashville Predators (4/14/08)

2008-04-14T22:18:00.002-05:00

Wow! The Predators are a lot of things but they are not a team without heart. Down 0-2 in the first round playoff series with Detroit, and down 3-2 with four minutes left in Game 3, the boys keep pushing until they score two back-to-back goals followed by an empty netter to take a critical win at home. Game 4 remains in Nashville, where the Preds will be gunning hard to even the series.

Sean Avery Gets Creative with Screening the Goalie

2008-04-14T10:46:00.009-05:00

Screening the goalie is a longstanding hockey tactic that every team employs whenever possible, especially on the power play. Look no further than Tomas Holmstrom of the Red Wings in the Predators playoff series for a masterful goalie screener. But is there an unspoken line that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to screening the goalie? Or can you do anything you want short of touching the goalie in the name of distraction? In the clip below, Sean Avery of the Rangers pushes the limits (and Martin Brodeur's patience) with some creative screening antics.

The NHL has come out against Avery's tactics and said it would call a penalty if it happens again. I tend to disagree. NHL referees already let players get away with murder when it comes to clearing out in front of their goalie, so there's no reason a Devils player shouldn't have just knocked him out of the way. Most rules of hockey (and sportsmanship) go out the window in front of the net, and Avery's mime show is no worse than say, a cross-check to the back. If you call him for a penalty, you really should start calling every brutal cross-check that takes place in front of the net.

Steve Earle - "Copperhead Road" (Official Video)

2008-04-13T12:42:00.002-05:00

It's pretty clear the Predators are going to need some help staying fired up to get the series evened up with Detroit as it heads back to Nashville. Maybe Steve Earle can pitch in some energy...

Arnott, Dumont Get Shut Down

2008-04-13T12:35:00.002-05:00

DETROIT — The most disappointing stat of Game 2 for Predators forwards Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont was this: They totaled more penalties than they did shots on goal.

The two players who finished tied for Nashville's scoring lead during the regular season have been stifled by Detroit's defense through the first two games of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

In Saturday's 4-2 loss, Arnott posted just one shot on goal — his only shot of the series so far — and Dumont mustered only one as well.

Detroit's top line of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom, which again went head-to-head with Nashville's top trio for most of the afternoon, produced a goal and two assists.

Arnott did come close to scoring once, when Dumont's pass across the top of the Detroit crease resulted in a short-range stuff opportunity. But Dominik Hasek turned Arnott away.

"It's frustrating for us that we're not on the scoreboard yet, but we did have a lot more chances than we did in the first game,'' Arnott said. "We've just got to keep our heads up and keep going. We can't get down on ourselves.''

Dumont was called for two roughing penalties, both of which occurred in the offensive zone. The latter penalty negated a Nashville power play late in the second period. Arnott was called for an interference penalty in the neutral zone late in the game.

With the Predators having the option of the final line change in the next two games, they likely will try to keep their top line away from Detroit's top trio, which is usually backed by defensemen Nick Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski.

"I'm sure (Detroit) is going to try to keep it the same way,'' Arnott said. "We'll have the last change. It'll be up to (the coaches) to see who's going.''

Hordichuk gets call: The Predators chose to insert Darcy Hordichuk into the lineup on Saturday following the injury to center Scott Nichol.

Predators Coach Barry Trotz had considered using seven defensemen, but opted to go with Hordichuk, who wound up seeing just 2:14 ice time.

"We needed the forwards and Darcy gives us an element with the physical part of the game,'' Trotz said.

The Predators had also contemplated putting David Legwand back in the lineup, but he missed his 14th straight game because of a bone bruise on his foot. Trotz said Legwand was day-to-day.

Rebounds, rebounds: Predators goalie Dan Ellis led the league in save percentage this season but at times allows some juicy rebounds.

Detroit forward Darren McCarty scored during just one situation on Saturday, following up Dallas Drake's shot to tap in an easy rebound.

"He's doing a good job but sometimes he gives up the rebounds,'' Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek said. "We are talking about it … It's very important to create traffic in front of him and it's possible he gives up more rebounds.''

Rinne ties record: Milwaukee Admirals goalie Pekka Rinne tied a franchise record on Saturday when he recorded his 36th victory of the season.

Rinne stopped 21 of 23 shots in a 3-2 victory for Nashville's top minor league affiliate, which has clinched an American Hockey League playoff berth.

Prospects play for title: Two Predators prospects played for the NCAA hockey championship on Saturday.

Forward Ryan Thang, a third-round pick of the Preds last summer, and forward Ben Ryan, a fourth-round '07 pick, both suited up for Notre Dame.

The Irish met Boston College for the title Saturday night.

Thang was Notre Dame's second-leading scorer this season, with 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists) in 46 games. Ryan was the fourth-leading scorer, with 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 46 games.

From The Tennessean