Readership,
Another 3rd period cliff-hanger and more injuries! The Blues decided to re-enact their favorite scenes from Slap-Shot throughout the game tonight, being more physical than usual: taking Kevin Klein out in the first 30 seconds of his shift with an upper-body injury, taking Erat out with a lower-body injury (looked like knee-on-knee), while slashing open JP Dumont's nose with a stick, crossing-checking Hornqvist in the back of the head to the ground and hitting Jones with another knee-on-knee - thankfully the latter 3 weren't serious.
11 forwards, 5 defensemen - I'm thinking Sulzer will be back up soon. Pack light from now on, Sulz, and earn those flyer miles! The boys were tired by the 3rd and it showed - up 4-1 in the first five minutes of the 3rd to hanging on 4-3 with five minutes to go. Tired from the injuries, tired from having to balance the lines what with 4 players injured total by the end of the 1st period. Thanks to Rinne's gameplay and some great D, we came out of St. Louis with a win.
Goc and Hornqvist continue to be this season's break-out goal-scoring forwards (a la Ward last season - also scoring a goal tonight) while Dumont bounced back, the stick to the face bringing out revenge in the form of fancy handy work to get the game-winning goal.
It seems once the Preds began to win and climb that ladder, our competition has taken notice that when we play as a team, we are dangerous. We don't have just one person they can take out...so they're looking to take all of our players out of commission, one by one, and that's frightening.
The next game is Columbus, New Year's Eve, so don't wait up for a post. The New Year's post will be up before the game. I'll be cooking up a storm and having folks over for the evening festivities and lots of booze will be had. How about you?
Thus far - no hockey gear was received for Xmas, or you don't wanna brag to your friends via SPC. That's fine....let's boast about beating Chris Mason tonight instead!
MAAAASSSSSOOOOOOON!
MAAAASSSSSOOOOOOON!
MAAAASSSSSOOOOOOON!
YOU SUCK!!!
(It's all your fault! x 4)
Cheers!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Chica-go-puck-yourself: Preds Lose 4-5
Readership,
Don't know what to say about this one. 2-1 into the 3rd thanks to one of the pleasant surprises this season, Marcel Goc, and another from Erat. The 3rd period brought too many penalties, too many times - though once again, many of them questionable...well...the ones against us seem to be. Is this another season where the hot Original Six team is favored, even subconsciously, by the officials? Based on last night's lack of off-side calls against and a hand-full of calls tonight, I wouldn't doubt it.
Chicago is the new Detroit.
Madden strikes lightning twice, then Hamuis and Franson (where was HE last night? Oh...scratched!) tie it back up, only to see the damn-namic duo, Toews and Kane light it up with less than a minute left, ending the season series.
I mean, I know that refs are people too, but with the silliness we've seen this weekend, with Smithson's 5-minute misconduct earlier this season that they later apologized for after the game was said and done, and hell, even with that Red Wings goal snafu (they're not even safe nowadays; they're..."old hat")...these folks better get their act together, wake the hell up and review every angle if something is questionable, or we might as well just accept the league is becoming the new NBA (ie. bought and paid for - hook[er'd], line [sman] and s[t]inker).
Sent in pics of your hockey-oriented gifts yet? seepuckcity@gmail.com and it'll be posted here at SeePuckCity for our New Year's Eve post!
'Til Tuesday!
Cheers.
Don't know what to say about this one. 2-1 into the 3rd thanks to one of the pleasant surprises this season, Marcel Goc, and another from Erat. The 3rd period brought too many penalties, too many times - though once again, many of them questionable...well...the ones against us seem to be. Is this another season where the hot Original Six team is favored, even subconsciously, by the officials? Based on last night's lack of off-side calls against and a hand-full of calls tonight, I wouldn't doubt it.
Chicago is the new Detroit.
Madden strikes lightning twice, then Hamuis and Franson (where was HE last night? Oh...scratched!) tie it back up, only to see the damn-namic duo, Toews and Kane light it up with less than a minute left, ending the season series.
I mean, I know that refs are people too, but with the silliness we've seen this weekend, with Smithson's 5-minute misconduct earlier this season that they later apologized for after the game was said and done, and hell, even with that Red Wings goal snafu (they're not even safe nowadays; they're..."old hat")...these folks better get their act together, wake the hell up and review every angle if something is questionable, or we might as well just accept the league is becoming the new NBA (ie. bought and paid for - hook[er'd], line [sman] and s[t]inker).
Sent in pics of your hockey-oriented gifts yet? seepuckcity@gmail.com and it'll be posted here at SeePuckCity for our New Year's Eve post!
'Til Tuesday!
Cheers.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
"Predator Down" Doesn't Have Same Ring As "Blackhawk Down", But Chicago Still Wins 4-1
Readership,
The good news: tonight was the first sell-out w/ 17,113 in attendance. We need more nights like tonight, nights with the lobby being a pain in the butt to walk through due to numerous "excuses me"s and "get outta my way, ya friggin' 'Hawks fan"s. Perhaps the fact that San Diego put the final nail in the Titans' coffin might sway some folks Sommet's way.
The bad news: the Preds team we saw tonight was the same team we saw in Vancouver, despite a handful of line-up changes due to Smithson's injury, as well as Toots'. Thuresson is the latest addition to the line-up, Spaling prior to that, and the chemistry has yet to be made. Turn-over after turn-over, and if it weren't for the folks in the Toronto War Room deciding to be nice to us for Boxing Day, the game would've ended in a shut-out, what with the refs not calling at least 5 off-sides against Chicago and a handful of questionable-at-best calls against us.
Like Vancouver, we seemed to match their play by the end of the 1st aaaaaaand SCENE! That's a wrap! Pack up and mail the rest in. Where #71 went, I've got no idea. I recall seeing Erat actually stealing the puck away from Klein at the blue line, and with reason (#8's shots were either picked away or were way off net or playing the puck in front of Rinne) - though it's a bad sign when your team can only forecheck against themselves. I'm morbidly curious to see how much time was spent in our zone.
I thought we tend to play superb against the best Western Conference teams. We seem to play well in their barn, so let's take it to them in front of their sold out arena, eh? Split the season series in half. Please? A belated Xmas present? A "Sorry, didn't know what Boxing Day Was" belated Boxing Day present?
FOCUS - and cram for that Chem test. You've got 40+ of them coming up, so you better get your learn on. Get Smithson to tutor you for the PK quiz, and get Tootoo to let you copy his crib notes.
Off to sleep. A wave of tired hit me like a sack of Hossa's pride.
Cheers.
The good news: tonight was the first sell-out w/ 17,113 in attendance. We need more nights like tonight, nights with the lobby being a pain in the butt to walk through due to numerous "excuses me"s and "get outta my way, ya friggin' 'Hawks fan"s. Perhaps the fact that San Diego put the final nail in the Titans' coffin might sway some folks Sommet's way.
The bad news: the Preds team we saw tonight was the same team we saw in Vancouver, despite a handful of line-up changes due to Smithson's injury, as well as Toots'. Thuresson is the latest addition to the line-up, Spaling prior to that, and the chemistry has yet to be made. Turn-over after turn-over, and if it weren't for the folks in the Toronto War Room deciding to be nice to us for Boxing Day, the game would've ended in a shut-out, what with the refs not calling at least 5 off-sides against Chicago and a handful of questionable-at-best calls against us.
Like Vancouver, we seemed to match their play by the end of the 1st aaaaaaand SCENE! That's a wrap! Pack up and mail the rest in. Where #71 went, I've got no idea. I recall seeing Erat actually stealing the puck away from Klein at the blue line, and with reason (#8's shots were either picked away or were way off net or playing the puck in front of Rinne) - though it's a bad sign when your team can only forecheck against themselves. I'm morbidly curious to see how much time was spent in our zone.
I thought we tend to play superb against the best Western Conference teams. We seem to play well in their barn, so let's take it to them in front of their sold out arena, eh? Split the season series in half. Please? A belated Xmas present? A "Sorry, didn't know what Boxing Day Was" belated Boxing Day present?
FOCUS - and cram for that Chem test. You've got 40+ of them coming up, so you better get your learn on. Get Smithson to tutor you for the PK quiz, and get Tootoo to let you copy his crib notes.
Off to sleep. A wave of tired hit me like a sack of Hossa's pride.
Cheers.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Happy Christmas From SeePuckCity
Readership,
Whatever you choose to celebrate or choose not to celebrate - we at SeePuckCity (myself, Steph and Falkous the Hockey Dog) hope you have the merriest time doing it!
Myself? I'm having a very Kraftwerk Kristmas.
Steph spent the past two days in Atlanta with her folks and received a Preds 3rd jersey, an Ads Away jersey and an authentic Cincinnati Cyclones jersey for Christmas (Who loves their gal? I loves my gal). I bought myself an old Nashville Knights puck. Pictures of hockey gifts will come soon.
Have you sent yours in yet? Send your hockey gift pics to seepuckcity@gmail.com to be included in an upcoming pre-New Year's post!
Falkous spent the day at his Grandmother's house while a creepy old man-doll with bad posture watched over him. He apparently hit the Egg Nog a bit too hard and passed out in the bedroom. Time to get back to the next set of relatives visiting the house!
As posted before, have happy holidays and more importantly, safe holiday travels. Tis the season for crazy drivers and bad weather conditions, and we all know those two things don't go together...especially in the South!
See you at our 2nd home tomorrow night against the Blackhawks.
Cheery Cheers.
Whatever you choose to celebrate or choose not to celebrate - we at SeePuckCity (myself, Steph and Falkous the Hockey Dog) hope you have the merriest time doing it!
Steph spent the past two days in Atlanta with her folks and received a Preds 3rd jersey, an Ads Away jersey and an authentic Cincinnati Cyclones jersey for Christmas (Who loves their gal? I loves my gal). I bought myself an old Nashville Knights puck. Pictures of hockey gifts will come soon.
Have you sent yours in yet? Send your hockey gift pics to seepuckcity@gmail.com to be included in an upcoming pre-New Year's post!
As posted before, have happy holidays and more importantly, safe holiday travels. Tis the season for crazy drivers and bad weather conditions, and we all know those two things don't go together...especially in the South!
See you at our 2nd home tomorrow night against the Blackhawks.
Cheery Cheers.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Preds Hand Over Win To Vancouver; Allow Canadian Media To Keep Pride
Readership,
Though I've begun this blog with ten minutes left in the game, I feel I can begin my opinion on the evening.
Aside from eating dinner and still having to wait an hour and a half for the game to begin (friggin' Vancouver games), the initial 1st period looked like it was going to be a fun game. Both teams came out with their A game, a high-energy back and forth race to get the puck in first, resulting with a 0-0 scoreboard. Smithson was the casualty, blocking a shot with his hand.
2nd period began the end, really. The Preds rarely got a chance out of their own zone, getting a handful of shots versus Vancouver doubling theirs up from the 1st. Bouillon was cut and left for the locker room. Our "lunch pail gang" had no thermos of Liquid Ice to come back. The lackluster 2nd period-play ended 0-2 Vancouver.
3rd brought Bouillon back to the game, as well as a last gasp of energy...before a blast from the blue-line and, as a few moments ago as of typing this blog, the Sedins scoring this game out (instead of diving and whining all over the ice like they did at 501 Broadway) - the game became 0-4. Hornqvist, one of the only players (see also Erat, Sullivan, hell...even Jones for the few minutes he was out there) that seemed to be "on" and energized, scored late to kill Betty Lu's hopes for an easy shut-out (and yeh, I called him Betty Lu). I've got that fella's name on my back at the moment - thinking perhaps picking up a Goc shirt. Giving any Preds X-Mas gifts this year? Getting any that you know of? Send your pics to seepuckcity@gmail.com and I'll post'em on Boxing Day (26th) though the end of the year. Back to the game - Preds lost it in the 2nd for the rest of the way ending 1-4.
With the couple of days off the Preds had on this Canadian trip to travel out west, it seems either they got a little lazy, Christmas might've been on their minds with all the friends and family-visiting one would assume they all tried to squeeze in, or it could just be Vancouver really just wanted to give their fans something to rub in the faces of anyone who gives two piddles about any other Canadian team...cos as any small-market team fan knows, Canadian egos are equivalent to that of a bull in a china shop. Vancouver fans are going to bed smiling tonight, or at least to the messageboards to talk smack, not about how their team beat the Predators, but that the other Canadian teams did not.
60 minutes, boys. 20 won't cut it. Not in Canada, and certainly not at home when we face the best in the West. We seem to do rather well, however, when we face "the best" - let's continue that streak...and break Chicago's.
Happy Christmas to those of you who celebrate it. Merry Whatever-Else to those of you who celebrate other things. Enjoy the gift of breathing for those of you who don't really celebrate anything at this time of year (cos based on the people I've seen in the malls and on the roads this past week, it really should be a privilege...so...inhale with glee). I'll see you in 303 on Saturday.
Safe travels and send me those Preds gift pics for the 26th!
Cheers.
PS. It's Always Sunny In...Vancouver?
Though I've begun this blog with ten minutes left in the game, I feel I can begin my opinion on the evening.
Aside from eating dinner and still having to wait an hour and a half for the game to begin (friggin' Vancouver games), the initial 1st period looked like it was going to be a fun game. Both teams came out with their A game, a high-energy back and forth race to get the puck in first, resulting with a 0-0 scoreboard. Smithson was the casualty, blocking a shot with his hand.
2nd period began the end, really. The Preds rarely got a chance out of their own zone, getting a handful of shots versus Vancouver doubling theirs up from the 1st. Bouillon was cut and left for the locker room. Our "lunch pail gang" had no thermos of Liquid Ice to come back. The lackluster 2nd period-play ended 0-2 Vancouver.
3rd brought Bouillon back to the game, as well as a last gasp of energy...before a blast from the blue-line and, as a few moments ago as of typing this blog, the Sedins scoring this game out (instead of diving and whining all over the ice like they did at 501 Broadway) - the game became 0-4. Hornqvist, one of the only players (see also Erat, Sullivan, hell...even Jones for the few minutes he was out there) that seemed to be "on" and energized, scored late to kill Betty Lu's hopes for an easy shut-out (and yeh, I called him Betty Lu). I've got that fella's name on my back at the moment - thinking perhaps picking up a Goc shirt. Giving any Preds X-Mas gifts this year? Getting any that you know of? Send your pics to seepuckcity@gmail.com and I'll post'em on Boxing Day (26th) though the end of the year. Back to the game - Preds lost it in the 2nd for the rest of the way ending 1-4.
With the couple of days off the Preds had on this Canadian trip to travel out west, it seems either they got a little lazy, Christmas might've been on their minds with all the friends and family-visiting one would assume they all tried to squeeze in, or it could just be Vancouver really just wanted to give their fans something to rub in the faces of anyone who gives two piddles about any other Canadian team...cos as any small-market team fan knows, Canadian egos are equivalent to that of a bull in a china shop. Vancouver fans are going to bed smiling tonight, or at least to the messageboards to talk smack, not about how their team beat the Predators, but that the other Canadian teams did not.
60 minutes, boys. 20 won't cut it. Not in Canada, and certainly not at home when we face the best in the West. We seem to do rather well, however, when we face "the best" - let's continue that streak...and break Chicago's.
Happy Christmas to those of you who celebrate it. Merry Whatever-Else to those of you who celebrate other things. Enjoy the gift of breathing for those of you who don't really celebrate anything at this time of year (cos based on the people I've seen in the malls and on the roads this past week, it really should be a privilege...so...inhale with glee). I'll see you in 303 on Saturday.
Safe travels and send me those Preds gift pics for the 26th!
Cheers.
PS. It's Always Sunny In...Vancouver?
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Preds Extinguish Flames 5-3 In Calgary
Readership,
I was at work for the last scheduled day of 2009 (students go out of town for break, I get a bit of a vacation myself) with a terrible hangover (Vodka's a cruel mistress) while our boys continued their own version of Sherman's March (through Canada), so I didn't have a chance to catch the matinee game on the tv nor the radio. Another 5+ goal game makes me wonder if Trotz rewards the fellas with Tim Hortons if they score 5, the way we get our frosties. Whatever he's doing, it's working quite nicely, eh?
Steph, however, was lucky enough to catch a majority of the game on the radio dial, so without further ado...SPC Special Guest Blogger Stephanie:
Well today being my birthday it was kind of special already, but a 4th straight win never hurts. I like what I've been seeing/listening to lately. We're starting off strong right from the start & if the opponent ties it up or even if we get behind a goal or two, the boys are brushing it off & coming back strong. I like that, the consistency of play is much better in comparison to earlier this season. Our boys are playing a full 60 minutes no matter what the score is, and that's always a good thing. We're scoring goals on every line, also a good thing. We've got 20 players (sans goalies) & maybe it's just me, but I feel like all 20 players should contribute at least something to the game. Now, I'm not saying that I expect Weber & Suter to have 20 goals a piece this season, but you just can't rely on your top line to be the only ones out their scoring goals. You've got to spread the threat around or those special few become the main targets for the opposition. That's what we've been doing lately & just look at the results. We scored 5 goals tonight & everyone of them was scored by a different player. 6 goals on Thursdays night & the only one of five guys to score more than one goal was Patric Hornqvist. I think I'm starting to see a pattern here. After being hit or miss for so long we're finally playing as a unified team & if we continue this calibre of play the playoffs are ours for the taking.
Sorry I didn't really talk much about tonight's game. If for some reason this is the only hockey blog you read & you missed the game here's a quick recap. We were up 2-1 at the end of the 1st with a goal each from Erat & Legwand. The flames took a short-lived one-point lead in the 2nd with a pair of goals coming from Iginla, but Goc tied it up for us just after the 17-minute marker. The Flames tried to rally back in the 3rd, but with solid goaltending by Dan Ellis & a goal by Cody Franson & then empty netter by Scatchard, the Preds took the much needed revenge for our last home loss to the Flames.
------------------------------------------
Thanks, Steph! Happy birthday!
This was an exciting game to say the least, and thankfully, I'll have all the time until mid-Jan. to catch the upcoming games and bring you the SPC take on things.
'Til next time!
Cheers.
I was at work for the last scheduled day of 2009 (students go out of town for break, I get a bit of a vacation myself) with a terrible hangover (Vodka's a cruel mistress) while our boys continued their own version of Sherman's March (through Canada), so I didn't have a chance to catch the matinee game on the tv nor the radio. Another 5+ goal game makes me wonder if Trotz rewards the fellas with Tim Hortons if they score 5, the way we get our frosties. Whatever he's doing, it's working quite nicely, eh?
Steph, however, was lucky enough to catch a majority of the game on the radio dial, so without further ado...SPC Special Guest Blogger Stephanie:
Well today being my birthday it was kind of special already, but a 4th straight win never hurts. I like what I've been seeing/listening to lately. We're starting off strong right from the start & if the opponent ties it up or even if we get behind a goal or two, the boys are brushing it off & coming back strong. I like that, the consistency of play is much better in comparison to earlier this season. Our boys are playing a full 60 minutes no matter what the score is, and that's always a good thing. We're scoring goals on every line, also a good thing. We've got 20 players (sans goalies) & maybe it's just me, but I feel like all 20 players should contribute at least something to the game. Now, I'm not saying that I expect Weber & Suter to have 20 goals a piece this season, but you just can't rely on your top line to be the only ones out their scoring goals. You've got to spread the threat around or those special few become the main targets for the opposition. That's what we've been doing lately & just look at the results. We scored 5 goals tonight & everyone of them was scored by a different player. 6 goals on Thursdays night & the only one of five guys to score more than one goal was Patric Hornqvist. I think I'm starting to see a pattern here. After being hit or miss for so long we're finally playing as a unified team & if we continue this calibre of play the playoffs are ours for the taking.
Sorry I didn't really talk much about tonight's game. If for some reason this is the only hockey blog you read & you missed the game here's a quick recap. We were up 2-1 at the end of the 1st with a goal each from Erat & Legwand. The flames took a short-lived one-point lead in the 2nd with a pair of goals coming from Iginla, but Goc tied it up for us just after the 17-minute marker. The Flames tried to rally back in the 3rd, but with solid goaltending by Dan Ellis & a goal by Cody Franson & then empty netter by Scatchard, the Preds took the much needed revenge for our last home loss to the Flames.
------------------------------------------
Thanks, Steph! Happy birthday!
This was an exciting game to say the least, and thankfully, I'll have all the time until mid-Jan. to catch the upcoming games and bring you the SPC take on things.
'Til next time!
Cheers.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
There Will Be Blood: Preds Strike Oil(ers) 6-3
Readership,
Hey everyone! Remember when our boys went on their Canadian road-trip a few years back and came back with wins against all those Northern naysayers? It might just happen again!
I'm not particularly in a blogging mood, but the 6-3 win over the Oilers I'm sure has us all grinning. What Rinne's problem was - no clue - but thankfully Hornqvist took care of it and erased those mistakes from the board and Smithson, Ward, Goc and Jones (another Jones goal, indeed) helped take care of the rest.
Can we say "hO, hO, hO"? Our O seems to have taken its time getting here this season, but as of late, it's been here in spades. I love this lil holiday gift to the fans. Makes for great games (and frosties)! Keep it up, fellas and have a nice time visiting your own family and friends!
Cheers.
Hey everyone! Remember when our boys went on their Canadian road-trip a few years back and came back with wins against all those Northern naysayers? It might just happen again!
I'm not particularly in a blogging mood, but the 6-3 win over the Oilers I'm sure has us all grinning. What Rinne's problem was - no clue - but thankfully Hornqvist took care of it and erased those mistakes from the board and Smithson, Ward, Goc and Jones (another Jones goal, indeed) helped take care of the rest.
Can we say "hO, hO, hO"? Our O seems to have taken its time getting here this season, but as of late, it's been here in spades. I love this lil holiday gift to the fans. Makes for great games (and frosties)! Keep it up, fellas and have a nice time visiting your own family and friends!
Cheers.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Frosties, Fights and Tuesday Nights: Preds Strike Lightning 7-4
Readership,
You eating your Frosty? I sure am. You eating it with fries? I ate those already, so I can't say that I'm doing that at the moment. What I am doing at the moment is relishing in tonight's electrifying score against the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, 7-4. Smithson, Legwand, Jones, Hornqvist, Dumont, Hamhuis and Erat - thank you for that lovely evening!
Jones has 3 goals in 4 games, looking great since his recall, though Hockeybuzz Felder thinks it's a show and that he's trade bait. With all the Ellis rumors being reported, I wouldn't be surprised if both were shopped as a package, but where, oh where, would that be? Erat continues his domination in each game, making me wonder if I should pick him up for my fantasy team - I never thought I'd ever consider that.
Weber, Klein and Smithson dropped gloves this evening, though by the energy throughout the game, there were plenty other times the fisticuffs could've flown. By the end of the 2nd, the refs seemed to quit calling...well...anything against the Lightning unless it was blatant, and even some of those calls were over-looked.
A great way to end the last game prior to Christmas break for all of us, and before our boys' 3-game western Canada road-trip. Let's keep the fire burning (lord knows we'd all like that after that 40 degree temp. drop last night) and get some revenge in Calgary - put that flame out once and for all).
I've got a few ideas in store for the SPC - in the words of Yogurt, "Moichandising!" - SeePuckCity stickers are in the works, and maybe...maybe...wearables. And did somebody say...awesomely hilarious micro-podcasts! All of that and more in 2010!
Mmm...my Frosty is now gone, and as I wash it down with an Abita Christmas Ale (Yazoo's Wassail that you can get from their taproom is much better - I'm saving the rest of that growler for a special occassion, like...when I get home from dealing with relatives after Christmas Day) and I can only hope for more surprise Christmas gifts in the form of wins on the road.
For those of you who will soon be traveling, safe travels - watch the roads, don't drink and drive or drive when you are tired (just as dangerous, folks - really), and watch for cops cos they'll soon be everywhere (and in Hendersonville, they may pull you over for driving 3 mph over - so anal, the HPD).
I'll keep blogging after the Away games, but there are folks already going out of town now, students taking their final finals and being whisked away into the land of gaudy decorations and Round 2 of Holiday Dinners That Earn You Ten Pounds. Happy holidays from SPC - at least until Dec.31st, when I'll announce something else, possibly while being incredibly sloshed.
Cheers!
You eating your Frosty? I sure am. You eating it with fries? I ate those already, so I can't say that I'm doing that at the moment. What I am doing at the moment is relishing in tonight's electrifying score against the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, 7-4. Smithson, Legwand, Jones, Hornqvist, Dumont, Hamhuis and Erat - thank you for that lovely evening!
Jones has 3 goals in 4 games, looking great since his recall, though Hockeybuzz Felder thinks it's a show and that he's trade bait. With all the Ellis rumors being reported, I wouldn't be surprised if both were shopped as a package, but where, oh where, would that be? Erat continues his domination in each game, making me wonder if I should pick him up for my fantasy team - I never thought I'd ever consider that.
Weber, Klein and Smithson dropped gloves this evening, though by the energy throughout the game, there were plenty other times the fisticuffs could've flown. By the end of the 2nd, the refs seemed to quit calling...well...anything against the Lightning unless it was blatant, and even some of those calls were over-looked.
A great way to end the last game prior to Christmas break for all of us, and before our boys' 3-game western Canada road-trip. Let's keep the fire burning (lord knows we'd all like that after that 40 degree temp. drop last night) and get some revenge in Calgary - put that flame out once and for all).
I've got a few ideas in store for the SPC - in the words of Yogurt, "Moichandising!" - SeePuckCity stickers are in the works, and maybe...maybe...wearables. And did somebody say...awesomely hilarious micro-podcasts! All of that and more in 2010!
Mmm...my Frosty is now gone, and as I wash it down with an Abita Christmas Ale (Yazoo's Wassail that you can get from their taproom is much better - I'm saving the rest of that growler for a special occassion, like...when I get home from dealing with relatives after Christmas Day) and I can only hope for more surprise Christmas gifts in the form of wins on the road.
For those of you who will soon be traveling, safe travels - watch the roads, don't drink and drive or drive when you are tired (just as dangerous, folks - really), and watch for cops cos they'll soon be everywhere (and in Hendersonville, they may pull you over for driving 3 mph over - so anal, the HPD).
I'll keep blogging after the Away games, but there are folks already going out of town now, students taking their final finals and being whisked away into the land of gaudy decorations and Round 2 of Holiday Dinners That Earn You Ten Pounds. Happy holidays from SPC - at least until Dec.31st, when I'll announce something else, possibly while being incredibly sloshed.
Cheers!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
My Calling As A Prophet Is Moot: Redwings Best Preds in OT 3-2
Readership,
As I mentioned in the previous post, due to my band's first gig in a year and a half, I was unable to make it to the OT win over Columbus, let alone hear it on the radio, so I did not blog about it.
I did, however, have a dream last night that I twittered about earlier this morning: I was walking to my friend's place (though it was a 2-story townhouse instead of a normal apt) and I looked down at my phone to check the game score - it read 3-2 Preds. I woke up feeling assured that tonight would be a W.
Tonight, I had to work, but I was able to keep up with stats until the middle of the 2nd, and I listened to the rest on the radio. When I first saw 2-0 in favor of the Wings, I felt defeated, but as I began listening, it seemed that my dream prophecy could come true - our boys in blue came back to tie the game 2-2 (thank you, Leggy and Sullivan/Jones) despite faulty calls that give Detroit goals that shouldn't count (seems that our calls at these games always waive ours off). As I sat outside of the Nashville Arena, awaiting Steph's return (she makes it to all the games I cannot make it to due to work and takes notes - that's love!), we made it to OT - a point for each team - fine. Then Todd Bertuzzi decided to be my very own lil Freddy Krueger and destroy my dreamage, though not intentionally - we lost another game due to TURN OVERS (the ultimate Pred fan nightmare during games we should win).
The Preds battled back sharply in order to tie it up and then coasted into OT wondering how to maneuver while the Wings were firing all pistons and paying full attention to not only themselves but us as well. In the end, that's what lost the game - the extra attention paid (in full, this time at our expense).
We've got another game or two at home against these fellas - next time we must make all 60 minutes count instead of 30, in order to make sure these 3 point games don't occur in our division. We were only 3 points out last year - let's make sure as many other Central Division teams know that feeling this time around. Play completely.
Cheers.
As I mentioned in the previous post, due to my band's first gig in a year and a half, I was unable to make it to the OT win over Columbus, let alone hear it on the radio, so I did not blog about it.
I did, however, have a dream last night that I twittered about earlier this morning: I was walking to my friend's place (though it was a 2-story townhouse instead of a normal apt) and I looked down at my phone to check the game score - it read 3-2 Preds. I woke up feeling assured that tonight would be a W.
Tonight, I had to work, but I was able to keep up with stats until the middle of the 2nd, and I listened to the rest on the radio. When I first saw 2-0 in favor of the Wings, I felt defeated, but as I began listening, it seemed that my dream prophecy could come true - our boys in blue came back to tie the game 2-2 (thank you, Leggy and Sullivan/Jones) despite faulty calls that give Detroit goals that shouldn't count (seems that our calls at these games always waive ours off). As I sat outside of the Nashville Arena, awaiting Steph's return (she makes it to all the games I cannot make it to due to work and takes notes - that's love!), we made it to OT - a point for each team - fine. Then Todd Bertuzzi decided to be my very own lil Freddy Krueger and destroy my dreamage, though not intentionally - we lost another game due to TURN OVERS (the ultimate Pred fan nightmare during games we should win).
The Preds battled back sharply in order to tie it up and then coasted into OT wondering how to maneuver while the Wings were firing all pistons and paying full attention to not only themselves but us as well. In the end, that's what lost the game - the extra attention paid (in full, this time at our expense).
We've got another game or two at home against these fellas - next time we must make all 60 minutes count instead of 30, in order to make sure these 3 point games don't occur in our division. We were only 3 points out last year - let's make sure as many other Central Division teams know that feeling this time around. Play completely.
Cheers.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
"SeePuckCity Is The Best Ho(c)key Blog Nashville's Got," says SeePuckCity.
Readership,
It came to my attention two days ago that yours truly was nominated in a contest of strength, wit and/or value. Sadly, that came to my attention after the fact that yours truly did not make it past the first round of said contest. Today, my attention was turned towards one blogger in the contest mentioning that smear tactics were being used to undermine this contest of will, honor and/or knowledge, and I have only this to say to the whole situation:
SeePuckCity is the ONLY Nashville Predators hockey blog you need.
That being said, I will tell you why I'm right in my rather ballsy comment: cos after you read my take on a game and/or reason I posted something hockey-related, you can click a link to get all that boring statistical bugga-boo. You can go get your stats or your interviews or your podcasts with guests who make more money than you doing awesome things you'd like to do (see Mike Birbiglia) or your opinionated feminine view of things, you can even click on a link to get your extrovertedly anonymous view of things, or even your Canadian view of things (*shudder*), but as long as you're doing it with a smile (a smirk works just as well - see AJ for your smirk-worthiness) on your face, you've got it done right (you do know that when you click the highlighted text, it will take you to a related or ironically humorous link, right? If not, you've been doing it wrong.).
SeePuckCity: It's it. (What is it? SeePuckCity.)
;D
Cheers.
((In all honesty, congrats to all of you guys - if it weren't for you all, especially after the messageboard went to hell, I wouldn't have been inspired to do what I do here. A sincere shout out to all Nashville Preds bloggers, Admirals bloggers and Cyclones bloggers - thank you and keep it up.))
It came to my attention two days ago that yours truly was nominated in a contest of strength, wit and/or value. Sadly, that came to my attention after the fact that yours truly did not make it past the first round of said contest. Today, my attention was turned towards one blogger in the contest mentioning that smear tactics were being used to undermine this contest of will, honor and/or knowledge, and I have only this to say to the whole situation:
SeePuckCity is the ONLY Nashville Predators hockey blog you need.
That being said, I will tell you why I'm right in my rather ballsy comment: cos after you read my take on a game and/or reason I posted something hockey-related, you can click a link to get all that boring statistical bugga-boo. You can go get your stats or your interviews or your podcasts with guests who make more money than you doing awesome things you'd like to do (see Mike Birbiglia) or your opinionated feminine view of things, you can even click on a link to get your extrovertedly anonymous view of things, or even your Canadian view of things (*shudder*), but as long as you're doing it with a smile (a smirk works just as well - see AJ for your smirk-worthiness) on your face, you've got it done right (you do know that when you click the highlighted text, it will take you to a related or ironically humorous link, right? If not, you've been doing it wrong.).
SeePuckCity: It's it. (What is it? SeePuckCity.)
;D
Cheers.
((In all honesty, congrats to all of you guys - if it weren't for you all, especially after the messageboard went to hell, I wouldn't have been inspired to do what I do here. A sincere shout out to all Nashville Preds bloggers, Admirals bloggers and Cyclones bloggers - thank you and keep it up.))
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Erat Earns The Season's 1st Hat-trick: Preds Defeat Canucks At Home 4-2
Readership,
Betta Czech yo self befo you wreck yo self - Erat scores a hat-trick, the 1st of this season for the Preds, after being moved up to the 1st line for tonight's game. Has he played 3rd line yet? I believe he might be the only player to have played all 4 lines this season, and with scoring points in 4 consecutive games, it looks like he might be staying there for a lil while. This is great news! This will make JP pick up his lackluster pace while Erat hopefully continues his consecutive point-streak.
I was at work until the 3rd - keeping score on the iPhone with Sportacular, as usual, but I arrived while it was still 1-2 Preds. Steph took notes and I heard the stories and saw the proof - apparently...Vancouver is practicing for the Olympic Diving Team - Daniel Sedin's favorite movie: Dive Another Day. He'd shoot a puck and fall to the ground. Or...skate behind the goal post and fall to the ground. Or get the puck at face-off and fall to the ground. I'd go so far as to say if he were called on a penalty, he'd re-create a dramatization in the penalty box and do an interpretive dance of a leaf falling to the ground. Oh, and Burrows, you're a twat.
Hornqvist had a pleasant return to the positive stats with a goal in the 3rd (with an assist by none other than Erat himself) as well as a target on his head - he seems to be the fella the other team wants to push and shove just cos he's always stationed at the net (hey Trotz...does Belak do this? Nope. Doesn't do anything else either). A toast to Horny as well! It's vodka tonight, and while it's vodka, a toast to Pekka as well (Finlandia, perhaps?) - what with a montage that bests any intro of the past two seasons. Seriously...I don't want Schindler's List music with my black&white hockey highlights to get me in the mood. I want Rob Zombie back!!!
I will be missing the Columbus game on Thursday due to the fact that my punk band, Clist, is playing our first show in two Mays - 8pm at the Little Hamilton Collective. It's up to all of the other quality bloggers to take care of the news and notes for you!
'Til Detroit!
Cheers.
Betta Czech yo self befo you wreck yo self - Erat scores a hat-trick, the 1st of this season for the Preds, after being moved up to the 1st line for tonight's game. Has he played 3rd line yet? I believe he might be the only player to have played all 4 lines this season, and with scoring points in 4 consecutive games, it looks like he might be staying there for a lil while. This is great news! This will make JP pick up his lackluster pace while Erat hopefully continues his consecutive point-streak.
Hornqvist had a pleasant return to the positive stats with a goal in the 3rd (with an assist by none other than Erat himself) as well as a target on his head - he seems to be the fella the other team wants to push and shove just cos he's always stationed at the net (hey Trotz...does Belak do this? Nope. Doesn't do anything else either). A toast to Horny as well! It's vodka tonight, and while it's vodka, a toast to Pekka as well (Finlandia, perhaps?) - what with a montage that bests any intro of the past two seasons. Seriously...I don't want Schindler's List music with my black&white hockey highlights to get me in the mood. I want Rob Zombie back!!!
I will be missing the Columbus game on Thursday due to the fact that my punk band, Clist, is playing our first show in two Mays - 8pm at the Little Hamilton Collective. It's up to all of the other quality bloggers to take care of the news and notes for you!
'Til Detroit!
Cheers.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Preds Lost In The Wilderness: 5-3
Readership,
That coach we had for the first part of the season is back, scratching a fella that will stay in front of the net and get those garbage goals we need to survive with our lack of O in favor of a scrapper who doesn't scrap at all, let alone do anything else. "Coach's choice," indeed.
And playing Ellis back-to-back? He didn't shutout Chicago - I'm not saying he wasn't great against them, but still...he's become the back-up goalie and when we play back-to-backs, that's when we change back up. Is it because Rinne didn't win against the Wild last time? Well, by that logic we now have reason to never let Ellis play against the Wild again.
Jones is back and I'm OK with that. We've got his name on the back of t-shirts for a reason, right? Though I did see the new Wilson shirts moved to a different section in the pro-shop. Hmm.
Erat continues with the goal scoring and I'm perfectly sound with him now...as long as he keeps this up. He's getting paid more than so many other better players, I'd think that might bruise his ego if he didn't finally step up and compete with his hockey millionaire's club.
Oh, Zanon, I miss ya, buddy...but your new team can piss off. Is it going to take a bad team to get amazing for us to beat them? We do great against great teams and piss-poor against "meh" teams and there is absolutely no reason! With Detroit playing as they have, I'm actually more afraid of them now then ever before...cos they're more mediocre than ever!
All these moves with the Ads and Cyclones and whatnot might be paving a way to produce some sort of trade deal for some sound offense. I'm crossing my fingers for that.
Cheers.
That coach we had for the first part of the season is back, scratching a fella that will stay in front of the net and get those garbage goals we need to survive with our lack of O in favor of a scrapper who doesn't scrap at all, let alone do anything else. "Coach's choice," indeed.
And playing Ellis back-to-back? He didn't shutout Chicago - I'm not saying he wasn't great against them, but still...he's become the back-up goalie and when we play back-to-backs, that's when we change back up. Is it because Rinne didn't win against the Wild last time? Well, by that logic we now have reason to never let Ellis play against the Wild again.
Jones is back and I'm OK with that. We've got his name on the back of t-shirts for a reason, right? Though I did see the new Wilson shirts moved to a different section in the pro-shop. Hmm.
Erat continues with the goal scoring and I'm perfectly sound with him now...as long as he keeps this up. He's getting paid more than so many other better players, I'd think that might bruise his ego if he didn't finally step up and compete with his hockey millionaire's club.
Oh, Zanon, I miss ya, buddy...but your new team can piss off. Is it going to take a bad team to get amazing for us to beat them? We do great against great teams and piss-poor against "meh" teams and there is absolutely no reason! With Detroit playing as they have, I'm actually more afraid of them now then ever before...cos they're more mediocre than ever!
All these moves with the Ads and Cyclones and whatnot might be paving a way to produce some sort of trade deal for some sound offense. I'm crossing my fingers for that.
Cheers.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Hot Diggity Dog!: Preds Consume Blackhawks 4-1
Readership,
I sit tonight with a table of friends, having just finished making homemade salsa while Steph finishes Christmas cards, I got off of work as the 2nd began, as Erat scored the 2nd goal to bring it to 2-1. What? Really? Erat? A few off games and his personal streak is back. Thank you, Erat.
The Blackhawks brought the thunder to go along with their newest long-term contracts, but thankfully, as history has it, when the all-stars sign giant contracts, they don't perform for a handful of games. Thanks for joining those ranks; Kane and Toews, respectfully. So many powerplays against the Preds and now I'm wondering where we are in the NHL's PK list. Anyone got the stats yet? The 3rd saw a last minute burst of energy, one of which has been appearing in the last string of games, just not with pinpoint precision, Tootoo finally made the back of the net, quickly followed by Wardo to end the game 4-1.
We play very well against the best teams and we don't show up during the mediocre teams. Another thing I notice, we're good in either getting revenge or getting our just desserts: Blues lose to us, we streak 7 games, they get revenge; San Jose somehow defeats us, so they come here and we get those points back; it's the Wild's time - even with my boy, Zanon, it's time to take you down (seems to be the pattern, anyhow, so let's not ).
The Dec. 12th game against the Red Wings will give attendees 3rd jersey beer koozies, so buy more tix and get fun gifts for your friends.
A less-than-positive-article in the Nashville Scene regarding the first appearance of the 3rd jersey (see my post regarding hocus-pocus on appearing on a friday instead of the proposed Saturdays) also mentions that it may just follow the lead of the Wild's 3rd...the 3rd may become our 1st in the future so they say. What do you have to say to that?
Cheers.
I sit tonight with a table of friends, having just finished making homemade salsa while Steph finishes Christmas cards, I got off of work as the 2nd began, as Erat scored the 2nd goal to bring it to 2-1. What? Really? Erat? A few off games and his personal streak is back. Thank you, Erat.
The Blackhawks brought the thunder to go along with their newest long-term contracts, but thankfully, as history has it, when the all-stars sign giant contracts, they don't perform for a handful of games. Thanks for joining those ranks; Kane and Toews, respectfully. So many powerplays against the Preds and now I'm wondering where we are in the NHL's PK list. Anyone got the stats yet? The 3rd saw a last minute burst of energy, one of which has been appearing in the last string of games, just not with pinpoint precision, Tootoo finally made the back of the net, quickly followed by Wardo to end the game 4-1.
We play very well against the best teams and we don't show up during the mediocre teams. Another thing I notice, we're good in either getting revenge or getting our just desserts: Blues lose to us, we streak 7 games, they get revenge; San Jose somehow defeats us, so they come here and we get those points back; it's the Wild's time - even with my boy, Zanon, it's time to take you down (seems to be the pattern, anyhow, so let's not ).
The Dec. 12th game against the Red Wings will give attendees 3rd jersey beer koozies, so buy more tix and get fun gifts for your friends.
A less-than-positive-article in the Nashville Scene regarding the first appearance of the 3rd jersey (see my post regarding hocus-pocus on appearing on a friday instead of the proposed Saturdays) also mentions that it may just follow the lead of the Wild's 3rd...the 3rd may become our 1st in the future so they say. What do you have to say to that?
Cheers.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Preds Get Their Point Across, Then Get Rebuked: Lose To Wild In OT 4-5
Readership,
I'm sick at the moment - trying to overcome it with meds, thus I'm sleepy and forgot about the game tonight until the beginning of the 3rd. Thanks to tonight's game being shown on GameCenter (finally! A Preds game on a service I'm paying too much for), I caught up with the highlights and saw in the 1st, a team playing only a wee better than the last time (OK, nothing is as bad as the Calgary gameplay is concerned). The 2nd saw the team gather their bearings and play like they meant it...tie game. The 3rd saw two really hungry teams, with two sharp-shooting captains (Arnott, Koivu) keeping the game afloat into OT. And the OT saw a cluster in front of the net, everyone on the ground like they were being held up...and they were, for the second point at least.
At least we got 1? I know that's not the way to think, especially against the team that kept us from inching our way into the playoffs last season, but it is what it is. Let's surprise the Blackhawks by being sharp a full 60 minutes, eh?
On a side note, my gal Steph was happily surprised at her workplace by a group from the Preds Org. Pictures will be up soon, but let's just say there was an ecstatic girl with a handful of t-shirts today off Demonbruen and an afternoon she won't soon forget. Thanks, Mr. Perez, for making her day!
Off to guzzle some NyQuil.
Cheers.
I'm sick at the moment - trying to overcome it with meds, thus I'm sleepy and forgot about the game tonight until the beginning of the 3rd. Thanks to tonight's game being shown on GameCenter (finally! A Preds game on a service I'm paying too much for), I caught up with the highlights and saw in the 1st, a team playing only a wee better than the last time (OK, nothing is as bad as the Calgary gameplay is concerned). The 2nd saw the team gather their bearings and play like they meant it...tie game. The 3rd saw two really hungry teams, with two sharp-shooting captains (Arnott, Koivu) keeping the game afloat into OT. And the OT saw a cluster in front of the net, everyone on the ground like they were being held up...and they were, for the second point at least.
At least we got 1? I know that's not the way to think, especially against the team that kept us from inching our way into the playoffs last season, but it is what it is. Let's surprise the Blackhawks by being sharp a full 60 minutes, eh?
On a side note, my gal Steph was happily surprised at her workplace by a group from the Preds Org. Pictures will be up soon, but let's just say there was an ecstatic girl with a handful of t-shirts today off Demonbruen and an afternoon she won't soon forget. Thanks, Mr. Perez, for making her day!
Off to guzzle some NyQuil.
Cheers.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Preds Play Without Fire, Get Burned 0-5
Readership,
It's all my fault, it's all my fault, and I'll tell you why.
My first FST-holder year in 2007 had me buying tickets for as many friends as I could to go to games with me. One of these friends was a quirky, lil Canadian fella by the name of Rohan (Hi, Rohan). He wanted to go to as many games as possible, but if he had to pick one, it was the next game against the Flames, as he was from Calgary. Little did I know that by inviting a fella from Calgary into my home that they would continue to beat the tar out of us most of the times they visit. Sorry, everyone. My bad.
That being said, playing the hottest road team in the NHL at the moment by not playing at all isn't the way to win the game. When our expected top-O isn't even registering shots on net throughout the whole game, you know you're pretty much done. That being said, thankfully not too many people witnessed it (and I say "thankfully" in a bittersweet way cos we need folks in seats - even the scalpers went home broke tonight).
Time to forget. The Wild are up next and it's time for us to get back on track for this 2-game tour. The Blackhawks will be the real challenge, but if last night was any indication...one game at a time - cant afford to get too ahead of ourselves.
Cheers.
It's all my fault, it's all my fault, and I'll tell you why.
My first FST-holder year in 2007 had me buying tickets for as many friends as I could to go to games with me. One of these friends was a quirky, lil Canadian fella by the name of Rohan (Hi, Rohan). He wanted to go to as many games as possible, but if he had to pick one, it was the next game against the Flames, as he was from Calgary. Little did I know that by inviting a fella from Calgary into my home that they would continue to beat the tar out of us most of the times they visit. Sorry, everyone. My bad.
That being said, playing the hottest road team in the NHL at the moment by not playing at all isn't the way to win the game. When our expected top-O isn't even registering shots on net throughout the whole game, you know you're pretty much done. That being said, thankfully not too many people witnessed it (and I say "thankfully" in a bittersweet way cos we need folks in seats - even the scalpers went home broke tonight).
Time to forget. The Wild are up next and it's time for us to get back on track for this 2-game tour. The Blackhawks will be the real challenge, but if last night was any indication...one game at a time - cant afford to get too ahead of ourselves.
Cheers.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Preds Declaw Panthers 4-1 at the Nashville Arena; SPC Eats Hot Chicken In Space.
Readership,
I sent out a "tweet" tonight stating I was representing Section: Prince's Hot Chicken Shack. Having not had the time to hang out with my gal in weeks - our work schedules never allowing more than an hour to see one another before sleep - and tonight being the last day off I have in awhile, I made the choice to forfeit my ticket for this evening's game...which ended up being rather amazing in the 3rd as I looked down at my Sportacular iPhone app a few moments ago.
The night consisted of Prince's Hot Chicken and watching 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time and on Blu-Ray to boot. Needless to say, in retrospect I would have liked to have seen that 3rd period over 2001, but nothing in the arena can beat out a good piece of hot chicken and seasoned fries. What? I'm from the South.
I can't wait to read what PredsOnTheGlass or OnTheForecheck has to say about tonight's game, I just wish I could tell you as well. Ah well - next time I'll sneak a piece of Prince's in with me and it'll be a match made in heaven: hot chicken and ice hockey.
Cheers.
I sent out a "tweet" tonight stating I was representing Section: Prince's Hot Chicken Shack. Having not had the time to hang out with my gal in weeks - our work schedules never allowing more than an hour to see one another before sleep - and tonight being the last day off I have in awhile, I made the choice to forfeit my ticket for this evening's game...which ended up being rather amazing in the 3rd as I looked down at my Sportacular iPhone app a few moments ago.
I can't wait to read what PredsOnTheGlass or OnTheForecheck has to say about tonight's game, I just wish I could tell you as well. Ah well - next time I'll sneak a piece of Prince's in with me and it'll be a match made in heaven: hot chicken and ice hockey.
Cheers.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Blues Break Streak: Preds Fall 1-3
Readership,
It's nights like these I don't like hearing about streaks. Nights when the loudest, booze-ladened fans of the Central Division come to our house and leave gratified (though they for some reason feel gratified when the game begins, mainly due to their incredibly high blood-alcohol level). Nights when new superstitions can be created when you unveil a new 3rd jersey to the fans (that is supposed to be saved for Saturday games only, so already you're creating unlucky hocus-pocus). Nights when the team goes back to the ol' Dump&Chase routine and the ol' Powder Play (not a typo, they might as well be playing in the snow).
I wonder was Coach Horachek is thinking right now. Perhaps:
"Dammit, Erat, I said 'No more fancy dancing'! What do you call all those missed chances, bad passes and turnovers?"
"Fancy dancing? I thought you say, 'No more lancing dancers'!"
"What does that even mean?"
"I thought it was Young Buck song. My badness."
The Preds lost to the Blues, 1-3, and there was no real reason why other than laziness. Did the streak go to their heads? Did the Thanksgiving leftovers settle heavy in their tummies? Did the air pressure (or high-grade dank) from Denver zone them out the past two days? Did they want to give Mason a chance to look half-way decent again out of a feeling of lost brotherhood? Did they not want to ruin their new jerseys cos they're just too damn pretty (seriously, buy one - you'll love it)? I don't know, but any of those could be valid with the game we saw at the Sommet Center Nashville Arena this evening.
The refs were also in the lethargic "mailing it in" mood this evening, waiving off a goal that went in at about the time the whistle blew despite the puck not being covered. Another goal nearly went in, popping off the side of Mason's glove, hitting the post and bouncing back out (many fans say this should've been a goal, though this is the one I'll disagree on - it didn't pass the line). And later on in the 3rd, another goal waived due to an assisting "hand pass". It's never a fun game when the refs are in Kariya's pocket not doing a fair and balanced job.
Wings fans might suck, but at least they've got a talented history to back up their yucks with. Blues fans are the definition of "suck", plain and simple. I have yet to meet a Blues fan in Nashville (this is excluding you, Edwin) that doesn't act like a drunken, obnoxious waste of sperm & eggs, and to top it off, it's a Friday night, so you know they've been topping it off since 3 o'clock this afternoon, waiting to trip up the stairs and stumble down the streets of our fair city (yours is apparently rather dangerous, I might add, St. Louis Boozers). Here's to you, Blues fans (I'd say "Alpha Blues Fans", but you all consider yourselves "alpha" despite how very wrong most of you are), a giant Mad middle finger.
Preds face yet another former goalie tomorrow, Vokie and the Panthers at 7PM once again. Perhaps we'll have better luck against Mr. Baptist Sports Medicine.
In unrelated news, my Kovi to Nashville rumor has been picking up steam as of today. Good ol' Ek at Hockeybuzz.com has been "talking to a source" regarding the "ownership group in Nashville showing interest" in Kovalchuk. As I stated before, it'd be a great move and one that would bring positive media attention to the Predators (regardless of the fact that there has been very little stated up until us winning the 7th game in a row - found a few tidbit articles here and there saying "Hey...they're doing better than we thought (ie. better than any team in the league this month)", but as I said, tonight's not a night for hearing about streaks. Since Ek has taken notice as well, my Kovi to Nashville rumor is now at a Level SPC-Delta!!! Let's make it happen. Either that, or Bobby Ryan. Either one works. Get those leftovers away from Poile - it's like he's been snacking on them since last year's Thanksgiving Dinner.
'Til then.
Cheers.
It's nights like these I don't like hearing about streaks. Nights when the loudest, booze-ladened fans of the Central Division come to our house and leave gratified (though they for some reason feel gratified when the game begins, mainly due to their incredibly high blood-alcohol level). Nights when new superstitions can be created when you unveil a new 3rd jersey to the fans (that is supposed to be saved for Saturday games only, so already you're creating unlucky hocus-pocus). Nights when the team goes back to the ol' Dump&Chase routine and the ol' Powder Play (not a typo, they might as well be playing in the snow).
I wonder was Coach Horachek is thinking right now. Perhaps:
"Dammit, Erat, I said 'No more fancy dancing'! What do you call all those missed chances, bad passes and turnovers?"
"Fancy dancing? I thought you say, 'No more lancing dancers'!"
"What does that even mean?"
"I thought it was Young Buck song. My badness."
The Preds lost to the Blues, 1-3, and there was no real reason why other than laziness. Did the streak go to their heads? Did the Thanksgiving leftovers settle heavy in their tummies? Did the air pressure (or high-grade dank) from Denver zone them out the past two days? Did they want to give Mason a chance to look half-way decent again out of a feeling of lost brotherhood? Did they not want to ruin their new jerseys cos they're just too damn pretty (seriously, buy one - you'll love it)? I don't know, but any of those could be valid with the game we saw at the Sommet Center Nashville Arena this evening.
The refs were also in the lethargic "mailing it in" mood this evening, waiving off a goal that went in at about the time the whistle blew despite the puck not being covered. Another goal nearly went in, popping off the side of Mason's glove, hitting the post and bouncing back out (many fans say this should've been a goal, though this is the one I'll disagree on - it didn't pass the line). And later on in the 3rd, another goal waived due to an assisting "hand pass". It's never a fun game when the refs are in Kariya's pocket not doing a fair and balanced job.
Wings fans might suck, but at least they've got a talented history to back up their yucks with. Blues fans are the definition of "suck", plain and simple. I have yet to meet a Blues fan in Nashville (this is excluding you, Edwin) that doesn't act like a drunken, obnoxious waste of sperm & eggs, and to top it off, it's a Friday night, so you know they've been topping it off since 3 o'clock this afternoon, waiting to trip up the stairs and stumble down the streets of our fair city (yours is apparently rather dangerous, I might add, St. Louis Boozers). Here's to you, Blues fans (I'd say "Alpha Blues Fans", but you all consider yourselves "alpha" despite how very wrong most of you are), a giant Mad middle finger.
Preds face yet another former goalie tomorrow, Vokie and the Panthers at 7PM once again. Perhaps we'll have better luck against Mr. Baptist Sports Medicine.
In unrelated news, my Kovi to Nashville rumor has been picking up steam as of today. Good ol' Ek at Hockeybuzz.com has been "talking to a source" regarding the "ownership group in Nashville showing interest" in Kovalchuk. As I stated before, it'd be a great move and one that would bring positive media attention to the Predators (regardless of the fact that there has been very little stated up until us winning the 7th game in a row - found a few tidbit articles here and there saying "Hey...they're doing better than we thought (ie. better than any team in the league this month)", but as I said, tonight's not a night for hearing about streaks. Since Ek has taken notice as well, my Kovi to Nashville rumor is now at a Level SPC-Delta!!! Let's make it happen. Either that, or Bobby Ryan. Either one works. Get those leftovers away from Poile - it's like he's been snacking on them since last year's Thanksgiving Dinner.
'Til then.
Cheers.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Ski Pred-trol: Preds Win Over Avalanche In OT 4-3
Readership,
I haven't moved very far since the fun name post a few hours ago, and alas, no cable, so I streamed 104.5 The Zone and caught back up on local news and worked on my fantasy team a bit (sorry Havlat, you kinda suck).
The Preds came out, swarming all over Colorado in the 1st, 2-0. The 2nd had Colorado handing it back to us, making it 2-3, and then Weber came back near the end to tie it up at 3. The 3rd was a stale-mate until the last few minutes when Legwand began chipping away like it was one of those lumberjack contests to no avail - went to overtime.
Legwand found a chip-away friend in Arnott and scored the OT goal to win the game. Legrat and Ewand (nicknames I use thanks to an on-air radio tongue twist that I will always grin at, regardless of the fact that these two players have finally found their place this season) are working it game-per-game now. Keep it coming, you two!!! Erat, you got a new house to decorate! Leggy, you got a new kid to start a Vanderbilt college fund for! Keep it coming!!!
I'm a lil superstitious, so I won't talk of records other than this one comment I'm typing right now. You'll hear about that kind of thing from other less mystical hockey-god fearing folk. Still excited though...but getting hopes up is never healthy for TN sports fans (see last year's Titans and Vandy fans) ;D
See ya Friday!
Cheers.
I haven't moved very far since the fun name post a few hours ago, and alas, no cable, so I streamed 104.5 The Zone and caught back up on local news and worked on my fantasy team a bit (sorry Havlat, you kinda suck).
The Preds came out, swarming all over Colorado in the 1st, 2-0. The 2nd had Colorado handing it back to us, making it 2-3, and then Weber came back near the end to tie it up at 3. The 3rd was a stale-mate until the last few minutes when Legwand began chipping away like it was one of those lumberjack contests to no avail - went to overtime.
Legwand found a chip-away friend in Arnott and scored the OT goal to win the game. Legrat and Ewand (nicknames I use thanks to an on-air radio tongue twist that I will always grin at, regardless of the fact that these two players have finally found their place this season) are working it game-per-game now. Keep it coming, you two!!! Erat, you got a new house to decorate! Leggy, you got a new kid to start a Vanderbilt college fund for! Keep it coming!!!
I'm a lil superstitious, so I won't talk of records other than this one comment I'm typing right now. You'll hear about that kind of thing from other less mystical hockey-god fearing folk. Still excited though...but getting hopes up is never healthy for TN sports fans (see last year's Titans and Vandy fans) ;D
See ya Friday!
Cheers.
The Nashville Predators Int'l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union 429 Arena? It's not out of the question.
Readership,
While we're waiting an extra hour to get the puck sliding when our Preds take on the Mile-High City Snowfall, we've been given news of yet another unexpected financial snafu: The Sommet Group hasn't been paying up for the arena naming rights and a suit is being filed. The Sommet Group will continue to have rights until they are tried and lose. What does this mean for the fans? A guessing game, of course! What will our 2nd home be called next? Click here is a list of the present-day businesses that support the team.
What else can we do with our spare time whilst we wait for the game and this list of possibilities? Come up with slogans for our team just in case these "What If" scenarios become a reality!
Bradshaw Collision Center: Get Smashed.
JD's British Cars Arena: Where Central Division Rivals Can Sod Off.
CINTAS Center: Cleaning Soiled Hockey Gear Since 1998.
Geriatrix Consulting Center: Where Chelios Was Consulted Ages Ago.
Capitol Wholesale Fence Co. Arena: Keeps Out Goals Against.
Smith, Seckman, Reid, Inc. Arena: Arnott, Dumont, Sullivan, Wow!
Team Construction Center: We Do It Well.
Premier Door Arena: Where Wings Fans' Asses Are Hit On The Way Out.
Dirt Factory Arena (I just wanted to type this one out, really.)
Home Team Arena: It Just Makes Sense. (or Home Team Arena: Really.)
Terminix Center: Keeping the Pests Out
RazorGator Interactive Arena: ExtremeAwesome Hockiness, Brah!(!!)
SESAC Center: What? You Already Called It "Gaylord".
Peoples State Bank Of Commerce Center: Home of the Peoples Team Of Hockey - the Nashville Predators
Pinnacle Center: If We Buy The Naming Rights, Will You Forgive The Signs We Just Put On Our Tower?
Pillsbury Center: Western Conference Rivals...YOU SUCK! Heeheeheeeee!
Pepsi Cola Arena (just so when we're finally put in the Eastern Conference, and Coke buys the Thrashers' naming rights...we can have an all-out...though it'd rock more as Royal Crown Arena)
Allied Waste Arena: Garbage Goals All Night
Dixie Medical Center: No Yanks Allowed
Southern Louisiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center: We Fixed Legwand, We Can Fix You
Moo-TV Arena: Opponent Tipping - We're Professionals
Southern Ice Arena Arena: The Second Arena Is Yours
The list can go on and on, but you get the picture. Why don't you join in the fun and comment some more? These were all off the top of my head, so I'm sure you can do much better. I just got home from driving from Atlanta in Thanksgiving traffic...took me 6 hours instead of 3 and a half...I'm braindead, I hate cars at the moment and I just ate some pizza I brought home from a delicious place in Little 5 called Savage Pizza (I recommend it).
More details will surely come out soon regarding this silliness, but until then, let's create some of our own.
And, just so the businesses know, thank you so much for supporting the team in ways we private individuals can't afford. This post is in jest, and is meant to be taken lightly. If you can't take puns or farcical nature without a grain of salt, you most likely aren't reading this blog anyway, but just in case...
'Til then!
Cheers.
While we're waiting an extra hour to get the puck sliding when our Preds take on the Mile-High City Snowfall, we've been given news of yet another unexpected financial snafu: The Sommet Group hasn't been paying up for the arena naming rights and a suit is being filed. The Sommet Group will continue to have rights until they are tried and lose. What does this mean for the fans? A guessing game, of course! What will our 2nd home be called next? Click here is a list of the present-day businesses that support the team.
What else can we do with our spare time whilst we wait for the game and this list of possibilities? Come up with slogans for our team just in case these "What If" scenarios become a reality!
Bradshaw Collision Center: Get Smashed.
JD's British Cars Arena: Where Central Division Rivals Can Sod Off.
CINTAS Center: Cleaning Soiled Hockey Gear Since 1998.
Geriatrix Consulting Center: Where Chelios Was Consulted Ages Ago.
Capitol Wholesale Fence Co. Arena: Keeps Out Goals Against.
Smith, Seckman, Reid, Inc. Arena: Arnott, Dumont, Sullivan, Wow!
Team Construction Center: We Do It Well.
Premier Door Arena: Where Wings Fans' Asses Are Hit On The Way Out.
Dirt Factory Arena (I just wanted to type this one out, really.)
Home Team Arena: It Just Makes Sense. (or Home Team Arena: Really.)
Terminix Center: Keeping the Pests Out
RazorGator Interactive Arena: ExtremeAwesome Hockiness, Brah!(!!)
SESAC Center: What? You Already Called It "Gaylord".
Peoples State Bank Of Commerce Center: Home of the Peoples Team Of Hockey - the Nashville Predators
Pinnacle Center: If We Buy The Naming Rights, Will You Forgive The Signs We Just Put On Our Tower?
Pillsbury Center: Western Conference Rivals...YOU SUCK! Heeheeheeeee!
Pepsi Cola Arena (just so when we're finally put in the Eastern Conference, and Coke buys the Thrashers' naming rights...we can have an all-out...though it'd rock more as Royal Crown Arena)
Allied Waste Arena: Garbage Goals All Night
Dixie Medical Center: No Yanks Allowed
Southern Louisiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center: We Fixed Legwand, We Can Fix You
Moo-TV Arena: Opponent Tipping - We're Professionals
Southern Ice Arena Arena: The Second Arena Is Yours
The list can go on and on, but you get the picture. Why don't you join in the fun and comment some more? These were all off the top of my head, so I'm sure you can do much better. I just got home from driving from Atlanta in Thanksgiving traffic...took me 6 hours instead of 3 and a half...I'm braindead, I hate cars at the moment and I just ate some pizza I brought home from a delicious place in Little 5 called Savage Pizza (I recommend it).
More details will surely come out soon regarding this silliness, but until then, let's create some of our own.
And, just so the businesses know, thank you so much for supporting the team in ways we private individuals can't afford. This post is in jest, and is meant to be taken lightly. If you can't take puns or farcical nature without a grain of salt, you most likely aren't reading this blog anyway, but just in case...
'Til then!
Cheers.
Monday, November 23, 2009
"You've Got Red On You" - Preds Defeat Red Wings 3-1
Readership,
My apologies for no post in regards to the exhilarating over-time win against the Blue Jackets Saturday night. As mentioned, Steph and I had planned a house party months in advance and couldn't make it out. Instead, I had the game streaming on GameCenter and playing through a loud PA system while guests began to arrive. In the shootout, none of than Marvin Elias Ecos joined me to bring forth his good Preds luck to the DJ booth.
Anyway - you know that story already. Tonight is about the Predators solidifying their winning run through the leagues heaviest hitters, continuing tonight with the defeat of the Detroit Red Wings. The team continues to look as complete as they have since Montreal. Tootoo playing hungry, Pekka standing on his head or fifteen feet in front of the goal to stop mostly everything, Erat continuing his redemption by not just earning assists as in the last few games, but multiple goals as well, the PP unit coming together multiple times too, D playing strong in front of their goaltender, the top line growing [as one Twitter fan called it] "face pets" for cancer benefits...and to scare the living bejesus out of the goalie when they crash the net, the team is working as a team and is winning as a team.
Yes, folks, this team is real.
Yes, media, this team is real.
I love it when a team comes together.
The crowd was amazing tonight for the only nationally televised game on Versus. Twitter fans mentioned being able to hear 303 loud and clear, with a possible conspiracy as to why "That's The Way I Like It" was played after Erat's first goal (the reason: VS didn't like hearing the "You Suck" chant...cos they could...loud and clear...that the Red Wings suck...and we were going to beatt the hell out of them...[Nogood, loser]), but that's just speculation (unless you've got the proof, then it'll be called "Versusgate" from here on out).
What else new? The 3rd jerseys of course! They're quite lovely, but I will let you in on this...I've got a 2007-2008 replica home jersey, Size L, so I pre-ordered a 2009 3rd size L. The new 3rd jerseys are BIGGER than the current replica jerseys. My 3rd jersey Size M is pretty much equal to my home Size L (I tried on the L and I could tandem skydive in that thing). Steph wore an old XL Preds promotional long-sleeve shirt and her Size Small 3rd fit over it with maybe a half an inch of the bottom of her shirt showing. Rumor has it they'll be available in the pro-shop on for the Nov. 27th game - Black Friday strikes the Sommet Center?? Nooooo!!!
'Til Colorado.
Cheers.
My apologies for no post in regards to the exhilarating over-time win against the Blue Jackets Saturday night. As mentioned, Steph and I had planned a house party months in advance and couldn't make it out. Instead, I had the game streaming on GameCenter and playing through a loud PA system while guests began to arrive. In the shootout, none of than Marvin Elias Ecos joined me to bring forth his good Preds luck to the DJ booth.
Anyway - you know that story already. Tonight is about the Predators solidifying their winning run through the leagues heaviest hitters, continuing tonight with the defeat of the Detroit Red Wings. The team continues to look as complete as they have since Montreal. Tootoo playing hungry, Pekka standing on his head or fifteen feet in front of the goal to stop mostly everything, Erat continuing his redemption by not just earning assists as in the last few games, but multiple goals as well, the PP unit coming together multiple times too, D playing strong in front of their goaltender, the top line growing [as one Twitter fan called it] "face pets" for cancer benefits...and to scare the living bejesus out of the goalie when they crash the net, the team is working as a team and is winning as a team.
Yes, folks, this team is real.
Yes, media, this team is real.
I love it when a team comes together.
The crowd was amazing tonight for the only nationally televised game on Versus. Twitter fans mentioned being able to hear 303 loud and clear, with a possible conspiracy as to why "That's The Way I Like It" was played after Erat's first goal (the reason: VS didn't like hearing the "You Suck" chant...cos they could...loud and clear...that the Red Wings suck...and we were going to beatt the hell out of them...[Nogood, loser]), but that's just speculation (unless you've got the proof, then it'll be called "Versusgate" from here on out).
What else new? The 3rd jerseys of course! They're quite lovely, but I will let you in on this...I've got a 2007-2008 replica home jersey, Size L, so I pre-ordered a 2009 3rd size L. The new 3rd jerseys are BIGGER than the current replica jerseys. My 3rd jersey Size M is pretty much equal to my home Size L (I tried on the L and I could tandem skydive in that thing). Steph wore an old XL Preds promotional long-sleeve shirt and her Size Small 3rd fit over it with maybe a half an inch of the bottom of her shirt showing. Rumor has it they'll be available in the pro-shop on for the Nov. 27th game - Black Friday strikes the Sommet Center?? Nooooo!!!
'Til Colorado.
Cheers.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Devils Not Welcome In The Bible Belt: Preds Win In Shoot-Out 3-2
Readership,
Today was a good day.
The last day of work for a week and a half before Thanksgiving weekend...I was working closing shift and took my break for lunch around 2:30. Out of nowhere, Stephanie appears at my workplace, having not yet visited my new workplace before, telling me of "good news": Preds Marketing folk came into her workplace and noticed her Rinne shirt - conversations took place - free lower bowl tickets were given - score. I told one of my superiors, a fan of hockey himself, if he wanted to buy my tix in 303, he could. He then told me he was closing and we were overstaffed so he'd try to get me out early, and he did.
The seats in 101 were quite nice, though I will say this for the rest of the folks in that section...worthless. No crowd participation, no chanting, no clapping, constant talking about un-hockey related topics and staff members by the name of "Ben" and "Allison" that hopped from seat to seat (including our seats...twice) to talk to their friends they most likely gave free tickets to. The last time we were given free tix in 107, the folks at least clapped the team on. 101...puck bunnies and Ben and Allison's buddies - psh. They don't deserve those seats. Enough of the negative...
On to the positive!
Our boys just defeated the best in the West AND the East! Arnott scoring twice against his former team, as well as the best goalie in the league (one of the best ever), Tootoo gets underneath the Devil's skin without dropping the gloves, while Rinne stones Parise and Langenbrunner, Santorelli notches the first shoot-out goal and Erat redeems himself by winning the shoot-out and the game! What a game, indeed!!!
Nashville: Where On-Fire Teams Go To Die. Let's keep it going, fellas!!!
Have you voted for the Nashville/Ottawa game to be re-played?
Have you seen who just has to be Pedigree's Next Most Awesome Preda-dog In All Existence?
I won't be at the Columbus game this Saturday - a party has been in the works at Casa De SPC for months now, but I'll definitely be picking up that 3rd jersey - might even make it my party attire later that evening. 'Til then!
Cheers.
Today was a good day.
The last day of work for a week and a half before Thanksgiving weekend...I was working closing shift and took my break for lunch around 2:30. Out of nowhere, Stephanie appears at my workplace, having not yet visited my new workplace before, telling me of "good news": Preds Marketing folk came into her workplace and noticed her Rinne shirt - conversations took place - free lower bowl tickets were given - score. I told one of my superiors, a fan of hockey himself, if he wanted to buy my tix in 303, he could. He then told me he was closing and we were overstaffed so he'd try to get me out early, and he did.
The seats in 101 were quite nice, though I will say this for the rest of the folks in that section...worthless. No crowd participation, no chanting, no clapping, constant talking about un-hockey related topics and staff members by the name of "Ben" and "Allison" that hopped from seat to seat (including our seats...twice) to talk to their friends they most likely gave free tickets to. The last time we were given free tix in 107, the folks at least clapped the team on. 101...puck bunnies and Ben and Allison's buddies - psh. They don't deserve those seats. Enough of the negative...
On to the positive!
Our boys just defeated the best in the West AND the East! Arnott scoring twice against his former team, as well as the best goalie in the league (one of the best ever), Tootoo gets underneath the Devil's skin without dropping the gloves, while Rinne stones Parise and Langenbrunner, Santorelli notches the first shoot-out goal and Erat redeems himself by winning the shoot-out and the game! What a game, indeed!!!
Nashville: Where On-Fire Teams Go To Die. Let's keep it going, fellas!!!
Have you voted for the Nashville/Ottawa game to be re-played?
Have you seen who just has to be Pedigree's Next Most Awesome Preda-dog In All Existence?
I won't be at the Columbus game this Saturday - a party has been in the works at Casa De SPC for months now, but I'll definitely be picking up that 3rd jersey - might even make it my party attire later that evening. 'Til then!
Cheers.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Shark Meat Tastes Like Chicken: Preds Win 4-3
Readership,
I was able to get out of work at 8:50 this evening, to catch the last 6 and a half minutes of regulation live at Sommet Center. Stephanie took notes and I witnessed some rather awful off-ice officials essentially allow 3 minutes of timeouts to San Jose while they kept wading through the rough and tumble sea of shot-clock time.
4-2 soon became 4-3 as I sat in my seat in 303, cursing my bosses for using me as a replacement for some girl who got canned, some girl whose schedule involved closing every single evening, when I asked for as many day shifts as possible. Psh...unions - seniority rules who gets day-shifts.
Seniority ruled tonight as well as Sullivan, Legwand, Smithson and (the exception) Ward tallied ho - Legwand finally stepping up to the doubt that similarly has been cast on his ole buddy Erat due to lack of production. Whatever was said to these boys has finally made a difference. I believe it was Asst. Coach Horachuck mentioning during 2-0 practice drills some thing to the effect of "no more fancy dancing".
The team we saw against Montreal showed up again to get revenge on San Jose and those points that should've been ours last week. This is the team we've wanted from the get-go. This is the team that will show the nay-sayers and northern doubters what we can do. This is THE team - our team.
Lets hone in on this identity, realize the potential, and take out the competition.
Wilson to the Ads for conditioning? If the team is playing as well as it is without Wilson, who has sadly missed the amazing transition we've got going on at the moment, then I hate to say it, but fine. Let him destroy Chelios and the Wolves, the Rivermen and the rest of the AHL. I'm sure he won't have an issue with that assignment.
I don't think I'll be able to make the New Jersey game as much as I'd like to (if tonight was any indication). I'm putting my ticket up on Ticket Exchange - 303, H4 if you'd like to buy it and comment on how amazing my seat actually is. Those silly folks on the glass don't know the half of what it is to be in 303. Foolish folks indeed!
Cheers.
I was able to get out of work at 8:50 this evening, to catch the last 6 and a half minutes of regulation live at Sommet Center. Stephanie took notes and I witnessed some rather awful off-ice officials essentially allow 3 minutes of timeouts to San Jose while they kept wading through the rough and tumble sea of shot-clock time.
4-2 soon became 4-3 as I sat in my seat in 303, cursing my bosses for using me as a replacement for some girl who got canned, some girl whose schedule involved closing every single evening, when I asked for as many day shifts as possible. Psh...unions - seniority rules who gets day-shifts.
Seniority ruled tonight as well as Sullivan, Legwand, Smithson and (the exception) Ward tallied ho - Legwand finally stepping up to the doubt that similarly has been cast on his ole buddy Erat due to lack of production. Whatever was said to these boys has finally made a difference. I believe it was Asst. Coach Horachuck mentioning during 2-0 practice drills some thing to the effect of "no more fancy dancing".
The team we saw against Montreal showed up again to get revenge on San Jose and those points that should've been ours last week. This is the team we've wanted from the get-go. This is the team that will show the nay-sayers and northern doubters what we can do. This is THE team - our team.
Lets hone in on this identity, realize the potential, and take out the competition.
Wilson to the Ads for conditioning? If the team is playing as well as it is without Wilson, who has sadly missed the amazing transition we've got going on at the moment, then I hate to say it, but fine. Let him destroy Chelios and the Wolves, the Rivermen and the rest of the AHL. I'm sure he won't have an issue with that assignment.
I don't think I'll be able to make the New Jersey game as much as I'd like to (if tonight was any indication). I'm putting my ticket up on Ticket Exchange - 303, H4 if you'd like to buy it and comment on how amazing my seat actually is. Those silly folks on the glass don't know the half of what it is to be in 303. Foolish folks indeed!
Cheers.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Hey, Kovalchuk...it's safer to park your car outside in Nashville!
Readership,
SPC Rumor Chart:
SPC-Alpha - I have on strict authority that this is totally happening.
SPC-Beta - I have on half-assed authority that this is "totally" happening.
SPC-Gamma - I've got a friend of a credible friend saying this is going to happen.
SPC-Delta - I've got a few folks with sources (ie. other bloggers) speculating moves in the works to make this happen.
SPC-Digamma - I've got a feeling based on tea leaves, standing up too fast, it coming to me in a dream or something similar to this that this is going to happen.
Kovalchuk to Nashville: SPC-Digamma
I know, I know - the talks with the KHL are still possibly going on and talks about being shopped around prolly won't even begin for a few weeks, but the possibility...the feeling that we might just be able to land Kovalchuk if the right buttons were pushed...
What do you think? Poile bring Kovalchuk to Nashville? That wouldn't be the first thing we've learned from the "Big Apple of the South", one of the most dangerous metropolitan cities in the country, Atlanta - no, no...we've learned how to make rap music and how to perfect cola and how to steal architects with illusions of grandeur. Now we just gotta learn how to make hockey players realize Nashville is on the up and up while Atlanta is MARTA a rotting pile of garbage. Sure, we don't have a rotting pile of garbage subway system, but we are the friendliest city in America! Howdy, Ilya - I'll buy ya a round down at Jack's and then we can go electric slide at the Wildhorse! See? Friendly!
In all fairness to my girlfriend Stephanie (who made the wise decision to move from ATL to BNA Nashville) and our many friends back down Georgia way...at least Decatur is nice.
Cheers.
SPC Rumor Chart:
SPC-Alpha - I have on strict authority that this is totally happening.
SPC-Beta - I have on half-assed authority that this is "totally" happening.
SPC-Gamma - I've got a friend of a credible friend saying this is going to happen.
SPC-Delta - I've got a few folks with sources (ie. other bloggers) speculating moves in the works to make this happen.
SPC-Digamma - I've got a feeling based on tea leaves, standing up too fast, it coming to me in a dream or something similar to this that this is going to happen.
Kovalchuk to Nashville: SPC-Digamma
I know, I know - the talks with the KHL are still possibly going on and talks about being shopped around prolly won't even begin for a few weeks, but the possibility...the feeling that we might just be able to land Kovalchuk if the right buttons were pushed...
What do you think? Poile bring Kovalchuk to Nashville? That wouldn't be the first thing we've learned from the "Big Apple of the South", one of the most dangerous metropolitan cities in the country, Atlanta - no, no...we've learned how to make rap music and how to perfect cola and how to steal architects with illusions of grandeur. Now we just gotta learn how to make hockey players realize Nashville is on the up and up while Atlanta is MARTA a rotting pile of garbage. Sure, we don't have a rotting pile of garbage subway system, but we are the friendliest city in America! Howdy, Ilya - I'll buy ya a round down at Jack's and then we can go electric slide at the Wildhorse! See? Friendly!
In all fairness to my girlfriend Stephanie (who made the wise decision to move from ATL to BNA Nashville) and our many friends back down Georgia way...at least Decatur is nice.
Cheers.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Preds Drive 55 - Shut Out Habs 2-0
Readership,
I can't get Sammy Hagar out of my head at the moment thanks to my prideful attempts at being clever.
Preds drive a whopping 55 shots at Carey Price and bring home a 2-0 win after nearly two weeks out on the road, a much needed victory to provide the hometown crowd with proof that they are finally getting comfortable with themselves and with the way they need to play to return to the playoff run.
Note: I was able to get out of work a little early and made it just in time for the last minute of the 1st period, so I missed Sully's first goal, but to look at the shot clock after a period and see 24 shots to some single digit (was it 6 or 8, I forgot) put a smile on my face. Hell, to see 1- 0 after the 1st is enough to put a smile on any face.
The 2nd period saw some great passing and more territorial domination. It was only at some point in the at the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd where we were really even semi-challenged (even by the refs with a questionable goalie interference goal waive-off). Sully bagged one more and that cemented the win.
Some of the movement and puck acrobatics used to keep the puck in control was a welcome addition to what I see as an "evolution" of the team during the regular season. The little things helped us keep the puck in this evening, helping the team dominate in the offensive zone. Sure, we might've made Carey Price look amazing tonight, but it's better that we're the ones shooting in the end (it's that pesky scoring bit that we're still working on, but it's getting better!).
I won't be able to witness most of the next few home games due to the workplace's closing shifts getting me to the Sommet by 9ish, so we shall see - I may sell my tix, or try to make the 3rd and get an update via Stephanie.
Coming off tonight's dominance, I think we just may now have the trick to keep the Sharks at bay, and win back what we sorely deserved. What say you?
Cheers.
I can't get Sammy Hagar out of my head at the moment thanks to my prideful attempts at being clever.
Preds drive a whopping 55 shots at Carey Price and bring home a 2-0 win after nearly two weeks out on the road, a much needed victory to provide the hometown crowd with proof that they are finally getting comfortable with themselves and with the way they need to play to return to the playoff run.
Note: I was able to get out of work a little early and made it just in time for the last minute of the 1st period, so I missed Sully's first goal, but to look at the shot clock after a period and see 24 shots to some single digit (was it 6 or 8, I forgot) put a smile on my face. Hell, to see 1- 0 after the 1st is enough to put a smile on any face.
The 2nd period saw some great passing and more territorial domination. It was only at some point in the at the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd where we were really even semi-challenged (even by the refs with a questionable goalie interference goal waive-off). Sully bagged one more and that cemented the win.
Some of the movement and puck acrobatics used to keep the puck in control was a welcome addition to what I see as an "evolution" of the team during the regular season. The little things helped us keep the puck in this evening, helping the team dominate in the offensive zone. Sure, we might've made Carey Price look amazing tonight, but it's better that we're the ones shooting in the end (it's that pesky scoring bit that we're still working on, but it's getting better!).
I won't be able to witness most of the next few home games due to the workplace's closing shifts getting me to the Sommet by 9ish, so we shall see - I may sell my tix, or try to make the 3rd and get an update via Stephanie.
Coming off tonight's dominance, I think we just may now have the trick to keep the Sharks at bay, and win back what we sorely deserved. What say you?
Cheers.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Not Just In Terms Of BBQ: Nashville Tops St. Louis 3-1
Readership,
I know the idea has been dancing around in your collective heads for the past few weeks, but I do believe some of those new 3rd jerseys will soon see "Hornqvist" on the back of them!
Patric Hornqvist ended up as 1st star of the game [edit: radio used the term "first star", though that could've meant the "first star" given to a player...whatever...I'll use an excuse like that Dallas blogger fella...he was "first star" to the Preds fans], tying it up in the 2nd and providing a bit of chippyness and energy throughout.
A surprise Tootoo goal and an almost as much of a surprise at this point goal (empty-netter, but so what) from Legwand helped win the game 3-1 against a few former teammates and the rest of the St. Louis Blues, who seemed to just lose a clear plan of attack at the beginning of the 2nd.
A home game against Montreal on Saturday, the first home game in what seems like forever, should bring a stronger, more "together" team in front of our eyes. Should. We shall see soon! And we'll also soon be giving thanks, not only for the holidays, but for the Third Jerseys on the 27th and 28th. I, for one, can't wait! Gotta purchase another one in December and send it out to Ice Jerseys...get that #27 z-stitched (never heat-glued) on.
But seriously...Tennessee BBQ is boss.
Cheers.
I know the idea has been dancing around in your collective heads for the past few weeks, but I do believe some of those new 3rd jerseys will soon see "Hornqvist" on the back of them!
Patric Hornqvist ended up as 1st star of the game [edit: radio used the term "first star", though that could've meant the "first star" given to a player...whatever...I'll use an excuse like that Dallas blogger fella...he was "first star" to the Preds fans], tying it up in the 2nd and providing a bit of chippyness and energy throughout.
A surprise Tootoo goal and an almost as much of a surprise at this point goal (empty-netter, but so what) from Legwand helped win the game 3-1 against a few former teammates and the rest of the St. Louis Blues, who seemed to just lose a clear plan of attack at the beginning of the 2nd.
A home game against Montreal on Saturday, the first home game in what seems like forever, should bring a stronger, more "together" team in front of our eyes. Should. We shall see soon! And we'll also soon be giving thanks, not only for the holidays, but for the Third Jerseys on the 27th and 28th. I, for one, can't wait! Gotta purchase another one in December and send it out to Ice Jerseys...get that #27 z-stitched (never heat-glued) on.
But seriously...Tennessee BBQ is boss.
Cheers.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Almost Only Counts In...: Preds Lose to Sharks 3-4
Readership,
Can't say much without being able to watch games these days - knocked cable off to save $40 a month and instead picked up GameCenter...big mistake. And ATDHE.net doesn't work half of the time. And with late games like these, I don't feel like driving home from a bar...especially after a game like this. A game like this would keep me in the bar.
We should've had this game with the last few minutes left, but we didn't buckle down and play the stubborn defense that we can play. We pretty much kept up with, and even bested the Sharks' game just a lil bit, but in the end, we did what we've grown accustomed to - blowing it late. There was great energy at the end, mucking and grinding, but not enough to get it done.
1 out of 3 in California: a complete break-down, an unbelievable victory, and then an "Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand-grenades".
Good thing I've got a well-stocked bar here at home.
Cheers.
Can't say much without being able to watch games these days - knocked cable off to save $40 a month and instead picked up GameCenter...big mistake. And ATDHE.net doesn't work half of the time. And with late games like these, I don't feel like driving home from a bar...especially after a game like this. A game like this would keep me in the bar.
We should've had this game with the last few minutes left, but we didn't buckle down and play the stubborn defense that we can play. We pretty much kept up with, and even bested the Sharks' game just a lil bit, but in the end, we did what we've grown accustomed to - blowing it late. There was great energy at the end, mucking and grinding, but not enough to get it done.
1 out of 3 in California: a complete break-down, an unbelievable victory, and then an "Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand-grenades".
Good thing I've got a well-stocked bar here at home.
Cheers.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Hail To The Preds, Baby: Guest Blogger
Readership,
Alas, I was at work and missed the entire game. My roommate texted me the score, but even he didn't hear much of it. Stephanie, my girlfriend of whom can be seen with lovely Admirals fans in one of the earlier posts, caught most of it as she will explain shortly. Drum roll, please!
Introducing...from the depths of the internet, at the corner of 5th & Broad, straight from Puck City itself: Hockey Steph!!!
--------------------
Hello there all. I’m Stephanie, the occasionally referenced “girlfriend” of your normal See Puck City blogger J.K. & I’ll be writing today’s blog. The reason for my stunning guest blogger debut is, quite simply, that I was the only one in my house hold the catch most, if any at all, of today’s radio broadcast only game. Yes, yes I understand that The Staple Center is a busy place with basketball & all that, but it just drives me crazy that there just wasn’t any video feed at all. But enough time for that later, moving on.
Hail to the Kings No More: Preds Beat LA 3-1
10 minutes: nada.
20 minutes: zilch.
1st period intermission.
30 minutes: 0-0.
35 minutes: on air recap.
36 minutes & 38 seconds: Power play goal?!?!?!
And that’s about where I came in, at about 35 minutes or so in. Fresh out of work I hopped in my car ready to drive home & listen to the game. So I get settled in for my 30 minute drive, I adjust my sun visor and listen to Pete & Terry talk about numerous missed chances on both sides, bouncy pucks possibly due to soft ice, and what’s this??? A goal scored by Frances Bouillon!? And on the power play as well!? I was still in my parking space so I had at least 10 or 20 people within hearing distance as I started yelling celebratory chants inside my car, which just happened to have the windows down. I may have gotten some strange looks, but the taste of victory is never quite as sweet as right after a very bad loss, and I was ready to move on after the fiasco in Anaheim. The second intermission kicked in & I headed off toward home with no inkling of what kind of game was about to unfold.
I want to take a minute to talk about Frances Bouillon. He has I’ll admit, become a personal favorite of mine out of the new players that have joined the club this season. But that aside, I really do think we’ll see great things from him as we progress through the season. Maybe not so much in the goal scoring area per-se, he only scored 21goals in his almost 10 year career with the Canadians, but if Bouillon’s not the guy out there taking the shots it certainly looks like he’s the guy behind the scenes setting them up. While he may have only scored 21 goals, he assisted on a whopping 81 goals while with the Canadians, not too shabby if you ask me. And since joining us in late September he’s shown that he can play a good solid two way game & get a goal every once in a while too. Like his first goal of the season that he scored tonight, and during the power play at that. I feel that his timely goal had a positive effect on the team the rest of the game. It was just that boost of “Yes we can” that they needed right at that moment. And that’s how it’s seemed a lot of the time lately, Bouillon may not be in the spot light, but during games I keep hearing his name pop up more and more, and that is a trend that I think is on the rise.
I commence my drive home; I listen to the stats and commentaries during the intermission, and then, game on! LA came at us like it was the last 60 seconds of the game. 5 shots counted on goal and a flurry of others that just didn’t get close enough, but there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Kings were on the attack. Ellis took 3 and a half minutes of abuse before we were able to dig it out, but then Bam! We’re on the attack, Erat’s feeding Franson the puck and we’ve got ourselves a 2-0 lead with 15:08 to go. I wonder what the other commuters on I-65 North though I was screaming about as I passed? Erat getting 2 assists that’s what. I can honestly say I’m shocked and pleased at the same time. Erat got 2 assists in one game, great, keep it up, I like it when you can actually see a player earning his salary.
4 minutes pass, we trade penalties with the Kings and play 2 minutes of 4 on 4 hockey. Then as we go back to full strength we get a penalty on Hammus and within 7 seconds the Kings score, at 11:35 in the third, the Kings finally get on the board. But not to fear, less that a minute and a half later we’re back up by 2 thanks to a sneak attack by Joel Ward with the help of David Legwand. In the last 10 we held our own & defended our 2 point lead to end the game at 3-1.
Am I happy we won the game? Oh yes, but what I’m even happier about is some of our new and lesser known players getting out there and showing what they’ve got. Big name players are great and all, but the Preds aren’t a team that can relay on just one or two guys to get them through. It’s got to be the entire team, all game, every game, and I’m glad to see these guys stepping up to the challenge of making game winning moves with or with out the big names. I’m looking for big things from the likes of Mike Santorelli, Colin Wilson, Patrick Hornqvist, Frances Bouillon, Joel Ward, and all the rest of the young guns Nashville has this year. We’ve got a team of players who are looking to prove something. Now they just need to get out on the ice and prove it.
------------------------
Thanks again, Steph!
Cheers.
Alas, I was at work and missed the entire game. My roommate texted me the score, but even he didn't hear much of it. Stephanie, my girlfriend of whom can be seen with lovely Admirals fans in one of the earlier posts, caught most of it as she will explain shortly. Drum roll, please!
Introducing...from the depths of the internet, at the corner of 5th & Broad, straight from Puck City itself: Hockey Steph!!!
--------------------
Hello there all. I’m Stephanie, the occasionally referenced “girlfriend” of your normal See Puck City blogger J.K. & I’ll be writing today’s blog. The reason for my stunning guest blogger debut is, quite simply, that I was the only one in my house hold the catch most, if any at all, of today’s radio broadcast only game. Yes, yes I understand that The Staple Center is a busy place with basketball & all that, but it just drives me crazy that there just wasn’t any video feed at all. But enough time for that later, moving on.
Hail to the Kings No More: Preds Beat LA 3-1
10 minutes: nada.
20 minutes: zilch.
1st period intermission.
30 minutes: 0-0.
35 minutes: on air recap.
36 minutes & 38 seconds: Power play goal?!?!?!
And that’s about where I came in, at about 35 minutes or so in. Fresh out of work I hopped in my car ready to drive home & listen to the game. So I get settled in for my 30 minute drive, I adjust my sun visor and listen to Pete & Terry talk about numerous missed chances on both sides, bouncy pucks possibly due to soft ice, and what’s this??? A goal scored by Frances Bouillon!? And on the power play as well!? I was still in my parking space so I had at least 10 or 20 people within hearing distance as I started yelling celebratory chants inside my car, which just happened to have the windows down. I may have gotten some strange looks, but the taste of victory is never quite as sweet as right after a very bad loss, and I was ready to move on after the fiasco in Anaheim. The second intermission kicked in & I headed off toward home with no inkling of what kind of game was about to unfold.
I want to take a minute to talk about Frances Bouillon. He has I’ll admit, become a personal favorite of mine out of the new players that have joined the club this season. But that aside, I really do think we’ll see great things from him as we progress through the season. Maybe not so much in the goal scoring area per-se, he only scored 21goals in his almost 10 year career with the Canadians, but if Bouillon’s not the guy out there taking the shots it certainly looks like he’s the guy behind the scenes setting them up. While he may have only scored 21 goals, he assisted on a whopping 81 goals while with the Canadians, not too shabby if you ask me. And since joining us in late September he’s shown that he can play a good solid two way game & get a goal every once in a while too. Like his first goal of the season that he scored tonight, and during the power play at that. I feel that his timely goal had a positive effect on the team the rest of the game. It was just that boost of “Yes we can” that they needed right at that moment. And that’s how it’s seemed a lot of the time lately, Bouillon may not be in the spot light, but during games I keep hearing his name pop up more and more, and that is a trend that I think is on the rise.
I commence my drive home; I listen to the stats and commentaries during the intermission, and then, game on! LA came at us like it was the last 60 seconds of the game. 5 shots counted on goal and a flurry of others that just didn’t get close enough, but there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Kings were on the attack. Ellis took 3 and a half minutes of abuse before we were able to dig it out, but then Bam! We’re on the attack, Erat’s feeding Franson the puck and we’ve got ourselves a 2-0 lead with 15:08 to go. I wonder what the other commuters on I-65 North though I was screaming about as I passed? Erat getting 2 assists that’s what. I can honestly say I’m shocked and pleased at the same time. Erat got 2 assists in one game, great, keep it up, I like it when you can actually see a player earning his salary.
4 minutes pass, we trade penalties with the Kings and play 2 minutes of 4 on 4 hockey. Then as we go back to full strength we get a penalty on Hammus and within 7 seconds the Kings score, at 11:35 in the third, the Kings finally get on the board. But not to fear, less that a minute and a half later we’re back up by 2 thanks to a sneak attack by Joel Ward with the help of David Legwand. In the last 10 we held our own & defended our 2 point lead to end the game at 3-1.
Am I happy we won the game? Oh yes, but what I’m even happier about is some of our new and lesser known players getting out there and showing what they’ve got. Big name players are great and all, but the Preds aren’t a team that can relay on just one or two guys to get them through. It’s got to be the entire team, all game, every game, and I’m glad to see these guys stepping up to the challenge of making game winning moves with or with out the big names. I’m looking for big things from the likes of Mike Santorelli, Colin Wilson, Patrick Hornqvist, Frances Bouillon, Joel Ward, and all the rest of the young guns Nashville has this year. We’ve got a team of players who are looking to prove something. Now they just need to get out on the ice and prove it.
------------------------
Thanks again, Steph!
Cheers.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Flat Out Ducked: Preds Duck It Up In Anaheim 0-4
Readership,
It feels like it's been so long since Halloween, and in fact, a lot can happen in six days:
- Jordan Tootoo can finally come back to play his first game.
- Capt'n. Arnott also returned from his injury to provide the offense we had actually been doing fairly well with over the last 3 games.
- Colin Wilson was hit with the injury-relapse bug.
- Shea Weber trades places with Arnott and is now out for 1-2 weeks (reeking havoc on my fantasy team, I tell you).
- Erat is still out, but that could be good news still.
- Dumont, the man seemingly making it all happen in the past 3 games, is injured during practice.
What resulted last night was what resulted weeks ago: a team that had a few bright moments among certain players (Hornqvist was robbed by the refs, in my opinion) saw major changes within key players and that just threw off the strategical radar.
The Ducks' all-star guys were comfortable, they seemed to know how to push our buttons, or at least make the ref's seem like our buttons were pushed, bringing forth many penalties against the "least penalized team in the NHL". And though we had 5 chances with the "man advantage", we still couldn't capitalize to save our skin.
If the team of three weeks ago is back and the team of two weeks ago was a fluke, I can only shudder to think what will happen with San Jose, and dare I say, even tomorrow with the Kings. We shall gather around the radio like the did in olden days, and with the Christmas holiday looming around the corner, we'll be asking Santa for a gift we should've given thanks for last year, but sadly didn't.
Cheers.
It feels like it's been so long since Halloween, and in fact, a lot can happen in six days:
- Jordan Tootoo can finally come back to play his first game.
- Capt'n. Arnott also returned from his injury to provide the offense we had actually been doing fairly well with over the last 3 games.
- Colin Wilson was hit with the injury-relapse bug.
- Shea Weber trades places with Arnott and is now out for 1-2 weeks (reeking havoc on my fantasy team, I tell you).
- Erat is still out, but that could be good news still.
- Dumont, the man seemingly making it all happen in the past 3 games, is injured during practice.
What resulted last night was what resulted weeks ago: a team that had a few bright moments among certain players (Hornqvist was robbed by the refs, in my opinion) saw major changes within key players and that just threw off the strategical radar.
The Ducks' all-star guys were comfortable, they seemed to know how to push our buttons, or at least make the ref's seem like our buttons were pushed, bringing forth many penalties against the "least penalized team in the NHL". And though we had 5 chances with the "man advantage", we still couldn't capitalize to save our skin.
If the team of three weeks ago is back and the team of two weeks ago was a fluke, I can only shudder to think what will happen with San Jose, and dare I say, even tomorrow with the Kings. We shall gather around the radio like the did in olden days, and with the Christmas holiday looming around the corner, we'll be asking Santa for a gift we should've given thanks for last year, but sadly didn't.
Cheers.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Smashing Pumpki---Stars: Preds Defeat Dallas 4-2
Readership,
Warranted I wasn't actually in Sommet tonight because I was at The Pond in Franklin to see my old friends, The Protomen, take the stage for Halloween...
I did watch the first 1 and a half periods of play and caught the lovely final score right before the band took stage. I just arrived home to reply with the following:
Trotz...don't know what you're doing, but keep doing it cos it's causing the focus to leave your general direction. Admirals, I wish you were staying up here...I don't care to see Erat's WNBA Coach-esque face on the ice again after the wins you've helped us produce. Arnott, Smithson is catching up to you! Keep firing that laser, Shea! I'm beginning to think Weber shot first (see Star Wars for reference).
My head aches due to the large amounts of "rawk" (see Booze). We go on the road for a few weeks to kick ass and chew bubblegum - and I hope we lose the gum.
Cheers.
Warranted I wasn't actually in Sommet tonight because I was at The Pond in Franklin to see my old friends, The Protomen, take the stage for Halloween...
I did watch the first 1 and a half periods of play and caught the lovely final score right before the band took stage. I just arrived home to reply with the following:
Trotz...don't know what you're doing, but keep doing it cos it's causing the focus to leave your general direction. Admirals, I wish you were staying up here...I don't care to see Erat's WNBA Coach-esque face on the ice again after the wins you've helped us produce. Arnott, Smithson is catching up to you! Keep firing that laser, Shea! I'm beginning to think Weber shot first (see Star Wars for reference).
My head aches due to the large amounts of "rawk" (see Booze). We go on the road for a few weeks to kick ass and chew bubblegum - and I hope we lose the gum.
Cheers.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Pekka Slams The Door Shut On The Blackhawks: Preds Win 2 - 0.
Who would guessed Jerred Smithson would've scored in back-to-back games at the beginning of the year? And short-handed at that?
Who, indeed! As long as any of our boys are scoring, who cares?!
It's nice to be able to type this: The Nashville Predators shut out the Chicago Blackhawks in regulation, serving them their first regulation loss this season, 2 - 0. A loss is best served...to any team that's not ours, but even better when it's a division rival.
What to type about! The 17 blocked shots - throwing the body in front of the puck to actually help our goalie? The actual forechecking? Another power play goal...in the same week? The return of the "sharp as a tack" Ward as a producing entity or perhaps the "seemingly always lurking around to lend a helping hand on any and every shift" Bouillon? The subtle spark of energy that Legwand showed the crowd or the possibility that it was merely caused by the fact that Erat was scratched cos it's become obvious he's a worthless poof? The fact that the team is producing more without Arnott as well? The chances that Hornqvist is creating all over the place? Or perhaps just the "head-standing" antics of one Pekka Rinne? I'm sure we'll all be talking about all this and more tomorrow morning!
A very strong showing by the Preds tonight. I can't wait to see this team play again. Perhaps the secret is and always has been to just cut the fat and play a tight, dedicated game.
Simplicity is great like that. Let's do this.
Cheers.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
A Wild Ride: Preds Win 4-3 in St. Paul
The Preds come back once again after blowing a 2-goal lead to defeat the also-struggling Minnesota Wild, 4-3 in regulation.
Trotz juggled Legwand's line and it ended up...well...kinda making sense. Scatchard, Wilson and Hornqvist worked very well together (I hope to see them together again tomorrow). Dan Ellis played a great first period and blew it in 3 minutes in the 2nd - kinda like a reenactment of his career with the Preds on fast-forward. Rinne came in this time and stood his height (see "tall"). Santorelli gets his in the 2nd to tie the game up. Goc had a nice breakaway to no avail. Smithson scored the game-winning goal...on the POWER PLAY, while the names you normally expect (Weber, Dumont) started the game off before it all became uncertain...just like in Ottawa. Thankfully it all took place in regulation!
Excuse my negative tone - I'm very much glad that we won this game...BUT...(cos there always is one of those) we essentially beat a team much like ourselves, plagued with weaknesses. I can kick the shit out of a Pekingese, but if I'm only a handicapped Platypus, is that a strength or a bit of luck? Also, I learned my work schedule changes to evenings next week so I'll be missing many games and I'll have to sell some of my tix in 303 - contact me next week if you're interested seepuckcity@gmail.com. Grr.
The losing of leads needs to stop. Since O is our weakness, you'd think once we get a bit of it, we'd buckle down and play it like New Jersey. We've finally got some chemistry going on with the lines...we'll see how they hold up - hopefully for the better so my fairly recent Trotz-dismissal will be proven wrong.
We've got the Blackhawks tomorrow night. Let's do what we did right tonight tomorrow night and see how that fares against a faster, stronger Chicago. I want to see these plans work! I want to see this team go forward with their own identity!
And I KNOW I'm not alone in wanting this.
Cheers.
PS. No humorous hotlinks tonight - tired as all get out due to the new day job and I wake earlier than normal in the AM. Off to the Land of Nod.
Trotz juggled Legwand's line and it ended up...well...kinda making sense. Scatchard, Wilson and Hornqvist worked very well together (I hope to see them together again tomorrow). Dan Ellis played a great first period and blew it in 3 minutes in the 2nd - kinda like a reenactment of his career with the Preds on fast-forward. Rinne came in this time and stood his height (see "tall"). Santorelli gets his in the 2nd to tie the game up. Goc had a nice breakaway to no avail. Smithson scored the game-winning goal...on the POWER PLAY, while the names you normally expect (Weber, Dumont) started the game off before it all became uncertain...just like in Ottawa. Thankfully it all took place in regulation!
Excuse my negative tone - I'm very much glad that we won this game...BUT...(cos there always is one of those) we essentially beat a team much like ourselves, plagued with weaknesses. I can kick the shit out of a Pekingese, but if I'm only a handicapped Platypus, is that a strength or a bit of luck? Also, I learned my work schedule changes to evenings next week so I'll be missing many games and I'll have to sell some of my tix in 303 - contact me next week if you're interested seepuckcity@gmail.com. Grr.
The losing of leads needs to stop. Since O is our weakness, you'd think once we get a bit of it, we'd buckle down and play it like New Jersey. We've finally got some chemistry going on with the lines...we'll see how they hold up - hopefully for the better so my fairly recent Trotz-dismissal will be proven wrong.
We've got the Blackhawks tomorrow night. Let's do what we did right tonight tomorrow night and see how that fares against a faster, stronger Chicago. I want to see these plans work! I want to see this team go forward with their own identity!
And I KNOW I'm not alone in wanting this.
Cheers.
PS. No humorous hotlinks tonight - tired as all get out due to the new day job and I wake earlier than normal in the AM. Off to the Land of Nod.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Blackhawks Put The Stranglehold On Our Only Offense: Our Defense
Readership,
This one is going to be short.
The Blackhawks, even with Toews and Seabrook out, kept our boys from doing...well...anything. A stalemate in the 1st, 2 against in the 2nd, nada again in the 3rd, fin'. Huet got a shutout for crying out loud.
The Preds face their former owner in St. Paul on Wednesday, as well my favorite pair of Zeds.
Fire Trotz.
"Wow, that was abrupt," you might be thinking. My only argument is a system that a coach refuses to change when we have a team of players that require another system in order to produce. This is coming from a fan that photoshopped "the Juggertrotz" due to his ability to make something out of seemingly nothing. The golden eggs stopped two years ago - so something should be done about it. We need offense...we need it in spades. We need the young forwards to go forward, not to be held back. Trotz doesn't like doing that. Yeh, and I don't like losing.
I don't think that I'm alone in this.
Cheers.
-------------------------------------
UPDATE:
Thanks to Dirk from OnTheForecheck for mentioning my incensed post-Huet-shutout argument on what we should do to get things done.
"...to be honest, I think it fits better with the Minnesota front office, which is trying to implement a new system with the same tired cast of characters."
I'll admit that I'm not familiar with the inner goings-on of the Wild, nor the inner-workings of our Ads (who reportedly have one of the best PP units, but I'll get to them in a moment). The Wild are suffering through injuries to their top gun(s) and are in a similar position as the Preds, though they at least tried to make big moves in the off season to both the offense and defense to little avail.
Looking at the Ads' numbers, they're not doing spectacular (official website says 3-3-0), possibly to the revolving door we've got going with them, causing strategies to be readjusted at the drop of a hat. Sadly, the Preds can only try different pieces within Trotz's "stick to the system" puzzle so many times only to find them almost as inadequate. The Preds continue to struggle in a stagnant system, the Ads continue to do the same because we just can't get enough of spinning that door for our amusement, and we don't make the playoffs for the second year in a row.
I'd love to see Barry get his head out of the sand and try a new system and stick with it for a handful of games - the tired cast has potential to do damage (sans #10, #2... and a couple others), it just needs the right wrench to be thrown into the works. I just don't see that happening. What else can an organization do when the coaching staff is just as stubborn in their ways as Erat is when he's in control of the puck?
This one is going to be short.
The Blackhawks, even with Toews and Seabrook out, kept our boys from doing...well...anything. A stalemate in the 1st, 2 against in the 2nd, nada again in the 3rd, fin'. Huet got a shutout for crying out loud.
The Preds face their former owner in St. Paul on Wednesday, as well my favorite pair of Zeds.
Fire Trotz.
"Wow, that was abrupt," you might be thinking. My only argument is a system that a coach refuses to change when we have a team of players that require another system in order to produce. This is coming from a fan that photoshopped "the Juggertrotz" due to his ability to make something out of seemingly nothing. The golden eggs stopped two years ago - so something should be done about it. We need offense...we need it in spades. We need the young forwards to go forward, not to be held back. Trotz doesn't like doing that. Yeh, and I don't like losing.
I don't think that I'm alone in this.
Cheers.
-------------------------------------
UPDATE:
Thanks to Dirk from OnTheForecheck for mentioning my incensed post-Huet-shutout argument on what we should do to get things done.
"...to be honest, I think it fits better with the Minnesota front office, which is trying to implement a new system with the same tired cast of characters."
I'll admit that I'm not familiar with the inner goings-on of the Wild, nor the inner-workings of our Ads (who reportedly have one of the best PP units, but I'll get to them in a moment). The Wild are suffering through injuries to their top gun(s) and are in a similar position as the Preds, though they at least tried to make big moves in the off season to both the offense and defense to little avail.
Looking at the Ads' numbers, they're not doing spectacular (official website says 3-3-0), possibly to the revolving door we've got going with them, causing strategies to be readjusted at the drop of a hat. Sadly, the Preds can only try different pieces within Trotz's "stick to the system" puzzle so many times only to find them almost as inadequate. The Preds continue to struggle in a stagnant system, the Ads continue to do the same because we just can't get enough of spinning that door for our amusement, and we don't make the playoffs for the second year in a row.
I'd love to see Barry get his head out of the sand and try a new system and stick with it for a handful of games - the tired cast has potential to do damage (sans #10, #2... and a couple others), it just needs the right wrench to be thrown into the works. I just don't see that happening. What else can an organization do when the coaching staff is just as stubborn in their ways as Erat is when he's in control of the puck?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Otta-wha? The Power Play! Otta-who? Shea "Friggin'" Weber & Ryan "Shooter" Suter!
Readership,
Done catching your breath? Your heart rate back down to a healthy level yet? I didn't think so!!!
The Preds have broken the losing streak, the Power Play came to life, the D is big once again - the Preds defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-5 in OT. What seemed certain at the end of the 1st (thanks to Picard and his immaculate positioning) was shot to hell in the 3rd when the Senators scored just as many as the Preds had and then some: 3-3 at the middle of the 3rd. It then became a battle for the final goal, and it seemed as if the Preds buried that hatchet when Suter scored the Preds' 5th goal, 5-on-3 with one minute left to go in regulation. 2 seconds to go (though NHL.com's online score counter ended with the Preds winning in regulation - had me cheering due to lag time between the counter and the radio broadcast) and the Senators tie it up short-handed.
How? HOW?!
Enter Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. They showed up earlier in the game and stepped up, showing by example what all of the Preds need to keep doing with every other game this season: play the full game, play 60 minutes and more if you have to, do whatever you need to do and do it well. My hat is off to you, #'s 20 and 6. Thank you, kindly.
A tweet I made during the game: "Ham-who?". I rather enjoy the way we've been playing since Hamhuis has been sidelined. What kind of deals are we trying to make again? Do it, #2 it! The D has got a rug to tie the room together, and that rug is Cody Franson (a bad analogy, I know, but Franson got his first point in the last close game and his first goal in tonight's nail-biter)! Perhaps I was wrong in assuming that "the depth of young D" we've heard about all these years was a crock at the beginning of the season when nothing was coming together (cos seriously, for all the years we've heard about that tasty Kool-Aid, we haven't seen it until recently). All we had to do was send down and bring up and bench. I still have a strange feeling that Laakso will become something great (similar to the feeling of great defensive loss I get when seeing our old pair of Z's in Minnesota)...but not just yet. Perhaps we'll see him later this season or at least at the beginning next pre-season.
We've got a few rumors going on for more O, and I still think we need it. Tonight was a game that HAD to be won, and the remainder of the season can't always be this great. We are still in need of O and however we can get it, I hope we do. Despite that, the team is finally stepping up and playing as a team.
*heart rate is back to normal; sighs of relief*
Finally.
Cheers.
Done catching your breath? Your heart rate back down to a healthy level yet? I didn't think so!!!
The Preds have broken the losing streak, the Power Play came to life, the D is big once again - the Preds defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-5 in OT. What seemed certain at the end of the 1st (thanks to Picard and his immaculate positioning) was shot to hell in the 3rd when the Senators scored just as many as the Preds had and then some: 3-3 at the middle of the 3rd. It then became a battle for the final goal, and it seemed as if the Preds buried that hatchet when Suter scored the Preds' 5th goal, 5-on-3 with one minute left to go in regulation. 2 seconds to go (though NHL.com's online score counter ended with the Preds winning in regulation - had me cheering due to lag time between the counter and the radio broadcast) and the Senators tie it up short-handed.
How? HOW?!
Enter Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. They showed up earlier in the game and stepped up, showing by example what all of the Preds need to keep doing with every other game this season: play the full game, play 60 minutes and more if you have to, do whatever you need to do and do it well. My hat is off to you, #'s 20 and 6. Thank you, kindly.
A tweet I made during the game: "Ham-who?". I rather enjoy the way we've been playing since Hamhuis has been sidelined. What kind of deals are we trying to make again? Do it, #2 it! The D has got a rug to tie the room together, and that rug is Cody Franson (a bad analogy, I know, but Franson got his first point in the last close game and his first goal in tonight's nail-biter)! Perhaps I was wrong in assuming that "the depth of young D" we've heard about all these years was a crock at the beginning of the season when nothing was coming together (cos seriously, for all the years we've heard about that tasty Kool-Aid, we haven't seen it until recently). All we had to do was send down and bring up and bench. I still have a strange feeling that Laakso will become something great (similar to the feeling of great defensive loss I get when seeing our old pair of Z's in Minnesota)...but not just yet. Perhaps we'll see him later this season or at least at the beginning next pre-season.
We've got a few rumors going on for more O, and I still think we need it. Tonight was a game that HAD to be won, and the remainder of the season can't always be this great. We are still in need of O and however we can get it, I hope we do. Despite that, the team is finally stepping up and playing as a team.
*heart rate is back to normal; sighs of relief*
Finally.
Cheers.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Defensive Chutes & Ladders
Readership,
It's been a few days since I've posted. Heck, it's been a few days since anything has happened Nashville-way (or depending on what side of the river you're on, anything good at all). The Preds made an admirable comeback against OV8 and his pair of goals and got that OT point, but his shoot-out moves proved once again why he's No.1 in every Fantasy League out there.
If for some reason you need an update: Arnott's injured (hurting my fantasy team to boot), Franson's coming up, rumor is Laakso's most likely down, Ellis [see Ryan] was just inked to a 3 yr. deal, Hamhuis is possibly in D-urgatory (as well he [though more so Klein] should be) and Frolov does a Sabre Dance in our heads while we sleep at night, though I doubt Poile wants to deal with another spunky Russian in his lifetime.
Didn't get a chance to hit Graceland, so what was to be the inevitable shot of a Preds jersey in front of a killer basement bowling alley with gaudy music notes and guitar-shaped decorations all over the place will just have to wait. I'll do my best to update more this week, though this might hinder progress - my first rebuild, 5 years in the making. We shall see.
Preds visit Beantown Wednesday. Colin Wilson must be one giddy goat.
Cheers.
It's been a few days since I've posted. Heck, it's been a few days since anything has happened Nashville-way (or depending on what side of the river you're on, anything good at all). The Preds made an admirable comeback against OV8 and his pair of goals and got that OT point, but his shoot-out moves proved once again why he's No.1 in every Fantasy League out there.
If for some reason you need an update: Arnott's injured (hurting my fantasy team to boot), Franson's coming up, rumor is Laakso's most likely down, Ellis [see Ryan] was just inked to a 3 yr. deal, Hamhuis is possibly in D-urgatory (as well he [though more so Klein] should be) and Frolov does a Sabre Dance in our heads while we sleep at night, though I doubt Poile wants to deal with another spunky Russian in his lifetime.
Preds visit Beantown Wednesday. Colin Wilson must be one giddy goat.
Cheers.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Blackhawks Didn't Win By More Than Five
Readership,
Just a quick one tonight. Tomorrow I'm off to Memphis for Steph's family reunion. There, I will take pictures of Graceland and spareribs, cos that's all that city has going for it. It's like Tennessee's version of Cleveland.
Tonight we saw a different team in the first period, a team that said, "No, we're not going to allow you to score on us!". That team came out to the ice in the 2nd and quickly we were down 2-0 as if it were earlier this week. Thankfully, the team came back and said, "No, we're not going to allow another shutout in front of our fans!". So they were scored on again and that was the end of that.
Trotz mentioned in the post-game press that we were lacking decisiveness and I completely agree. Though I think Laakso will grow into a fairly good defenseman, he hesistated on multiple occasions this evening - from his one-timer from the blue-line to his a-second-too-late-rear-check, he was thinking too much instead of just going with it. Klein got himself in position a milli-second too late and his chance to score in the third was gone (his D also appearing a bit late in the second as well). The passing game...well...it wasn't really a game cos a game is when 2 people are playing - too many turn-overs, too many missed passes; sloppy is the only word for it. What I've noticed this week is a severe lack of urgency. When lines change, no one seems to give a damn except for Wilson and possibly Bouillon - they mosey off at their own leisurely pace or slowly glide onto the ice, apparently not paying attention to what was happening before their number came up. That's inexcuseable. Wilson has a grin from ear to ear and seems to be alert, pointing his veteran teammates to where they should be, because he's now in an elite league, getting paid to do what he loves to do most and what any hockey fan would die to do. Somehow it seems that that point, that truth, is something that a handful of our fellas might be taking for granted.
How the hell do you fix a spoiled athlete? If you scratch him, he's still getting paid...to do what he already does on ice: nothing. How do you get something to work out when you're already known as the team that always works something out...and it's not working? Like I mentioned two posts ago, something drastic has to take place if the bring up / send down doesn't work. A trade must occur or some jobs might need to be shifted...in that order.
Tough nuggets - we lost again, but this time it was respectable.
Cheers.
PS. Lemme know what you think of Falkous the Hockey Dog. Any ideas for future lampoons with Rizzo and Falk are appreciated. Off to the Land of Nod...then Memphis.
Just a quick one tonight. Tomorrow I'm off to Memphis for Steph's family reunion. There, I will take pictures of Graceland and spareribs, cos that's all that city has going for it. It's like Tennessee's version of Cleveland.
Tonight we saw a different team in the first period, a team that said, "No, we're not going to allow you to score on us!". That team came out to the ice in the 2nd and quickly we were down 2-0 as if it were earlier this week. Thankfully, the team came back and said, "No, we're not going to allow another shutout in front of our fans!". So they were scored on again and that was the end of that.
Trotz mentioned in the post-game press that we were lacking decisiveness and I completely agree. Though I think Laakso will grow into a fairly good defenseman, he hesistated on multiple occasions this evening - from his one-timer from the blue-line to his a-second-too-late-rear-check, he was thinking too much instead of just going with it. Klein got himself in position a milli-second too late and his chance to score in the third was gone (his D also appearing a bit late in the second as well). The passing game...well...it wasn't really a game cos a game is when 2 people are playing - too many turn-overs, too many missed passes; sloppy is the only word for it. What I've noticed this week is a severe lack of urgency. When lines change, no one seems to give a damn except for Wilson and possibly Bouillon - they mosey off at their own leisurely pace or slowly glide onto the ice, apparently not paying attention to what was happening before their number came up. That's inexcuseable. Wilson has a grin from ear to ear and seems to be alert, pointing his veteran teammates to where they should be, because he's now in an elite league, getting paid to do what he loves to do most and what any hockey fan would die to do. Somehow it seems that that point, that truth, is something that a handful of our fellas might be taking for granted.
How the hell do you fix a spoiled athlete? If you scratch him, he's still getting paid...to do what he already does on ice: nothing. How do you get something to work out when you're already known as the team that always works something out...and it's not working? Like I mentioned two posts ago, something drastic has to take place if the bring up / send down doesn't work. A trade must occur or some jobs might need to be shifted...in that order.
Tough nuggets - we lost again, but this time it was respectable.
Cheers.
PS. Lemme know what you think of Falkous the Hockey Dog. Any ideas for future lampoons with Rizzo and Falk are appreciated. Off to the Land of Nod...then Memphis.
Falkous the Hockey Dog
The amazing psychic abilities that this pup has were brought to my attention by an anonymous hockey blogger that goes by the name of "Rizzo". Here is the first of what I'm sure will be a handful of "prediction videos" featuring this wonder-dog. Perhaps this is just what our team needs after these past few games.
See ya tonight.
Cheers.
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