The View from 111

Tryin for Ryan, Can the Predators Sign Suter?

2012-01-27T20:15:00.000-06:00

Ryan Suter made headlines at a media event at the NHL All Star game by saying that he did not believe that he would sign with the Predators before the February 27th trade deadline.

That sound you just heard was Predators GM David Poile cracking open a bottle of Maalox.

Suter creates a problem for Poile with this stance because he is an unrestricted free agent July 1, and the risk by not trading him is that the Predators could see one of their All Star defensemen walk away for nothing in return. Suter said,

"I don't see it being a benefit by hurrying up and trying to get something done. I'm a Nashville Predator until July 1. I will focus on making my team better."

"I'm a Nashville Predator until July 1."

Sounds ominous doesn't it.

TSN's Bob McKenzie said "He's intimated that he wants to see what the Nashville Predators do between now and the deadline in terms of adding other components that would make the team that much stronger and show that they're legitimate playoff contenders."

"Legitimate playoff contenders"?

Currently the Predators have 64 points, solidly in 5th place and just 3 points behind Western Conference leader Detroit.

I think that qualifies as a legitimate playoff contender.

So, David Poile, you know what to do. Pick up the 40 goal scoring left wing hot line and get a "component" in here so that Suter knows the team is committed to being a "legitimate" playoff contender.

If it were that easy.

It's obvious that the Predators would like to add more scoring punch, a forward that can consistently put the puck in the net.

So would 29 other teams.

To be a team that is a buyer, there has to be a team or teams that are going to be sellers. Looking at the Western Conference, currently Columbus and Edmonton are in a position to be sellers. Anaheim is on the bubble. In the East, potential sellers are Tampa Bay, Buffalo, the Islanders, and Carolina.

Let's take Columbus as an example, since the Predators are very familiar with them. The two names that jump out a valuable components that would add scoring punch are Rick Nash and Jeff Carter. If GM Scott Howson is inclined to trade either of those two players, you can be certain that there will be substantial assets coming back the other way. Preds GM David Poile could try to package a depth defenseman, draft picks, and maybe a goaltender in the system to try facilitate a trade.

Think that would pry Nash or Carter out of Columbus?

Neither do I.

And this is the dilemma that Poile faces. The Predators are one of the better balanced teams in the NHL, with 9 players that have 10 or more goals. They score by committee, and the sum of their forwards is greater than the individual forwards themselves. To facilitate a trade for a stud forward will require a lot of these players to go back the other way.

Is this addition by subtraction, or is it tampering with a very good team chemistry? That is one of the risks that Poile confronts with trying to satisfy Ryan and land an elite player.

My question to Ryan Suter is this: are the Predators NOT a legitimate playoff contender?

Head Coach Barry Trotz has taken a very young squad and has them 3 points out of the first spot in the West. The Predators are 11-2-2 against Central Division opponents, the best record in the NHL against divisional opponents. Nashville is 5th in the NHL in wins; 2nd on the power play; 12th on the penalty kill; 12th in goals for; and 9th in goals against.

Like I said- sounds legitimate to me.

Is Suter saying he does not have confidence in his teammates to continue to play at the level at which they have been playing?

I don't think so.

I believe that he is saying some more punch up front is welcome and needed.

I don't disagree with that assessment.

If McKenzie's assessment is accurate- and I have a feeling it is- the corner into which Suter has painted himself, and by extension David Poile, is this: suppose the team adds the components that he- Poile- believes will be what the Predators need to contend for the Cup. Does Poile have to clear this with Suter? Obviously not.

But what if Suter does not think the player or players added to roster are what the Predators need?

"I am a Nashville Predator until July 1."

Has Suter made himself a de facto GM? I don't think that was his intention, but that is what he has done with the decision not to sign before the deadline.

The Predators ownership has said they will spend to the cap and do what is necessary to sign the team's key players, so one would believe that the money is not an issue to sign Suter. With a current payroll just under $50 million, the Predators have the room, and apparently the willingness to sign Suter.

A player's contract is personal, financial compensation and term that is negotiated between a player and his team. Suter's requirement that additional players that appear to have to be acceptable to him have removed this negotiation from the realm of the personal and into the realm of the personnel, which is usually the domain of the GM.

By doing this, Suter has exponentially made David Poile's job more difficult. For Poile, there is no net below this high wire.

Although Poile has said Suter is off the market, I think he has to entertain reasonable offers that will still come for this All Star. He would be foolish not to do so. Poile will still most certainly attempt to lock up Suter, but if he is unable to facilitate a trade or trades that help the team and satisfy Suter, I would not be surprised to see Suter moved before the deadline.

Crack open another bottle of Maalox, David.

My View

2012-01-27T10:53:00.000-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

The rhetoric that all of us will hear as the we get closer to the November election day is going to get deafening. Claims, counter-claims, attacks, defenses, all will be at full volume. Here is a question that will help you cut through the clutter, and it is one that every voter in this country should be asking: "Are we better off today than we were when the current administration took office?" While you ponder the answer to that question, let me provide you with some information that may help you answer it. The number of people that are receiving benefits from the federal government is now 49%, including Social Security, workers compensation, pensions, subsidized housing, welfare, and other federal programs. Since President Obama took office, federal payments to individuals has increased 32% or $600 billion. Under President Obama, food stamp usage is 45% higher than it was before he took office, with 15% of all Americans on food stamps (46 million people). 45% of all health care spending in the U.S. comes from the federal government, and that is before the implementation of Obamacare. And even though in his State of the Union address he decried corporate welfare and subsidies to the energy industry, Obama and his administration have quadrupled grants and subsidies to the energy industry (many of them to now failed "green" energy companies). The present level of our spending and growth of all entitlement programs will consume 61% of all tax revenue coming in to the Treasury in just 9 years. As our current leadership in Washington moves us toward becoming a nation of dependents, can we honestly say that we are better off today than we were 3 years ago?

You know what would be an amazing concert? If Styx and The Stones performed together.

On aspect of my job is to look at numbers and spot trends. I attempt to find positive trends and take advantage of those when I make investment decisions, and avoid investments in areas where the trends are negative. Here are some numbers for your consideration which show certain data points from the time this administration came into office through the end of 2010, and I think it will be obvious to you which way the trends are going: Unemployment was 6.8% then; now it is 8.5% (and the validity of that number is questionable); regular gasoline was $1.69 per gallon and today it is $3.39, a 102% increase; electric utility costs now average $1,420 per household, up $300 and due mainly to new costs of complying with environmental regulations; median household income has dropped 7%; our nation's annual budget deficit is now $1.7 trillion and our total debt is $15.25 trillion compared to $10.6 trillion in 2009. Not only are these trends negative, but they are disturbingly and dramatically increasing in the wrong direction. So I return to the question that I asked in the first paragraph- "Are we as individuals and a nation better off today than we were when the current administration took office?"

My wife is always fussing and telling me I never finish anyth

Ask yourself this question: "What is the vision for America?" Specifically, is there a vision coming from Washington that says, as a nation, this is who we are and this is where we are going? "Fair" is not a vision. Life is not fair. Forced income redistribution is not a vision. It is antithetical to the spirit of freedom and productivity. Another government program, stifling debt, and more regulations are not a vision. And this is a fundamental problem with all of the leadership in Washington, from both sides of the aisle. Leadership in Washington does not have a vision about who we are as a nation and where we want to go, nor do they inspire our citizens to greatness. Remember Ronald Reagan's vision for our country? "A great nation, set upon a hill." His vision was that our nation would be a model, a beacon of freedom and prosperity for the world. Someone tell me what the vision is for our country, what inspires us as citizens. There is none.The Biblical wisdom given centuries ago still holds true today: where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). Our leaders would be wise to heed that wisdom

I joined a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday.

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Keep Rolling, Defeat the Blackhawks 3-1

2012-01-24T22:14:00.002-06:00

The Nashville Predators looked to continue their hot play as they trekked to the United Center to do battle with the Chicago Blackhawks in an important Central Division tilt. The Predators came into the contest with 62 points, trailing the Blackhawks, who have 64 points.

The Predators were playing their second game in two nights, having defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Monday. The Blackhawks last game was Saturday in Nashville, where the Predators claimed a 5-2 victory.

The Blackhawks were without their Captain, Jonathan Toews, who was placed on IR with a wrist injury. The Predators were without Jerred Smithson and Francis Buillon, both out with upper body injuries.

The Predators had Pekka Rinne in net, while the Blackhawks went with Corey Crawford.

Both teams opened the game moving up and down the ice and had some chances that both goaltenders turned aside. The Predators were cycling the puck well and were creating some scoring opportunities, and it was a solid start in enemy territory.

The Predators efforts were rewarded at 11:39 of the first period as Matt Halischuk jumped on a loose puck in the slot. He got the puck to Craig Smith, and he whipped a shot from the face off circle that eluded Crawford with Brandon Yip screening in front to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. This was the rookie Smith's 11th goal of the season.

The Predators were immediately besieged by the Blackhawks, as they trapped the Predators forwards deep in their zone. The Predators did not yield to the pressure from the Hawks, and were finally able to get the puck out of the zone.

Energized by that defensive stand, the Predators got the puck deep in the Chicago end. Patric Hornqvist dug the puck out of the corner and kicked it to Mike Fisher, who was cruising alone in the slot. His quick wrist shot beat Crawford far post to give the Predators a 2-0 lead at 17:34 of the first period.

The first period ended with the Predators holding a 2-0 lead and both teams recording 10 shots on goal.

Now the Predators faced their persistent demon, a second period that often saw them disappear and allow opponent s to claw their way back into a game. For the Predators, it was going to be critical to have a strong second period and not let Chicago seize back the momentum.

The Predators came out strong in the second period. They used their aggressive forecheck to control the Blackhawks in the neutral zone and prevent their speedy and dangerous breakouts. Their cycle game controlled the puck in the offensive zone and created some good chances. The defense did a good job of clearing the net in front of Rinne, giving him a good look at any shots the Hawks mustered on the net.

The Blackhawks got a good scoring chance as Patrick Kane had a breakaway. Roman Josi hustled back and forced him to alter his shot wide of the net.

Newcomer Brandon Yip showed that he wanted to stick in the line up as he had a good scrap with Steve Montador.

The second period ended scoreless, but it was a strong period for the Predators. Their defense was solid and they controlled the puck for much of the period. The Predators limited the Hawks to 7 shots on goal while logging 10 on the the Chicago net.

The third period was more of the same, as both teams traded chances. The Predators made a mistake that cost them, however, as Mike Fisher went to the box for delay of game. On the ensuing power play, Dave Bolland scored at 7:20 of the third period to make it 2-1 Predators.

For Predator fans, the pucker factor was off the chart.

The Predators took another penalty at 8:31 of the period as Marty Erat was called for a 2 minute penalty for high sticking. The Predators had survived the second period, but the Blackhawks were pushing now, and it was up to the Predators to survive the pressure.

The Predators were able to kill the penalty, but the Hawks were still pressing. It was up to the Predators to respond.

The Predators kept tempting fate as Shea Weber went to the box for elbowing at 15:02. Late in the game, this was not a penalty that just made the task more difficult for the Predators. Once again, the Predators penalty killers were going to have to come up big.

Once again, the PK unit responded to the challenge and did their job, holding the Hawks without a shot. This was huge effort by the Predators.

The Predators had an opportunity to ice the game as Sergei Kostitsyn and Marty Erat broke in 2 on 1, but Erat's shot hit the crossbar and bounced out.

With 1:51 to go in the game, the Predators caught a break as Chicago was called for too many men on the ice, and the Predators went to the man advantage.

The Predators iced the game with 12 seconds as Colin Wilson buried an empty netter on the power play to make it 3-1. The Predators record against the Blackhawks is now 2-0-1, and against Central Division opponents, the Predators are 11-2-2.

Nashville had 26 shots on goal to 25 for Chicago, but for the Predators, the third period was a matter of tenacity and survival. They showed no quit and refused to fold in the face of the unrelenting pressure from a talented Blackhawks squad. This win was character personified.

For Pekka Rinne, this was his 9th consecutive win, a franchise record.

The Predators are now tied with the Blackhawks with 64 points. The win was the Predators 9th in their last 11 games and allowed them to close the gap on their competitors in the Central Division. The Predators now sit one point out of 4th place behind St. Louis.

This was a solid win, and January has been an exceptional month for the Predators. This win allows the Predators to go into the All Star break feeling good and with momentum. It will be important for the team to pick this momentum right back up after the All Star break.

This team has been growing before our eyes, and the compete level has been getting better in the second half of the season. Young players are quickly growing into prominent roles, and are performing exceptionally well. This is a team that can surprise not only in the regular season but in the playoffs

Keep it rolling after the All Star break, boys.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Mike Fisher

3. Patric Hornqvist

Predators Crush Columbus 4-1

2012-01-23T23:01:00.000-06:00

There are things that are certain in this life: the sun comes up in the East; taxes; and the Nashville Predators beating the Columbus Blue Jackets.

That trend continued tonight at the Bridgestone Arena as the Predators defeated the Jackets 4-1. This was the last meeting this season for the two teams, and Nashville took the season series with a 5-0-1 record en route to capturing 11 of the 12 points on the line in this series.

Since the 2006-7 season, the Predators are 31-5-3 against the Jackets.

Pekka Rinne got the start for the Predators, while the Jackets went with Steve Mason.

The first period was absolutely dominated by the Predators, as they out shot the Jackets by a 12-3 margin on the way to a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. If not for some good saves by Mason, the score would have been much worse.

The Predators score in the first came as Marty Erat deftly stole the puck from Fedor Tyutin and slipped it to Mike Fisher in the low slot. Fisher popped a quick wrist shot that beat Mason stick side for the goal.

In the second period, the Jackets reversed the momentum and dominated the Predators during the first ten minutes. They peppered Rinne with shots, and finally broke through at 6:14 of the period as Rick Nash converted a Mike Fisher turnover to beat the defense back. Nash beat Rinne stick side with a nice backhand that slid between Rinne's stick and the post to tie the game at 1.

As the period wore on, the Predators started skating again and getting shots in on Mason. They created some good scoring chances, but could not get one past the Columbus netminder, and this game had the feel of another nail biter with a team the Predators should handle fairly easily.

That tension that the Predator fans were feeling would be allayed late in the period. Just 1:20 seconds after the Predators were called for too many men on the ice, Columbus would be guilty of the same infraction. The Predators went on the power play, and Shea Weber fired a blast from the blue line. Mason kicked out the rebound with his pad directly to Fisher, and he potted the goal into the net past an out of position Mason to give the Predators a 2-1 lead at 19:31 of the second period.

The Predators were out shot in the period by a 16-12 margin, but they had survived the push from Columbus and started to control play as the period wound down.

The Predators stretched the lead to 3-1 as Matt Halsichuk got the puck on his stick in traffic in the low slot. Halsichuk fired a quick wrist shot that beat Mason stick side at 7:37 of the third period

The power play clicked once again as Ryan Suter, who was back after missing three games with an upper body injury, let a shot go from the blue line that was re-directed by Patric Hornqvist. Hornqvist was camped at the top of the blue paint, and his deflection easily beat Mason at 16:51 to make it 4-1 Predators.

The Predators thwarted any late push from the Jackets, and as the final horn sounded, the Predators possessed 62 points and their 11th victory in the last 13 games.

Good-bye, Columbus.

It was important for the Predators to take care of business against the Jackets. This was a game the Predators should have won, and more importantly, lets them keep pace with their Central Division opponents who have been playing outstanding hockey.

The Predators are on the road tomorrow night in Chicago, their last game before the All Star break, and this is another important tilt against a team that is just ahead of the Predators in the standings. It will be important for the Predators to play a full 60 minute game and be sound in all phases of the game.

Another challenge, and another opportunity.

My three stars:

1. Mike Fisher

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Patric Hornqvist

Predators Pound the Blackhawks 5-2

2012-01-21T23:23:00.000-06:00

The Chicago fans in attendance in Nashville clapped and cheered during the national anthem.

Predator fans cheered when it was most important: as the clock wound down on a dominating 5-2 win over their Central Division rivals.

The Predators controlled the Hawks throughout the game, winning puck battles and stifling a very potent offense with an aggressive forecheck and solid defense to go with the solid goaltending of netminder Pekka Rinne.

The game opened as an up and down affair with both teams attempting to establish their offense, but unable to get any consistency. Both defenses were working hard in their zone and did not let either team establish a flow to their offensive effort.

That changed at 15:05 of the first period as Marian Hossa broke in on Shea Weber. Hossa made a great move to turn Weber around and slid a backhand from the slot under the pads of Rinne to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

That lead lasted 2:14 as the Predators tied the game with a power play goal. Ryan Ellis took a shot that Chicago netminder Corey Crawford kicked out with his pad directly to Craig Smith at the side of the net. Smith buried the shot over a sprawling Crawford to tie the game at 17:19. For the rookie, this was his 10th goal of the season, 6 of which have come on the power play.

The period ended tied at one, but the Predators had out shot the Hawks 7-2, although the Hawks hit a post in the period.. Throughout that period, then Predators won puck battles, were strong on the boards, and were thwarting the Hawks in the neutral zone.

This is the Hawks, and they possess an explosive offense. This effort in the first period was going to have to continue in the second if the Predators were going to secure a critical win against a team they were chasing in the standings.

Not only did that effort continue for the Predators, it got better.

The Predators continued their strong play, and it felt as if it would just be a matter of time before they broke through with another score.

Sergei Kostitsyn scored off a rebound, but that goal was waved off as it was ruled that Kostitsyn hit the puck with a high stick. No score and no break through against the Hawks.

Yet.

That break through score came at 5:15 of the second, but not how anyone expected it to occur. Kevin Klein took the puck in over the center red line and flipped a puck toward the net. It landed on edge and took a high bounce over the shoulder of Crawford to give the Predators a 2-0 lead.

Good things happen when you put the puck on net.

Taking a cue from Klein, the Predators swarmed the Chicago net and pressured the Hawks defense and Crawford. Their effort was rewarded at 11:14 of the second as David Legwand drove the net and forced Crawford to slide to his left. Legwand deftly slipped the puck to Colin Wilson, who was alone at the right side of the crease, and Wilson knocked the puck into the open net to give the Predators a 3-1 lead.

Roman Josi bodied Hossa off the puck and had a breakaway that Crawford stopped. Josi made a strong play to take Hossa off the puck and then showed his speed as he charged down the ice. More and More, I am impressed with his play.

Sergei Kostitsyn finally got his goal as he broke in on Crawford and deked Crawford to the ice. Kostitsyn lifted the puck over the prone goaltender for a 4-1 Predators lead at 16:03 of the second period. That goal sent Crawford to and early exit and Ray Emery came in to take over in net.

The Predators had controlled the second period, much as they had the first. The shots were 11-9 for the Predators, but they had a decided territorial advantage. When they Hawks did get shots on net, Rinne cleaned up the scoring chances. Chicago hit a crossbar in the second, but their quality scoring chances were limited by the Predators defense.

It was expected that the Hawks would have a push in the final 20 minutes, and they did just that. Hossa struck again as Roman Josi was caught pinching in the offensive zone and could not get back into the play. Hossa took an outlet pass from Niklas Hjarmalsson and beat the defense back into the offensive zone, His backhand shot beat Rinne five hole to make it 4-2 just 48 seconds into the third period.

Whatever momentum the Hawks had from that goal was snuffed out as Kevin Klein fired a slap shot from the blue line that was re-directed by Patric Hornqvist to make it 5-2 Predators at 3:08 of the third period.

Chicago out shot the Predators 11-5 in the third period, but most of those shots were from the perimeter as the Predators did a good job of clogging the shooting lanes and forcing the Hawks to the outside.

As the clock wound down, the Predator faithful stood and cheered when it counted most- a victory over a Central Division foe that they were chasing in the standings.

With this win, the Predators have won 8 of the 10 games they have played in January. This is critical, because their opponents in the Central have been winning as well. As for how the Predators their Central Division opponents? They are 9-2-2 so far this season.

The Predators lost Francis Buillon near the end of the first period and played the rest of the game with 5 defensemen. There were some mix and match combinations on the blue line throughout the rest of the game, but this unit played very well in limiting the chances of the potent Hawks forwards.

The Hawks lost Jonathan Toews for the third period as he went out with an injury, believed to be an aggravation of his wrist injury suffered in the game against the Panthers the previous night.

The Predators are a team that is growing before our eyes. They are gelling into a solid team that is getting balanced scoring and solid defense to go with their exceptional goaltending.

This is a formula for pounding the teams they face.

My three stars:

1. Kevin Klein

2. Sergei Kostitsyn

3. Marian Hossa

My View

2012-01-20T12:06:00.000-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

One of the conceits of government is that the elected leaders know best how to run an economy, a business, or your personal life. Now that last sentence might sound like the ranting of a crazed libertarian, but unfortunately, those in Washington seem to subscribe to the mistaken notion that they know what is best for individuals, businesses, and industries. The latest evidence of this is a proposal from six House Democrats to establish a "reasonable profits board" for the the oil and gas industry. For these misguided Democrats, the oil and gas industry makes "too much money" and those sitting in Washington should be the arbiters of just how much profit a company can make. H.R. Bill 3784, called the Gas Price Spike Act and introduced by Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) wants to tax the profits of oil and gas companies from 50 to 100% of their profitability if those profits exceed a "reasonable" level. Who determines the "reasonable" level of profit? Industry leaders? Energy economists? Well, this being Washington, the bill excludes anyone in the energy industry from sitting on the panel that sets the "reasonable" profit target. Now, it might be easy to say that energy companies make too much money; that is an entirely different debate. The fact that elected leaders are seriously considering a bill that determines how much money any company or any industry can make should absolutely scare the daylights out of each and every one of us. Because it will not be just the energy industry that faces this kind of scrutiny if this bill passes. Washington will be emboldened to to move to other industries because of the conceit that they know what is best. Watch this closely, because the impact on our economy and on you and me financially can be horrifically devastating.

When I was younger, I studied to be a magician, but could not pass the exam. It was full of trick questions.

If you observe the way Washington interacts with the business community, it would be reasonable to ask why that relationship is so hostile. It almost appears if Washington views the business community as an entity that can be shaken down at will and from which resources can be arbitrarily extracted. Don't believe me? Consider this: just after the first of the year, PepsiCo, the maker of Pepsi products paid $3.1 million to settle a discrimination suit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Good! There is no room for discrimination in the workplace, and those miscreants at Pepsi should pay dearly for their transgression. Think I will drink a Coke now! Well, what was the nature of the discriminatory acts of Pepsi? Pepsi conducted criminal background checks on every job applicant, and those that had arrest records were disqualified, even if it was for a minor offense. According to the EEOC, those disqualified were disproportionately black, and in the Alice in Wonderland world of federal thinking, therefore limited the employment opportunities for blacks. Never mind that blacks have a higher arrest and conviction rate than whites (another- explosive- discussion for another day), Pepsi applied the standard equally across all applicants and all positions. The EEOC did not find one- NOT ONE- instance of a white applicant remaining in the pool of job applicants if they had an arrest record. In fact, the EEOC in their findings said there was no intentional discrimination by Pepsi. If this strikes you as absurd- and it is- you are looking at this logically. Know that despite the lip service from Washington about wanting a healthy business community, the real view is that companies are intrinsically evil and must be brought under the warped world view of Washington's bureaucrats and elected leaders. And if money can be extorted from them in the process, so much the better.

I think my window of opportunity has been painted shut.

Government Motors (formerly known as General Motors) has had trouble selling their electric vehicle, the Chevy Volt. Forget that whole battery exploding into flames thing, the problem with the Volt is that it does not meet the needs of the the market. Yet the car is still being massed produced. So what, you say? Even if you never drive one, you are still on the hook financially for this boondoggle. How so? According to James Hohman, assistant Director of Fiscal Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, each Volt sold so far has approximately $250,000 in state and federal incentives behind it. According to Hohman, there are 18 government deals that includes loans, grants, and tax credits to GM, its suppliers, and the buyers of the vehicle. Here is your Econ 101 lesson: if the government controls production (and they do indirectly in the case of GM by virtue of their bailout and continued 26% ownership of the company), they can direct a company to build a product for the market. If that product does not sell, production either stops or is heavily subsidized by the government (read: taxpayers; you and me). As you can see, we are paying for the a product that the market does not want but does fit in with the vision of a government that believes it can centrally plan the economy and control the market.

I think the perfect name for a car repair shop would be "Auto Correct".

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Blow Past the Jackets 3-0

2012-01-19T20:44:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators looked to continue their mastery over the Columbus Blue Jackets as the Central Division foes met at Nationwide Arena. The last two games between these teams required some late game magic by the Predators to secure a victory, and the Predators were hoping to avoid finding themselves in such a situation again.

The Predators had Pekka Rinne in net, while the Jackets opened with Steve Mason.

The Predators welcomed Jerred Smithson back to the line up after missing several games with a knee injury, but were still without Ryan Suter, who was out with an upper body injury.

The game opened like a typical Predators and Jackets game, with both teams up and down the ice. All that effort by both teams yielded no shots, though, until after 6 minutes had passed in the first period.

As the first period wore on, the Jackets started to assert themselves and control the puck in the Predators zone. . Their effort was rewarded with some quality scoring chances that Rinne had to turn away. On the other end of the ice, the Predators offense never seriously threatened Mason. In the first period, the Jackets out shot the Predators 13-7.

The Predators were going to have to get their legs moving and get shots on net in the second period. Letting the BJ's hang around, and more importantly, create good scoring chances, was not the way for the Predators to win this game.

The second period saw the Predators move their feet better and begin to create some chances. Their work paid off on a 2 on 1 break that saw Sergei Kostitsyn carry the puck in and draw the defense to him. He slid the puck to Marty Erat, who buried a wrist shot from inside the face off circle to make it 1-0 at 11:08 of the second period.

The Predators went on the power play with Derek Dorsett in the box for goaltender interference, and the transgression was costly for the BJ's. Marty Erat got the puck to Mike Fisher at the side of the net through traffic and Fisher had an easy tap in to make it 2-0 at 13:11.

The second period ended with the Predators playing a much better 20 minutes of hockey and a 2-0 lead. They out shot the BJ's 10-7.

This period was a blueprint for the Predators success against a desperate team like the BJ's: get the puck deep, forecheck aggressively, and get shots on net. Oh yeah, play solid defense and limit the Jackets chances.

It was up to the Predators to execute this game plan in the final 20 minutes, because everyone knew the BJ's would have a push in the third period. For the Predators, there was the hope they would not any late game magic to secure a win.

The Jackets had their expected push to start the third period. They kept the Predators back on their heels, and aided by a questionable hooking call on Francis Buillon, bombarded the Predators net to challenge the lead. Pekka Rinne made some huge stops to keep the Jackets off the board, but the Predators were going to need to create some offensive pressure to counter the effort they faced.

Let me re-phrase that: Pekka Rinne made some amazing saves to keep the Jackets off the board. Sprawling, athletic saves that frustrated the BJ's.

To get an idea of how the Predators were being dominated in the third period- and how good Rinne was- they were out shot 17-2 through the first 11 minutes. They Predators offense was non-existent to this point in the third, and if this had been any other team than the BJ's, the Predators would have been in considerable trouble.

Late in the period, Sergei Kostitsyn was called for slashing, and the Jackets pulled Mason for the extra attacker. Off a face off, the puck was near the boards at the face off circle when Shea Weber cleared the puck down the ice and into the empty net to give the Predators a 3-0 lead and the game.

It feels good to win the game, but the Predators were horrid in the third period. The Predators were out shot 18-8, and they spent that period letting the BJ's dictate the play and attack the net at will. Did the Predators play down to their opponent? Or did they relax with the lead and expect Rinne play his usual outstanding game?

Either way, the Predators were lucky to survive the third period, and playing like they did in that period will more often than not result in a loss.

To be sure, this was a much needed win, and it's good to bank the 2 points. There were some positives that the Predators can draw upon as they head toward their game with Chicago. The fact is that this team cannot revert back to playing 20 minutes of hockey and expect to win most games.

Kudos to Rinne for a strong game and his 24th career shutout.

The win gives the Predators 58 points, good for 6th place in the West and 3 ahead of Los Angeles, which plays later tonight.

With the Blackhawks coming to town, the Predators will have to play a full 60 minutes of hockey.

Or they will be blown away.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Marty Erat

3. Mike Fisher

The Streak Ends as the Blue Shirts Blank the Predators

2012-01-17T21:08:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators took their turn on the big stage with their only national television appearance as they battled the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden. After playing yesterday, the Predators went with Anders Lindback in net while the Rangers went with their usual starter Henrik Lundqvist.

Notable for the Predators was the absence of Ryan Suter, who played only 7:14 of the first period in the previous game and was called out due to an upper body injury

The Predators opened with some good jump and controlled the play early. The Predators recorded the first 4 shots on goal were cycling the puck well. The Rangers, by contrast, iced the puck three times in the first five minutes.

The Rangers reversed that momentum at 6:15 of the first period as Dan Girardi took a shot that was going to miss the net but hit Jack Hillen in the leg and ricocheted into the net to give them a 1-0 lead. A fluky goal, but good teams create chances- fluky or not.

The critical aspect of this goal was that Hillen and his defense partner, Ryan Ellis, were caught on the ice for 2:10 and were completely gassed, making it difficult for them to maintain defensive positioning.

The Predators created some chances and got shots on Lundqvist, but did not get many second chances as the Rangers defense did a great job of clearing the front of the net. When the Predators did get some good looks, they were unable to get a puck past Lundqvist.

The first period ended with the Rangers leading 1-0 and the Predators holding an 11-10 shot advantage.

The second period saw both teams get some good chances, and Lundqvist making some good saves to keep the Predators off the board. The Predators created some solid scoring opportunities, but just could not get a tally.

By contrast, the Rangers added a second score at 10:42 of the second period as John Mitchell took a shot that seemed to surprise Lindback and went through the five hole to make it 2-0.

That was the only goal of the period, and the Predators were out shot by the Rangers 11-8.

Though the Predators had some chances, they had yet to get a puck past Lundqvist, and in the third period, it was going to be critical that the Predators not only continue to get shots on goal, but to have players battling for rebounds. Second chances and dirty goals had to be the order of the day for the Predators.

The third period saw the Predators once again frustrated by the play of Lundqvist and the Rangers defense. They got shots on goal, but could not get second chances and opportunities for rebounds and second chances.

The Predators took a penalty as Marty Erat hooked Ryan Callahan on a breakaway chance and the net empty for the extra attacker at 19:09 of the third. The penalty resulted in an automatic goal for the Rangers, and that would ice the contest.

The Rangers out shot the Predators 28-27 for the contest.

The word that sums up this game is frustration. The Predators offense created chances, but could not finish and get a puck past Lundqvist. There is absolutely no doubt that Lundqvist is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, but the frustrating part of this game is the failure to get second chances on the pucks that were laying around the crease. Finishing chances was essential for the Predators to have a chance in this contest, and they did not.

Let's face it: the Predators were not going to win out for the remainder of the season. And they did some good things in this game. They just did not have what it took offensively to bury some chances and get back in the game.

So what does this team do now?

Simple.

You get back to the basics and start another streak Thursday night in Columbus.

My three stars:

1. Henrik Lundqvist

2. Dan Girardi

3. John Mitchell

Predators Continue Winning, Defeat the Islanders 3-1

2012-01-16T14:34:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators ventured to Nassau Coliseum for their only meeting of the year against the New York Islanders in an afternoon matinee. The Predators looked to continue their hot play of late, as they have won 13 of their last 17 games their last 4 games.

The Predators went with (surprisingly since there is a game tomorrow) with Pekka Rinne in net, while the Isles gave Kevin Poulin the start.

It was going to be important for the Predators to get off to a good start against the Islanders and not let them get momentum in this game. The Predators did just that at 2:17 of the first period as Sergei Kostitsyn skated the puck over the blue line and using an Islanders defenseman as a screen blistered a wrist shot that went over the shoulder of of the Isles netminder Kevin Poulin to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. This was the Predators first shot on goal, and for Kostitsyn it continues his amazing shooting percentage as he has 11 goals on only 41 shots.

Matt Halischuk extended the Predators lead to 2-0 as he carried the puck across the blue and drove hard to the net. Halischuk wrist shot from the face off circle beat Poulin cleanly at 5:34 of the first period. This was Halischuk's 10th goal of the season.

The Predators added their third goal of the period on a beautiful give and go between Marty Erat, Colin Wilson, and David Legwand. Erat gave the puck to Wilson, who found the streaking David Legwand, who was unimpeded heading to the net. Legwand buried the shot past an out of position Poulin at 11:37 of the first period to make it 3-0 Predators.

The first period ended with the Predators killing off most of a penalty to Colin Wilson for elbowing. It appeared as if the Islanders were finally starting to get their legs as they began to generate some chances, and Pekka Rinne made a couple of big stops. In the period, the Predators out shot the Islanders 12-6.

The Islanders have very good speed, and it was going to be important for the Predators to keep their foot on the gas and not let them creep back in this game.

The Predators had some good chances in the second, but Poulin settled down and was able to stop the offensive attack. Unable to bury the puck, Poulin seemed to be more confidant, and in turn, the Islanders responded with good offensive presence.

The Predators gave the Isles a good chance to claw back into the game as both Gabriel Bourque took a penalty, followed shortly after by a high sticking penalty to Mike Fisher. The Isles had 1:10 of a 5 on 3. The defense did a good job of blocking shots and keeping the Isles to the outside. Pekka Rinne demonstrated his athleticism and made some huge saves to keep the puck out of the net.

The Islanders continued to pressure the Predators in their defensive zone and Rinne was called upon to make some quality saves to frustrate the scoring threat. He came up huge in the second period, stopping all 19 shots he faced. The Predators had 10 for the period.

Ryan Suter did not play in the second period, and was called out for the remainder of the game with an upper body injury.

Going into the third period, it would be critical for the Predators to get their offensive mojo back. There were too many stretches in the second where the Predators let the Islanders dictate the play, and this needed to change in the final 20 minutes.

The third period was back and forth, with both teams creating some chances, but neither able to solve the others netminder. The Isles finally broke through at 16:02 of the third when John Tavares got behind Francis Buillon and was able to tip a puck past Rinne to make it 3-1.

The Islanders pulled Poulin with 2:10 remaining in the game for the extra attacker and were pressing the Predators in an attempt to cut the lead to one.

The Predators were able to hold off the final push by the Islanders and secured their fifth straight win by a margin of 3-1. The Islanders out shot the Predators 37-32.

It is good to see the Predators get out to a fast start. Although the Islanders have struggled this season, they are a fast and dangerous team, and taking the wind out of their sails early was a big factor in this win.

Pekka Rinne was outstanding, making some great saves, especially in the second period when the Islanders were fighting to get back in the game. Keeping the Islanders off the board during with their aggressive play was critical to securing this win.

For the Predators, this win is another important 2 points. To keep pace with their competitors in the Wast, this is what the Predators have to do. They can only control their fate, not what their competitors are doing. And the best way to control their fate is to keep winning.

They will get another chance tomorrow against the Rangers, the best team in the East.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Sergei Kostitsyn

3. Matt Halischuk

Ryan Ellis Makes Wayne Simmonds Hurtle Through Space

2012-01-15T12:14:00.000-06:00

Ryan Ellis is a smallish yet talented rookie defenseman for the Nashville Predators. One concern about Ellis was how he would fare against the larger forwards he would face in NHL competition.

Against the Flyers in a game in Nashville on the 14th, Ellis showed his ability to be positionally sound and use his body to separate a player from the puck. Here is a clip of the hit:

Ellis has to be sound from a positioning standpoint, but as the clip shows, he is able to use his body effectively.

Continue to look for Ellis to develop his game the longer he is in the NHL.

Predators Get a Humongous Win Over the Flyers

2012-01-14T23:34:00.000-06:00

The Philadelphia Flyers made a rare visit to Nashville to take on the Predators in a barn where they last won in the year 2000. The Predators continued the Flyers misery in the Music City with a 4-2 victory in front of a sell out crowd that had a number of Flyers fans in attendance.

Pekka Rinne started in net for the Predators, while media sensation Ilya Bryzgalov got the start for the Flyers.

The first period was an entertaining period of hockey, with both teams pouring shots on the net. Philadelphia out shot the Predators 15-12 in end to end action. Both teams generated some quality chances, and both goaltenders came up with some solid saves.

It appeared that the Predators had taken a 1-0 lead as Gabriel Bourque was able to direct the puck from behind the net off Bryzgalov and into the goal. The goal was waved off after a review that deemed that Bourque had kicked the puck at Bryz for the deflection.

The Predators got on the board with just 57 seconds remaining in the period while on the power play. With Patric Hornqvist screening Bryzgalov in front, Marty Erat took a shot from the face off circle that hit the ice in front of Bryzgalov and skipped up over his shoulder to give the Predtors a 1-0 lead.

The second period saw the Flyers use their size to assert themselves. They out shot the Predators 13-6, but were forcing the puck deep in the Predators zone, cycling well, and creating some chances. One had to wonder whether the Predators defense could hold up under this pressure.

Want an indication of how the Predators responded? Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds, one of the massive forwards on the Predators roster, broke down the wing with no one but the smallish Ryan Ellis between him and Pekka Rinne. Ellis timed a perfect hip check and flipped Simmonds head over heels, separating him from the puck and thwarting the scoring threat.

The Predators kept grinding away at the Flyers defense, and their effort paid off with their second goal. The Flyers appeared to have control of the puck in their zone, but Gabriel Bourque fought for the puck and stole it away. He found Sergei Kostitsyn and got the puck on his stick. Kostitsyn fired a wrist shot over the shoulder of Bryzgalov with Mike Fisher screening in front to give the Predators a 2-0 lead at 10:36 of the second period.

The Flyers sensational rookie, Sean Couturier, cut the lead to 2-1 at 12:18 of the second with a sweet wrist shot from just inside the face off circle that beat Rinne high glove side.

Going into the third period with a 2-1 lead, the Predators lead seemed tenuous at best, and everyone knew the Flyers would have a strong push.

Rather than wilt under the pressure of the Flyers, it was the Predators that struck first in the third period. Jordin Tootoo found Nick Spaling driving the slot and centered a pass to him. The puck actually bounced off the shaft of Spaling's stick and through the five hole of Bryzgalov to give the Predators a 3-1 lead at 4:30 of the third period.

The Flyers answered at 9:55 of the third as the Predators failed to clear the puck and Wayne Simmonds beat Ryan Ellis for control of the puck at the top of the crease. He was able to poke the puck past Rinne to cut the Predators lead to 3-2.

Rinne stepped up and made some big saves after this to keep the Flyers off the board. With time winding down and Bryzgalov on the bench for the extra attacker, Mike Fisher potted an empty net goal at 19:20 to seal the win.

The defensive effort by the Predators was very good tonight. Although they gave up 38 shots, most were not from quality scoring areas. The Flyers big line of Claude Giroux, Jaromir Jagr, and Scott Hartnell were held off the board, and the play of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber was outstanding in this effort.

This game may not have taken on the importance of a game against a Western Conference opponent, but this was a humongous 2 points for the Predators. With this win, they sit just 4 points out of the lead in the Central Division and 5 points out of first place in the West. They also sit just 4 points out of 9th place in the West. The Western Conference is tightly bunched in the standings and is ultra competitive and it makes every point precious.

Make no mistake- this was a very big game.

The Predators have now won 13 of their last 17 games, essential for keeping pace with the other teams in the West that seem to keep winning as well. Nashville now has sole possession of 6th place in the West.

Tonight, this team battled against a very good opponent. Young players stepped up and veterans played like they should. It will be critical that they continue to do so in the unrelenting pressure cooker that is the Western Conference.

Keep playing this way, and you will have more humongous wins.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Sergei Kostitsyn

3. Wayne Simmonds

My View

2012-01-13T17:50:00.000-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

Want to get an idea of how socialized medicine in this country could develop? Take a look at what is happening in Greece. If you have been following the unfolding Greek debt crisis, you know that the Greek government is in default on their debt and is attempting to implement austerity measures to rein in spending. One of the areas in which spending has been drastically cut is in the area of health care. The Greek government sets drug prices for an array of medicines, both prescription and non-prescription drugs, which pharmaceutical companies sell to wholesalers, who in turn sell them to hospitals and pharmacies. The government there has cut drug reimbursements to save money, cuts so deep that it is no longer profitable for drug wholesalers to sell the drugs to the pharmacists and hospitals. The result of this action is predictable. Wholesalers have been shipping the drugs to buyers outside of Greece at substantially higher prices than they can get in that country. It makes no economic sense for the wholesalers to purchase drugs only to turn around and sell them locally at a loss, so they are selling them on the international markets. Compounding the problem is that medicines sold in Greece are not paid for in a timely manner, as the Greek government has delayed payments to the wholesalers. At this time, the Greek government owes $422 million for drugs purchased since April. The government involvement in healthcare, as the situation in Greece dramatically shows, leads to inefficiencies and shortages. And the people that are in that healthcare system suffer the most. You have been warned.

My body isn't a temple. It's a maximum security prison for fat cells.

Three years ago, an application was filed with the U.S. Department of Energy to build the Keystone XL Pipeline. What is that? It is a 1,700 mile pipeline form the oil sands of Alberta to U.S. refineries on the gulf coast that has been proposed by TransCanada Corporation. The construction of the pipeline is expected to create 20,000 new jobs. More importantly, the pipeline, when fully operational, is expected to deliver 590,000 barrels of crude oil DAILY to U.S. refineries. Consider that much of the oil that comes to our refineries passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is becoming more unstable as Iran attempts to go nuclear and assert their military might. A reasonable question is why has this application been delayed for three years? Especially after Congress overwhelmingly voted to to expedite this application so that construction can begin? This delay has been part of the the current administration's policy of not developing the natural resources available to our country in a misguided attempt to "go green" and force Americans to use green energy. While there is nothing wrong with energy conservation, thwarting attempts to develop our own sources of readily available natural resources costs the economy- and you and me- dearly. Think about this the next time you go to gas up your car.

I used to be addicted to soap, but I'm clean now.

Let's engage in a hypothetical scenario for a moment. Say you need to buy widgets for your business. You can purchase them for a supplier that charges you .08 (8 cents) per widget, or you can buy them from a supplier that charges you .21 (21 cents) per widget. Both widgets are exactly the same and perform identically. Which widget would you buy? Unless you have a particular affinity for overpaying for a product, you will buy the cheaper widget. That scenario that I have just given you is exactly what is happening with green energy, specifically electrical power. The cost per kilowatt hour for electricity averages 8 cents from a traditional, coal fired plant; while solar, wind or geo-thermal electricity costs on overage 21 cents per kilowatt hour according to information from the Energy Information Administration. Until the cost of green energy becomes competitive with traditional forms of energy generation, there is no economic reason to "go green". This means that green energy projects are subsidized- heavily- by state and federal governments because they cannot economically compete in the marketplace. And that means that our tax dollars are being used to fund a product that cannot compete on price in the market place.

Age has its advantages. Too bad I can't remember what they are.

I invite you to follow the blog A Day in the Life of a Hockey Wife. Her blog gives you a different perspective on the sport that so many of us love, a perspective from not only the other side of the glass, but from a wife that holds together her family while her husband plays hockey overseas. It is a well written blog that provides insight to what it is like to support someone pursuing their career in hockey. You can find her blog here.

Give a man a job, and you have an employee. Teach a man how to shift blame, and you have a manager.

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Fight Back for a 3-2 OT Win Over the Avalanche

2012-01-12T23:10:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators faced the Colorado Avalanche for the second of their back to back games at the Bridgestone Arena, and this game was a mirror image of their first meeting. The difference this time was that Colorado returned the favor and dominated the Predators in the first period en route to a 2-0 lead. The Predators, unlike the Avalanche in the previous game, fought back to take a 3-2 overtime victory.

The Avs were aided by two goals that Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne would like to have back.

The first occurred on a seemingly harmless play, as Rinne had the puck in front of his net with plenty of time to clear it. Rather than kick it over to a defenseman, Rinne chose to try to get the puck through the middle of the ice to Marty Erat. Rinne's clearing attempt was intercepted by Ryan O'Reilly and he buried the puck from the low slot to give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 6:09 of the first period.

At that point, the Avs had out shot the Predators 5-4. To give you an idea of their dominance throughout the period, the Avalanche out shot the Predators 15-7.

Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado's rookie phenom, made it 2-0 with a shot off the boards that blew past Rinne through the five hole at 12:17. Landeskog got off a good shot from a difficult angle that seemed to surprise Rinne and went right between his legs into the back of the net. Certainly a goal that Rinne would not normally let in.

Colorado netminder J. S. Giguere had very little work in the first period, a circumstance that had to change if the Predators were going to get back into the contest.

Down 2-0 and outplayed at the end of one period, it did not look good for the Predators.

Yeti (see what I did there- the Avs have a Yeti on their shoulder patch), the Predators would come out in the second period and would start to fight their way back into the contest.

Colorado did a good job of forcing the puck deep and trapping all night. The Predators responded by being patient and moving the puck to break the trap and started to work the puck deep into the offensive zone and create some chances.

The Predators finally got on the board when Matt Halischuk fought for the puck behind the boards and came around the net and attempted a wrap-around shot. Giguere blocked the shot with his pad, but the rebound came into the low slot. David Legwand was crashing the net and got the puck cleanly on his stick and blistered a wrist shot over the shoulder to Giguere to make it 2-1 at 11:02 of the second.

There was no more scoring in the second period, yeti (okay- that's abominable) it felt as if the momentum had shifted to the Predators, and if they could tie the game, they would win it. The Predators effort in the second period was much better, as the peppered Giguere with 14 shots, to just 7 for Colorado.

Get that tying goal, and the game would go the Predators way.

That tying goal would come at 8:48 of the third period. Sergei Kositisyn broke in and unleashed a wicked wrister from just inside the face off circle and through the legs of the defender that was back. Giguere reacted as the puck sailed over his shoulder and hit the back of the net. This was a great shot, with Kostitsyn using the defender as a screen, and the shot was perfectly placed to the top shelf.

The Predators were flying now, and generated some great scoring chances, but just could not get the puck past Giguere for the regulation winner. The Predators threw 12 shots on net, while the Avalanche managed 7.

Heading to overtime, the Predators controlled the face off and got the puck into the Avalanche zone. David Legwand took a shot from the high slot, and Giguere could not control the rebound, which bounced into the low slot. Legwand followed his shot, and lifted over Giguere for the game winning goal 26 seconds into overtime.

For the Predators, this win showed the emerging confidence that this team has. Down early and off some bad goals, the Predators kept fighting their way back into this game. Rinne settled down and made some big saves as the game wore on. The forwards for the Predators kept attacking, kept chipping away, and eventually outworked and prevailed.

That is character.

This is a team the Predators need to beat. With this win, the Predators extended their lead over Colorado to 4 points. It is important to take care of business against the teams that are chasing you, and although the Predators started slowly, they did that.

The Predators overcame a slow start, some shaky goaltending early in the contest, and an 0 for 6 power play effort. Yet (no yeti) they found a way to win.

And there is nothing abominable about that.

My three stars:

1. David Legwand

2. Sergei Kostitsyn

3. Ryan O'Reilly

Predators Bury the Avalanche 4-1

2012-01-10T22:37:00.002-06:00

The Nashville Predators ventured to the Pepsi Center to do battle with the Colorado Avalanche. Even though it is early January, this game took on some significance because the Predators stood just one point in front of the Avs in the standings, with the Predators in 7th place with 48 points and the Avalanche in tied for 9th with 47 points.

This would be the first of four meetings with the Avalanche and the first of two consecutive games between the two teams.

The Predators opened with Pekka Rinne in net, while the Avalanche had Semyon Varlamov tending the pipes.

The Predators opened the scoring at 4:31 of the first period as the line of Jordin Tootoo, Gabriel Bourque, and Nick Spaling continued their stellar play. Tootoo and Bourque battled behind the net for the puck, and Tootoo won the puck battle and slipped the puck to Spaling in the low slot. Spaling's wrist shot was hammered past Varlamov to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.

With T.J. Galiardi in the box for tripping, the Predators potent power play continued the effectiveness as Ryan Ellis blasted a shot from inside the blue line over the glove of a screened Varlamov to give the Predators a 2-0 lead at 7:18 of the first. Patric Hornqvist was in front of the net and did a very good job of taking away the eyes of Varlamov on Ellis' shot.

The Predators continued their assault on Varlamov as Marty Erat unleashed a dart at Varlamov that absolutely fooled the Avs netminder and found the back of the net through the five hole to make it 3-0 Predators at 15:35 of the first period. Erat took the puck in the face off circle and did not hesitiate, letting go a quick snap shot. This is the what this team needs out of Erat- shots on goal, and he was rewarded with a score on his first shot.

At the end of the first period, the Predators out shot the Avalanche 13-6. That doesn't tell the whole story, however. The Predators were dominant on the forecheck, forcing turnovers and limiting the Avs breakouts theough the neutral zone. Their low cycle controlled the puck and created quality scoring opportunities. The line of Tootoo, Spaling, and Bourque were outstanding.

After this solid first period, the Predators were going to need to come out in the second period and continue their solid effort.

The Predators opened the second period with some good scoring chances, but Varlamov was equal to the task of turning aside the Predators chances. Colrado came with their inevitable puck back, and began to control the puck in the Predators zone. The Avs were aided by a questionable goaltender interference call on Matt Halischuk, but the the Predators PK unit was able to stymie the Avs chances. During this stretch, Rinne came up with some good saves to keep the Avs off the board.

Throughout the period, the Avs dominated play and kept the Predators bottled up in their zone and limited the offensive opportunities. The Predators were badly out shot by a margin of 18-6.

Late in the period, Francis Buillon was called for hooking, and the Avalanche made the Predators pay for their infraction. Ryan O'Reilly tipped a puck past Rinne off a pass from Paul Stastny to make it a 3-1 contest at 18:25 of the second.

The Predators survived the second period. That is about all that can be said about it. They were back on their heels and spent much of the period chasing the puck. This type of play set up a third period in which everyone knew that the Avs were going to come out again with another strong push. It was going to be incumbent on the Predators to come out with more jump and answer the push from the Avs.

The Avs opened the third period with a continued strong push. The difference in this period was that the Predators responded. After being out shot 5-0 to open the period, the Predators came back with a strong forecheck and started to get shots in on Varlamov. The Predators forecheck began to disrupt the Avs offensive push and forced them to get deeper in their zone. This created some chances for the Predators and it felt like the Predators were beginning to take momentum back to their side.

The Predators finally broke through at 15:34 of the third period as Ryan Ellis was able to hold the puck in at the blue line. He got a pass to Patric Hornqvist in the high slot, and his quick wrist shot beat Varlamov high over the glove side to restore the Predators 3 goal lead at 4-1.

The Predators held off the Avs for the remainder of the period and secured an important victory against a team that is desperately chasing them in the standings. The importance of this type of game is that it essentially a 4 point game, and with the win, the Predators extended their lead over the Avs to 3 points.

Kudos to the kids for their play tonight. Gabriel Bourque, Ryan Ellis, and Roman Josi had solid games. This is what had been hoped- that these young players would mature quickly and contribute, and they did that tonight.

The Avs out shot the Predators 33-26, and it goes without saying that Pekka Rinne kept the Predators in the contest in the second period when the Predators offense struggled. Rinne was outstanding, thwarting the Avs offensive chances.

This was a quality win by the Predators. We are watching a young team grow up and become a real force. This has to continue for the Predators to be successful.

Keep doing this and you will bury more opponents

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Ryan Ellis

3. Nick Spaling

Predators Mid-Season Report Card

2012-01-09T16:20:00.002-06:00

The Nashville Predators are at the midpoint of the season with a record of 22-15-4, good for 48 points and 6th in the ultra competitive Western Conference.This young squad has shown an ability to learn quickly under the tutelage of Barry Trotz and the coaching staff, and they are quietly shaping up to be a team that once again can make the playoffs and can cause trouble once they are there.

So, half way through the season, it is time to take a look at the components of the team and hand out mid-season grades.

FORWARDS

Rookie Craig Smith has been a very pleasant surprise for the Predators, playing in all 41 games and spending some time with the top six forwards as well as getting some first unit power play time. Smith leads all forwards with 112 shots on goals (SOG). His 26 points (9G 17A) leads all forwards. Smith is a shoot first forward with lots of creativity who is still growing his game, but Predator fans have caught glimpses of the dynamism that he brings to the ice.

Patric Hornqvist is second in shots, with 108, good for 18 points (11G 7A), and thrives on his crash and bang style of play around the net. For Hornqvist to have success, he has to be in the dirty areas around the net, fighting for rebounds. More importantly, he has to have teammates that are shooting the puck frequently when he is on the ice for him to have an opportunity to do the tough work around the net. Hornqvist has continued his tough play, although he has disappeared for stretches, which has been more of a function of the playmakers around him rather than lack of effort.

It is interesting when you examine the shots on goal at the mid-way mark of the season. Among the forwards, the player with the third most shots on goal is David Legwand, with 71. That is a deficit of 37 shots between the second and third forward. Looking at the other top six forwards, Mike Fisher (7G 12A 19 points) has 69 SOG; Colin Wilson has (8G 15A 13 points) 65 SOG; Sergei Kostitsyn (8G 11A 19 points) has 39 SOG; and Marty Erat (8G 17A 25 points) has 50 SOG. This means that the top six forwards are averaging 2 SOG or less for the games they have played.

If there is a criticism of this group, it is that they have to shoot the puck more often. The talent and experience of this group of forwards would indicate that they can and should be putting the puck on net more often, and for this team to have success in the second half of the season, they are going to have to do this consistently.

Tied for second in goals with two others is Matt Halischuk, with 9 goals. Hustlechuk is the epitome of an opportunistic, grinding forward that thrives in the Predators system, and his offensive contribution has been surprising and welcome.

Like Halischuk, Jordin Tootoo is having a very strong campaign. Tootoo is the type of player that every team hates and covets. He is a high energy player that brings a punishing physical presence and can drop the gloves when necessary. The aspect of his game that has developed is that he is now added an offensive punch to his game. Tootoo has 19 points (6G 13A) and has emerged as a solid offensive player on the third line.

New call up Gabriel Bourque has only played five games, but has shown that he can be a very solid player. He is incredibly strong on the puck and has good hockey sense. I look for Bourque to be a solid contributor per game as the season continues to unfold.

Nick Spaling (5G 8A 13 points) and Jerred Smithson (1G 3A 4 points) have been solid in their checking roles and have chipped in with a few timely goals. Brian McGrattan has 2 points (2A) in 25 games. This has been about what I have expected out of these players.

There is offensive talent on this team. The problem for the Predators is that there are times where it doesn't show up consistently. It is no secret that the top six forwards have to generate more offensive chances and it starts with shooting the puck.

Often.

GRADE: B-

DEFENSE

Any discussion of the Predators blue liners starts with the big two: Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. These two studs have combined for 54 points (Weber 9G 21A 30 points; Suter 5G 19A 24 points) and a cumulative +19 (Weber +12; Suter +7). Both players chew up the minutes, with Weber averaging 26:19 per game and Suter averaging 27:01. Both are solid in all zones and are called upon to shut down the opponents top forwards. The numbers bear out that they have been very good at doing that.

Once you get past these two, things get dicey for the Predators D corp. The remainder of the defensemen that have manned the blue line for the Predators are a combined -41 through the first half of the season.

Ouch.

The Predators made a strategic decision to give some younger players a chance to develop and secure starting roles, with Shane O'Brien and Cody Franson departing in the off season. It has been a painful learning process for some of these younger players, as well as some of the returning veterans.

Here are the painful numbers: Klein -12; Blum -14; Josi -7; Hillen -1; Buillon -5; Ellis 0; Laakso -1; Ekholm -1. Part of this is due to chemistry and new players learning how their partner plays. Again, this is part of the learning and growing process, but it has cost the Predators some games and precious points.

Rather than dwell on the negative, let's take a look at some positive aspects.

Roman Josi has played 20 games and has started to emerge as a very solid player. He is a smooth skater, handles the puck well, and has great vision. He has a surprisingly wicked shot, and when Shea Weber was out of the line up, played on the first D pairing with Ryan Suter and acquitted himself very well. I believe Josi will continue to develop and will emerge as a very capable blue liner for the Predators.

Ryan Ellis has played five games, and his offensive prowess has started to emerge. He is very adept at handling the puck and has handled well the physical rigors of battling with bigger forwards by being positionally sound. Ellis is making a strong case to stay up with the Predators rather than return to Milwaukee.

Kevin Klein's play of late has been sound. Klein is often vilified for being on the ice when the other team finds the back of our net. His +/- says that this is a problem. Often, however, Klein has been victimized by the mistakes of his partner (see: Blum, Jonathan) or a break down by a forward. Klein is serviceable and will continue to log some big minutes for the D corp. Klein is putting in just over 20 minutes a game on the second pairing.

Jack Hillen is smallish, but he is a battler. Hillen averages 13:49 per game in ice time, he rarely makes an egregious mistake that victimizes the team.

The bubble player is Jonathan Blum. Blum has been given every opportunity to seize control of a roster spot, but unfortunately for him and the team, his play has at best been highly inconsistent. He runs the risk of losing a roster spot to Ellis and could find himself being returned to Milwaukee.

If the defense corp solidifies behind Weber and Suter, this team will be very dangerous not only in the regular season, but in the playoffs.

That is a very big "if".

SPLIT GRADE: Weber/Suter A+ EVERYONE ELSE: D+

GOALTENDERS

For the Predators, their rock in the net is Pekka Rinne. Rinne has appeared in 37 games this season, and has a 2.61 GAA and a .917 save %. Rinne is 20-11-4, with 3 shutouts. These numbers are not as good as his Vezina nominated season of a year ago. To understand why, read the section above about the Predators defense. Rinne continues to be very strong in net, and his play has stolen several games for the Predators in the first half of the season. He is a battler that is positionally sound, possesses an amazing glove hand, and is capable of making some spectacular saves. Rinne's even demeanor and humbleness belie his quiet confidence, evidenced by his outstanding play not only during regulation, but in shootouts. The Predators should take comfort in the fact that Rinne only seems to get stronger as the season progresses.

Anders Lindback is a very serviceable backup. He has appeared in 8 games and has a 2.75 GAA and a .893 save %. Lindback will be called into action more in the second half of the season as the Predators will have several back to back games on their schedule.

GRADE: A

COACHING STAFF

The coaching staff saw long time assistant coach Brent Peterson leave the bench due to a battle with Parkinson's disease, and Lane Lambert joined the staff from his Head Coaching position in Milwaukee. Head Coach Barry Trotz and long time assistant Peter Horachek continue behind the bench. Trotz and his staff are outstanding in their ability to get the most out of the players on their roster. Trotz is a master motivator and has the uncanny ability to push the right buttons on this team. More importantly, he has the attention of the players as to what is important and gets the best out of them in that regard. There has never been a concern that Trotz has "lost the room', and given his tenure behind the bench, that is a singularly impressive feat.

As to that tenure- Trotz is the second longest tenured coach with one team, behind Lindy Ruff of Buffalo by four months. To give some perspective to that feat, consider this: since Trotz was hired as Head Coach, there have been 170 coaching changes in the NHL through last night.

One cannot discount the benefit of that stability. Players know what to expect out of the staff, and that is very important. I think that is one of the primary reasons that the players produce for Trotz and the staff.

Look for Trotz to do some of his best coaching in the second half of the season. Barring decimating injuries, I expect Trotz and the staff to get the team to perform even better in the second half of the year.

GRADE: A

I will do another report card at the end of the season, and it will be interesting to compare the grades to this one.

Predators Blow Away the Hurricanes 5-2

2012-01-07T23:07:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators played one of their most complete games of the season, dominating the Carolina Hurricanes by a 5-2 margin. The Predators power play, which had gone 0-14 in their recent games, exploded for a 4 for 4 performance to lead the Predators in the win.

The Hurricanes were playing the second of back to back games, and since starting netminder Cam Ward had played the night before, Justin Peters got the start. The Predators went with their workhorse and stalwart, Pekka Rinne.

There is no doubt that the Hurricanes have struggled, but new Head Coach Kirk Mueller, recently of the Milwaukee Admirals, has his team competing hard every night. Tonight was no different.

Carolina opened the contest with good jump and controlled the puck early in the Predators zone. The Predators defense did a good job of keeping the Canes to the outside and limiting quality scoring chances.

It took a few minutes, but the Predators started to establish control of the puck and gained a territorial advantage by winning neutral zone battles and getting good breakouts into the Canes offensive zone.

The Predators got on the board at 9:14 of the first period as Shea Weber took a pass from Marty Erat and unleashed a blast from the blue line that cleanly beat Peters. To get an idea of the velocity of that shot, consider that Peters was unscreened and had a good look at the shot and was still beaten over his shoulder by the rocket from the Captain for a 1-0 lead.

Craig Smith extended the lead to 2-0 at 13:16 of the first with the Predators on the power play. Smith took a cross ice pass from David Legwand and uncorked a blistering one timer that beat Peters between his shoulder and the near post. It was good to see Smith get on the board as he had gone 25 games without a goal. For Smith, it was his 9th goal of the season.

In the second period, the Predators were on the power play with Alex Ponikarovsky in the box for tripping. Mike Fisher took a shot from the slot that was tipped through the five hole of Peters by Patric Hornqvist at 17:04. This was Hornqvist's 10th goal of the season.

Rinne made a fantastic glove save to keep the Canes off the board. The puck was bouncing around and skittered to Rinne's right side. A Hurricane player slapped the puck at what appeared to be an open net, but Rinne dove across the ice and the puck landed in his glove for a remarkable save.

Hornqvist notched his second goal of the game at 6:56 of the third period, this another power play tally. Hornqvist was battling in front of the net and was able to find the puck after a shot by Marty Erat. Peters could not control the rebound, and Hornqvist was able to slam home the puck to give the Predators a 4-0 lead.

Jay Harrison scored for the Canes at 8:35 at even strength to make it 4-1.

Hornqvist appeared to have a t hat trick as he was sprawling on the ice and jammed the puck home. As the hats flew on the ice, the goal was reviewed and was inexplicably waved off as it was deemed that Hornqvist had kicked the puck into the net. A questionable decision at best.

The Predators got that 5th goal, once again on the power play, as Ryan Ellis launched a slap shot that beat Peters stick side to make it 5-1 at 14:28 of the third period. Ellis played a solid game, and it was good to see him rewarded with his first NHL goal.

The Canes Jay Harrison struck again on the power play at 17:56 of the third period. Harrison's shot from inside the blue line was going wide of the net, but hit defenseman Ryan Ellis in the butt and caromed past Rinne for the score.

The Predators controlled the play in the waning minutes of the contest and did not give the Canes any quality chances, and as the clock wound down, the 8th straight sellout crowd cheered the Predators 5-2 win.

For the night, the Predators out shot the Hurricanes 36-29. More importantly, a number of their shots were from close in, the quality scoring areas. They crashed the net and generated numerous second chances and they were rewarded for their effort tonight.

On the defensive end of the ice, the Predators did a very good job of keeping the Hurricanes to the outside and not letting them get many shots from close in. Kudos to the Predators defense for their effort tonight.

The concern for the Predators coming out of this game is the health of Francis Buillon. He took a high stick to the mouth that chipped several teeth and required six stitches. He will have a root canal tomorrow and will be evaluated as to his ability to play on Tuesday at Colorado.

This was a solid win by the Predators, and it was due to playing Predator hockey. Shooting the puck and going strong to the net yielded positive results for this team tonight, and this is the way they have to continue to play.

Play like this, and they will continue to blow away opponents.

My three stars:

1. Patric Hornqvist

2. Mike Fisher

3. Ryan Ellis

My View

2012-01-06T12:47:00.000-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

Welcome to 2012's new mascot, and just as our furry friend is intently focused on the kibble that is being tossed his way, we are going to intently focus on some important issues as well as have some fun in 2012. It goes without saying that this is going to be a very noisy year with the Presidential election in November, and there are numerous issues, both political and economic, that will be decided that will determine the direction of our country for a long time. With all the hype and hoopla, it is easy to just want to tune it out, but like our canine companion, we are going to stay focused on the kibbles, uh, issues. Hang on for the ride, because it is going to be an interesting year.

When people ask what is the one thing you would bring to a deserted island, I think the answer would be obvious. A boat.

There is going to be numerous economic numbers thrown about this year, originating from various departments of the government. Two of the most watched are the unemployment numbers and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which measure the growth of our economy. Here is a piece of advice about the data that is disseminated by federal agencies: take it with a grain of salt. Here is why. Those initial release of numbers are from raw data that is recalculated, refined, and re-worked to give the actual information. Here is an example: the third quarter 2011 GDP was released, and initially, it was reported that the U.S. economy grew 2.5% in that quarter. That is good growth, and the news was received positively in the markets and used to make political hay by both parties. But wait, in November, the number was revised down to 2%. Not done yet, the number was finally revised down to 1.8% in late November, a full 39% below the initial release. Imagine if a publicly traded company published information about the sales and growth of their firm that was as erroneous as this. Regulatory agencies would be absolutely apoplectic. Yet we tolerate it from our government. The take away from this is simply don't get too excited about the first release of the information that comes out of Washington. Although it will be spun by either side for political gain, more often than not, the data is inaccurate.

Is it my imagination, or do buffalo wings taste like chicken?

At the start of the new year, many of us start to gather information about what we spent last year and formulate a household budget for the coming year. If you have that financial discipline, one item that you may want to increase in your budget is the cost of gasoline for your vehicle. In 2011, according to a report on CNBC, gasoline averaged more than $3.50 per gallon, meaning that the typical American family spent $4,155 filling up their autos. That is a record, and represents 8.4% of the median household income in the U.S. That is the highest percentage since 1981. Part of this is because the demand for crude oil is rising globally as more emerging economies have populations that are purchasing automobiles. The other part is the failure of the United States to adequately develop the natural resources that are within its own borders. The double negative effect of the high cost of gasoline is this: it takes dollars that could be spent in other areas to help grow the economy and removes them from circulation; and in turn, those dollars are sent overseas to other countries. In essence, we are transferring our wealth outside our borders. Think about that the next time that you fill up. More importantly, think about it the next time someone in Washington continues to impede the development of our own natural resources.

Clothes don't make the man, but being naked will get you arrested.

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Hand the Stars a 4-1 Victory

2012-01-05T22:27:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators handed the Dallas Stars a 4-1 victory at the Bridgestone Arena in front of the 7th consecutive sellout for the home team.

"Handed?" Sour grapes?

No.

Consider that in a 1-1 game, the Predators made two egregious mistakes that wound up in the back of their net and allowed the Stars to take control of the game and cement a win.

Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne is owed an apology by the team in front of him.

I will get to that in a moment.

First, the Predators welcomed back Shea Weber, who missed four games due to a cheap shot from the Stars Mark Fistric in a game just before Christmas. Weber was his usual physical self and appeared not to miss a beat, as he logged 25:45 of ice time.

As to the game, the Stars struck first as Mike Ribeiro got the Stars on the board first at 4:18 of the first period. Ribeiro undressed Roman Josi in front of the net, and the Predators forward was late getting back on the line change to help. Ribeiro made a nice move in the low slot and beat Rinne glove side to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

The Predators answered at 8:31 of the first as Gabriel Bourque tallied his first NHL goal off some hard work and a nice pass from Jordin Tootoo. Tootoo fought for and won the puck behind the net and found Bourque in the low slot with a nice pass. Bourque buried the wrister behind Kari Lehtonen to tie the game at 1.

With time winding down in the first period, Ribeiro took a shot that eluded Rinne and was lying in the blue paint. Kevin Klein came back to help his goalie, but instead of securing the puck, accidentally knocked it into the net to give the Stars a 2-1 lead at 19:21 of the first period.

In the second period, the Predators gave the Stars another goal as Ryan Suter made a blind drop pass behind the net thinking that Nick Spaling would be there to take possession of the puck. Spaling was nowhere to be found, and the puck was taken by Jamie Benn at the goal line, and he fired a quick shot on the surprised Rinne that caromed off his skate and into the net to make it 3-1 at 6:28.

In the third period, Adam Burish gathered in a puck that the Predators failed to clear and then over skated in the defensive zone and fired a shot past a screened Rinne to make it 4-1 at 12:53 of the third period. This would be the final margin of the game.

For the Predators, this was a disappointing effort. Giving the Stars 3 goals is certainly a formula for defeat. The Predators offensive effort was negligible for the night. David Legwand, Mike Fisher, Marty Erat, and Sergei Kostitsyn were virtually invisible in this game, and for the Predators to have success, they have to be more effective and create chances.

By far, the best line for the Predators was the Tootoo, Bourque, Spaling line. They played with energy and enthusiasm, and were a force on the ice.

There was a large dose of animosity on the ice. Fistric was going to pay for his cheap shot on Weber, and early on was challenged by Jordin Tootoo. Fistric was not going to trade punches with Toots, and was content to hang on and try to wrestle with his opponent. When called out, Fistric would not answer.

As I mentioned, the effort tonight by the Predators was disappointing. Giving the Stars three goals doomed their effort against a team they need to beat and should beat.

There will be two more meetings against the Stars. Hopefully the Predators will not give them any goals in those contests.

My three stars:

1. Mike Ribeiro

2. Kari Lehtonen

3. Gabriel Bourque

A Small Act of Kindness Speaks Volumes

2012-01-04T21:05:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators have a program called the Blue Liner of the Game where a player from the area youth hockey leagues skates out and stands with the Predators starters at the blue line for the anthem at the beginning of the game. Each participant waits with an ice girl at the center red line, and then after the Predators starters have been introduced, skates out to stand with the players during the anthem.

At Sunday's game against the Calgary Flames, a young player from the A-Game Mite league (ages 7-8) in Franklin was to skate out with the Predators. What happened next was both touching and indicative of the type of players make up the roster of the Predators.

The young man, whose name I cannot remember, skated from the center red line where he was waiting for his introduction to the Predators blue line.

So far so good.

But rather than skate out and stand with the players, he froze at the boards, standing there alone and away from the team, approximately 50 feet from the nearest Predator player.

The Canadian anthem had just commenced, and the Predator player on the end of the line, Patric Hornqvist, motioned for the young man to come over and join the Predators players on the blue line. The young man saw Hornqvist motion, but did not move. Hornqvist then skated over to him during the Canadian anthem and put his arm around the shoulder of the young man and bent over and said something to him. They then skated together to join the rest of the Predators with Hornqvist arm around his shoulders, and the young player had the experience of standing with the team on the blue line for the remainder of the Canadian anthem and the Star Spangled Banner.

It would have been easy for Hornqvist to just stand there and do nothing. Game face and focus on the upcoming game and all that, you know. Instead, he took it upon himself to comfort the frightened skater and bring him over to join the team.

That small act of kindness and consideration is telling about the character of Patric Hornqvist. I think it is indicative of the character of the team as well.

It speaks to the fact that these elite athletes are good people. That small act of kindness toward a young man says to me that these players are aware of those around them and concerned about their well being. It tells me that this team has a locker room that will weather storms and tough times and pick each other up when it is not going well.

A little act.

One that speaks volumes.

Kostitsyn's Hat Trick Leads Predators Past the Flames

2012-01-01T21:33:00.001-06:00

New Year's day signifies the start of something new, a chance to begin afresh.

For the Nashville Predators, their contest with the Calgary Flames started in a way that was anything but new. They gave up the first goal and allowed the Flames to hold a significant territorial advantage in the first 12:30 of their game at the Bridgestone Arena.

The new year saw the old Predators on the ice.

But it is a new year and a time of new beginnings, and the Predators reversed their fortunes with some strong play to defeat the Flames 5-3 in front of their sixth straight sellout crowd.

The Flames opened the scoring at 3:47 of the first period as Jerome Iginla spun away from Sergei Kostitsyn in the low slot and beat Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne with a shot low to the stick side to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. This was Iginla's 499th goal.

Calgary continued to control the puck in the Predators zone, and the Predators were looking much like the Predators team that would come out flat for a period and struggle to establish even the most basic offensive effort. The Predators often looked content to just get the puck out of the zone.

Same old Predators, eh?

Not so fast.

Instead of taking 20 minutes to finally get their game going, the Predators got their legs midway of the period and started to challenge the Flames. They began to get the puck deep and work their cycle to create chances and control possession.

The Predators broke through on the scoreboard at 12:39 of the first period as Kevin Klein, back in the lineup after missing six games with the flu, blasted a slap shot from the blue line that beat a screened Mikka Kiprusoff glove side to tie the game at 1. Critical to this goal was Gabriel Bourque, who battled behind the net and fought to get control of the puck. This play doesn't happen if Bourque does not win that puck battle

That goal served to energize the Predators, as the would dominate the Flames for the rest of the period and all of the second period. For the next 30 minutes, the Predators would play as good a stretch of hockey as they have played all season.

Sergei Kostitsyn would notch the Predators second goal at 15:46 of the period off a nice assist from Patric Hornqvist. Hornqvist battled hard in the corner and passed the puck from out of the corner from behind the goal line to Kostitsyn, who was driving hard to the net. Kostitsyn was able to get his stick on the pass and chip the puck over Kiprusoff, who could not get over to cover the left side of the net to make it 2-1.

The Flames out shot the Predators 9-7 in the first period, but the final eight minutes were controlled by the Predators.

They continued to dominate play throughout the second period, out shooting the Flames 14-5 and controlling the puck for long stretches. Calgary went over 10 minutes in the period without a shot on net.

The Predators made it 3-1 just 2:27 into the second period as Matt Halischuk tallied his 9th goal of the year by driving the net and hammering a snap shot past Kirusoff from the slot.

Sergei Kostitsyn would tally his second goal of the contest at 5:59 of the second as he broke in 2 on 1 with Patric Hornqvist. Kostitsyn looked to Hornqvist as if he was going to pass the puck and snapped a wrist shot that beat Kipper five hole to make it 4-1.

Everyone in the arena knew that Calgary would not roll over and would have a push in the third period, and that is just what they did. Rene Bourque scored just 1:17 into the period as he skated into the slot and beat Rinne make it 4-2.

Two goal lead for the Predators and they were still in control, but Calgary kept pushing, trying to draw closer. The Predators did a good job in the period of forcing Calgary to the outside and keeping the Flames forwards from the front of the net. Limiting quality scoring chances was going to be critical for the Predators to secure the victory, and they were doing a good job of doing just that for the bulk of the period.

Calgary cut the lead to 1, 4-3, at 17:57 of the third period as Brenden Morrison was able to beat Rinne by slamming home a rebound of a T. J. Brodie shot.

Kiprusoff was pulled for the extra attacker, and with a face off in the Predators zone, the pucker factor for Predators fans was off the chart.

That anxiety would change to elation as Sergei Kostitsyn corralled a chip out of the zone by Kevin Klein that appeared destined for the empty net and tapped it into the empty net for the final margin of 5-3 for the Predators. For Kostitsyn, this was his first career hat trick, and his timely scoring propelled the Predators to the first win of 2012.

Once again, the Predators were without Shea Weber, who has been moved to Injured Reserve with his concussion, and Colin Wilson, who is out with an upper body injury. Since Weber has been out of the lineup, the Predators are 3-1. They have won 9 of their last 12 games.

Once again, this effort tonight showed that this team can win playing Predator hockey. Timely scoring from throughout the lineup and solid defense and goaltending have been the keys to success for this team. This team will win and will win frequently if they keep playing with this kind of effort.

Both Jordin Tootoo and birthday boy Patric Hornqvist had two assists.

Calgary is a team chasing the Predators in the standings, and it is important that this team take care of business against an opponent that is trying to catch them in the standings.

Hats off for a solid effort.

My three stars:

1. Sergei Kostitsyn

2. Kevin Klein

3. Patric Hornqvist

Predators Stop St. Louis for the Third Time

2011-12-30T19:34:00.003-06:00

The Nashville Predators brought a depleted line up to Scott Trade Center to take on the St. Louis Blues in the final contest of 2011. The Predators were without Shea Weber, Kevin Klein, and a late scratch, Colin Wilson, who was ruled out with and upper body injury.

Pekka Rinne was in net for the Predators, while the Blues had the resurgent Jaroslav Halak in net.

For the Predators, it was going to be critical that they come out skating hard and playing Predator hockey with this depleted line up. If the Blues got the lead, it was their style to trap the life out of their opponent, something that has given the Predators fits this season.

The Predators did just that, as Roman Josi pinched off the boards and drove the net. Halak kicked a rebound of Josi's shot into the slot, and Matt Halischuk drove the net and chipped the puck over Halak's pads to give the Predators a 1-0 lead at 2:16 of the first period.

At 11:06, David Legwand took a saucer pass from Marty Erat, which hit his foot and ricocheted past Halak. The goal was disallowed as it was deemed that the goal occurred because the puck was kicked into the net.

Immediatley after the face off, he Blues rang a shot off the cross bar as Rinne acrobatically dove across the crease.

T. J. Oshie tied the game at 1 at 13:40 as he gathered in a loose puck in a goal mouth scramble and lifted the puck over Rinne.

The remainder of the period was scoreless, as the Predators killed off a questionable boarding call against Brian McGrattan. They ended the period on a power play as Chris Stewart was called for hooking Craig Smith on a great breakaway attempt. Smith's shot went over the crossbar and into the net as he was being harassed by Stewart. The Predators would open the second period with 40 seconds of power play time.

For the Predators, it was a solid first period as they skated hard and out shot the Blues 14-11.

In the second period, the Blues used their size to muscle the Predators defense and control play in the Predators zone. The defense battled and worked to force the Blues to the perimeter, but the Blues were starting to use their size to wear down the defense.

Pekka Rinne made some big saves to keep the Blues off the board. For the Predators, their best scoring chance came on the penalty kill as Marty Erat stole the puck and went in on a breakaway. He tried to go five hole on Halak, but Halak was able to close the five hole and stop Erat.

The Predators killed off two Blues power plays during the second period, and once again, would have carryover power play time- 50 seconds- to start the third period as David Backes was in the box for hooking.

The Blues out shot the Predators 14-10 in the second period, and this was a period that resembled a heavyweight fight. Both teams traded scoring opportunities and mounted offensive challenges. Both teams responded, and going into the third period, this was a contest that was typical of the Predators and Blues previous contests this season: tight checking and looking for any opportunity to capitalize on a mistake by the other team.

Once again, the third period was a back and forth tilt, as both teams had offensive chances and both netminders were up to the task. The Predators defense had one of their better showings, especially against a bigger and very talented group of forwards for the Blues. Each team kept up the pressure on the other, but neither was able to find the back of the net to end the third period tied at 1.

St. Louis out shot Nashville 8-7 in the third period, and for regulation, the Blues held a two shot advantage 33-31.

The conservative defensive style of the first 60 minutes went out the window in overtime as both teams had rushes up the ice and quality scoring chances. Neither team was able to tally the game winning goal as each had three shots on goal.

For the second game in a row, the Predators were going to a shootout. If you remember, this was the way the last game with the Blues was decided, a game that was won by the Predators 2-1.

St. Louis elected for Nashville to shoot first, and Mike Fisher was the first shooter for the Predators, and he beat Halak but rang his shot off the pipe.

T. J. Oshie was the first shooter for the Blues and he was stoned by Rinne as he closed the pads as Oshie tried to go five hole.

Craig Smith was stopped by Halak on a backhand attempt.

David Perron was the next shooter, and his shot hit Rinne's shoulder and then the crossbar for no goal.

David Legwand was stopped off the forehand by Halak's arm.

Patrick Bergland was stopped by Rinne, although the puck went in the net but it was double tapped by Bergland for no goal.

Matt Halischuk missed the net high for the Predators.

David Backes was stopped by Rinne's blocker.

Marty Erat finally solved Halak as he beat him top corner over his glove to give the Predators a 1-0 lead in the shootout.

With the game on the line, Pekka Rinne stopped Kevin Shattenkirk to seal the win for the Predators, again another 2-1 shootout win over the Blues.

For the Blues, this was their third loss in three attempts against the Predators this season.

The Predators showed immense heart and grit in this win. Make no mistake, St. Louis is a quality club and they are sitting in front of the Predators in the standings. That made this game even more important for the Predators, and they played like it. Going into the contest with several key players out of the line up, it would have been easy to roll over against the Blues. Instead, this team fought for 65 minutes and their compete level was as good as it has been all season. They were gritty and skated hard and refused to wilt in the face of the pressure of the Blues. This was truly a character win.

With this win, the Predators have closed that gap to three points, 47 to 44.

You can see this young team growing game by game in confidence and maturity. They are starting to believe in themselves and in the game they are playing.

And that is what it takes to win these kind of games.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Jaroslav Halak

3. Marty Erat

My View

2011-12-29T21:37:00.001-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

As this year comes to a close, I want to thank all of you that have been gracious enough to stop by and read the blog. This is the third year of writing this missive, and it has been the best year so far in terms of readership. I am honored that you would stop by and visit and that you take the time to read. My sincerest appreciation to all of you.

As we close the year, say goodbye to the smiling dog and the jealous cat. They have served well this past year as the picture that welcomed you to the Friday opinion blog. The critter for next year's "My View" blog has been selected, and I think you will like him.

If you haven't been to the Stadium Journey site, I invite you to do so. This is the brainchild of Paul Swaney, and he has engaged writers from all over the country to write reviews of sports venues, from college stadiums and arenas, to stadiums, rinks, and arenas in all of the professional sports. This is a great site if you are making a first time visit and wanting to know about a venue and the surrounding area. You can find the site here. The View has written three reviews for Stadium Journey- The Bridgestone Arena, LP Field, and Williams Brice Stadium, home of the Gamecocks.

Those that regularly read this blog know that I comment frequently about political and economic events, so you know that I cannot let a blog pass without some comment on where we are in this country. Over the years, there has been a sense of disconnect between the bureaucrats and elected officials in Washington and the electorate. Over the past three years, this had become blindingly obvious. As we move into the throes of the election cycle next year, it is easy to tune out the noise and verbiage to the point that we become disengaged in the process. That is the last thing any of us need to do. This election will go further than any in our lifetime toward determining the direction of this country for decades to come. As easy as it is to tune out the ads and the rhetoric, I encourage all of you to stay engaged in the issues- not the candidates- and really understand what is at stake in this process.

And here are some thoughts as we close out 2011:

The speed at which a woman says "Nothing" when asked "What is wrong?" is inversely proportional to the severity of the coming storm.

A smart person knows what to say. A wise person knows whether or not to say it.

Life is not like a box of chocolates. It is like a jalapeno. What you do today may burn your ass tomorrow.

Some people are just crazy, and when you think you have reached the bottom of their craziness, you find out that there is a whole underground garage of crazy.

Let's eat grandpa. Let's eat, grandpa. Remember, correct punctuation saves lives.

Only in math problems can you buy 60 cantaloupes and no one ask what the hell is wrong with you.

Don't you love how in scary movies a person yells out "Hello?" As if the killer is going to answer, "I'm in the kitchen, want a sandwich?"

Things are finally clicking in my life. Unfortunately, it is my knees, my shoulder, and my elbows.

I hope that 2012 is a fantastic year for all of you, full of great joys and blessings.

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Win Over the Wild in a Shootout 2-1

2011-12-28T23:52:00.001-06:00

Watching the Minnesota Wild play hockey is a bit like watching (if it were possible) your arteries harden. You know those clogged arteries are going to be a problem, you just never know when.

The Nashville Predators took on the Wild at Bridgestone Arena and were able to do just enough against the sclerotic defense of the Wild to escape with a 2-1 shootout victory to extend the Wild's losing streak to 8 games.

Throughout the night, the Wild clogged the neutral zone and the offensive zone, creating problems for the Predators entering the zone and establishing their offense. Yet the Predators kept persisting, kept pushing, and kept fighting. The victory wasn't pretty by any stretch, but fortunately, they don't grade victories on style points.

Pekka Rinne got the start in net for the Predators, while Josh Harding was in net for the Wild.

Rinne got most of the work of the two netminders,as the Wild out shot the Predators 35-25 and created numerous scoring opportunities from in close. Rinne came up with some very big saves for the Predators as the Wild threw the puck at the net often and had several scoring chances from in close. Rinne was outstanding in goal and was exceptional in keeping the Wild off the board early.

The first period was scoreless, but the Wild carried the play early. With 6 minutes to go in the period, the Wild had out shot the Predators 10-4, but a late flurry by the Predators narrowed that margin to 11-10. The Wild threw pucks at the net, and there were times where the Predators defense had trouble clearing the front of the net, forcing Rinne to make some big stops from close range.

The second period was more of the same. The Predators opened with a strong offensive effort, really their only offensive thrust of the period. Colin Wilson rang a shot off the post from close in, but that was the best scoring chance for the Predators. The Wild spent most of the period bottling up the Predators and not allowing them to establish their offensive flow. In turn, they used their defense to create offense and control the puck in the Predators zone.

The Wild out shot the Predators 11-5 in the second period. Once again, the play of Rinne kept the Predators in the game, as he stopped several close in shots to keep the Wild scoreless.

The Predators defense was over matched in terms of size, but they battled throughout the night, working to keep the Wild to the outside and limit quality scoring chances. Ryan Suter was a workhorse and played a rock solid game. For the night, he logged 29:46 of ice time.

This game had the feel of a one goal contest, and the team that scored first would win the contest.

The team that would strike first would be the Predators at 7:00 of the third period. Jonathan Blum launched a shot from the blue line that caromed off Jordin Tootoo and past Harding to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. The key to this goal was that Tootoo was driving hard to the net and was able to re-direct the shot past Harding.

Those clogged arteries, uh, the Wild were not done, though. They tied the game at 16:01 of the third as Dany Heatley beat Rinne on a wrap around. Rinne scrambled to to get to the right post, but Heatley managed to squeeze the puck between Rinne's skate and the post.

Both teams had to kill off penalties int he last 3:30 of the regulation time, as Jordin Tootoo was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for something he said to an official after a scrum, and Jon DiSalvatore was called for cross checking. Neither team was able to capitalize on the man advantage, and tied at 1, the game was going to overtime.

The overtime was scoreless, but the Wild had 4 shots to none for the Predators, and despite their efforts, we were going to a shootout.

As is the Predators custom, the chose to shoot second. The Wild's first shooter, Matt Cullen, had the -puck roll off his stick and never got off a shot.

Colin Wilson was the Predators first shooter, and he beat Harding with a nice forehand to backhand move to roof the shot over the diving Harding.

Mikko Koivu was stopped by the right pad of Rinne.

Craig Smith missed the net high on his attempt.

The Predators could win the game with a stop of the Wild's third shooter, Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Bouchard attempted a spin move that was stopped by Rinne, and the Predators had the win in the shootout.

With the win, Pekka Rinne continues his dominance over the Wild at the Bridgestone Arena. He ran his record to 5-0, with a .979 save % and a .55 GAA.

Gabriel Bourque was called up by the Predators to take the roster spot of Blake Geoffrion, and he logged 8:05 of ice time. He was strong on the puck and battled hard in the corners. He brings an element of grit, speed, and tenaciousness that the Predators can use, and his play will, in my view, merit more ice time in coming contests.

In one respect, this was not a pretty win. This was a grinding game that was going to be decided by which team made a mistake or cracked first under the pressure of a tight contest. It was not a pretty game to watch.

In another perspective, this was a beautiful win. The Predators were facing adversity with injuries (Weber, Klein) to their blue line, and some young players were thrust into key roles and asked to play some very big minutes. They performed admirably. This team refused to yield to the pressure the Wild brought, and they battled all night, eventually securing the win.

That is character.

These are the tough games that in the course of a season a team has to battle through to win. Sometimes, a win like this isn't flashy and doesn't look good.

Except on the score sheet.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Colin Wilson

3. Jordin Tootoo

Shea Weber Out With a Concussion

2011-12-27T19:09:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators said today that defenseman and Captain Shea Weber would be out indefinitely after suffering a concussion from a hit by Mark Fistric in the Dallas game. The game was played Friday, December 23rd, and the symptoms manifest themselves at practice on Monday before the Detroit game.

Here is a video of the hit:

Fistric received no supplementary discipline from the League, although the hit was high and appeared to target the head.

For the League, the problem of consistency in meting out discipline continues to be a problem. If Brendan Shanahan and the League disciplinarians are serious about getting these types of hits out of the game, then there has to be a consistent application of discipline. As it is, players are receiving mixed signals about what is an acceptable hit and what isn't.

The Predators have said they hope to have Weber back for the Predators game Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Ryan Ellis has been recalled from Milwaukee to take the roster spot of Weber.

Predators Offense MIA in 4-1 Loss to Detroit

2011-12-26T23:00:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators faced the Detroit Red Wings at the Bridgestone Arena in a Central Division tilt that saw the Predators try to win their second in a row over the Wings.

The big news for the Predators was that they were going to try to do this without their Captain, Shea Weber, and with two rookie defensemen in the line up. Weber was scratched with little information given as to why he was absent. Speculation was that he was feeling the effects of a crushing hit by Mark Fistric in the Dallas game on Friday. Rookie Ryan Ellis was called up from Milwaukee and took Weber's place.

Detroit won the game 4-1, and despite the score, there were some positive aspects to the Predators game.

The Predators out shot the Wings 32-22. They skated hard and competed well. Ryan Ellis acquitted himself well in his debut. Roman Josi continues to play a solid game.

Those were the positive aspects of the contest.

Those positives were outweighed by the fact that the Predators offense could not finish their chances. This is the Achilles heel of the offense. Finishing their chances was a critical aspect to their effort against Detroit, and the Predators could not find a finisher when they had the puck in the offensive zone. And this bit them in the ass tonight.

Detroit opened the scoring at 10:57 of the first period as Valtteri Filppula beat Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne from the slot inside the face off circle low to the glove side. This looked like a stoppable shot, but it snuck under the arm of Rinne to give the Wings a 1-0 lead.

At the end of the first period and down 1-0, the Predators were still in the contest, but it was critical that they get a goal and not let Detroit extend their lead.

That did not happen, as Pavel Datsyuk scored on a wrap around attempt at 12:52 of the second. It looked as if Rinne had the post sealed off and he got pushed into the net.. The official, Dan Hasenfratz, signaled goal, but the play went to review. The replay was inconclusive and did not show the puck crossing the goal line, but it was not overturned and the Wings had a 2-0 lead.

Just 13 seconds later, Dan Cleary beat Nick Spaling in the low slot and had an open shot over the shoulder of Rinne to make it 3-0. This was a young team that faced some adversity and failed to respond, and Detroit took advantage to extend their lead.

In the third period, Filppula struck again as he got loose in the low slot and beat Rinne to make it 4-0 at 5:22 of the third period. Rinne had slid to the right of the net, and when the puck reversed to the left, he stumbled getting over. This left Filppula alone and with an open net into which to bury the puck. Once again, a defensive breakdown hung Rinne out to dry and Detroit capitalized on the failure of the defense to maintain their coverage.

Jonathan Blum scored at 17:48 to make it 4-1, the final margin of the game.

Going back to the absence of Weber, one could say that the defensive coverage would have been better with him on the ice. Maybe so. The fact is that three of the Wings goals occurred because the Predators forwards were beaten on the play.These defensive lapses cost the Predators an opportunity to win the game.

The Predators potent power play was 0-5 and failed to generate many quality chances against the Wings penalty kill. This crippled the chances of the Predators.

The other aspect of this game is the inability of the Predators forwards to finish their chances at even strength. Once again, the forwards passed up too many shots in favor of a pass, and their shots were for the most fairly routine for Detroit's keeper Jimmy Howard to handle. Occasionally, the Predators created some quality chances, but were unable to solve Howard. The fact is, those quality chances were few and far between.

Two of the top six forwards, David Legwand and Colin Wilson, did not register a shot on goal. The necessity of these forwards being involved in the offense goes without saying, and when they do not register a shot on net, this team is in trouble. 12 of the Predators 32 shots came from the defense, which means the Predators were not getting the puck deep and cycling to create chances with any efficiency.

This is indicative of the fact that this team has to develop a better offensive mentality. It looks good on the scoreboard to say that we out shot an opponent, but the shots have to be quality scoring chances. Tonight, there were very few of them.

This team has to understand that the deeper into the season they go, the more the defensive pressure will ramp up. This means the forwards are going to have to work harder and develop the "shoot first, pass second" mentality. Right now, that is as absent as Shea Weber was tonight.

This team is going to have to regroup and get back on track. Quickly. They have to develop their confidence in the offensive zone, and that starts with shooting the puck and going to the net.

Otherwise, this is going to be a long season for the Predators.

My three stars:

1. Valtteri Filppula

2. Jimmy Howard

3. Pavel Datsyuk

Predators Early Deficit Leads to Defeat at Dallas

2011-12-23T20:05:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators, fresh off their amazing come from behind victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, ventured to the American Airlines Center to take on the Dallas Stars in their second game in two nights.

Once again, Pekka Rinne got the start for the Nashville Predators, while the surprisingly feel good story in the form of Richard Bachman started in net for the Stars.

It was going to be critical for the Predators to put their victory from the night before behind them and come out hard against the Stars. They opened the game skating hard and creating some chances, but were unable to find the net.

By contrast, the Stars capitalized on their chances. Vernon Fiddler, a former Predator, got the Stars on the board early as he gathered in a puck alone at the side of the net and beat Rinne with a shot over his shoulder to give the Stars a 1-0 lead at 9:25 of the first period.

Just 1:16 later, Loui Eriksson tallied from the right side of Rinne on a quick wrister from the right side that went under his arm to make it 2-0 at 10:41.

Steve Ott added a third goal for the Stars at 12:30 as he tipped a shot from the point by Trevor Daly and re-directed it past Rinne. Three goals on seven shots for the Stars, and Rinne's night was done. Anders Lindback came on in relief of Rinne at this point.

Although the Predators were skating well, their offense was not finishing and their defense had broken down on two of the three Stars goals. Once again, the troubling tendency to dig an early hole was plaguing the Predators.

The period ended with the Predators on the power play, but not showing much movement and creating opportunities for quality scoring chances. Oh yeah, they were still trailing 3-0.

The Predators out shot the Stars 17-8 in the period, but the Stars efficiency in the offensive zone was the difference in this contest so far. It was going to be up to the Predators to elevate their game and get back into the contest.

The Predators finally got on the board at 8:56 of the second period as Jerred Smithson was strong on the puck and got through a check from Fiddler on the boards and drove into the zone. He shot the puck at the Dallas net and Bachman gave up a rebound that was met by a crush of bodies from the Predators and the Stars. The puck was lost in the maze of legs and bodies and slowly trickled over the goal line. Blake Geoffrion and Matt Halischuk took whacks at the puck, and the goal was credited to Halischuk.

For the Predators, this goal was big, because up until that point their offense had been one shot and the puck was going back out of the zone. Finally, the Predators got forwards to the front of the net, and they were able to tally through their persistent in the dirty areas.

The Predators had a glorious chance to cut into the Stars lead at 8:54 of the second. Adam Burish was in the box for a knee on knee hit, and on the ensuing power play Nicklas Grossman took a holding penalty to give the Predators a 5 on three power play.

Ryan Suter took the puck into the high slot and fed the puck to Marty Erat, who blistered a one timer past Bachman to make it 3-2 at 11:45 of the second period.

Mike Ribeiro scored a beautiful goal at 5:59 of the second period from a sharp angle. Ribeiro saw Lindback slide across the crease and waited until he dropped into the butterfly and lasered a shot into the short side top corner to make it 4-2. The goal was a goal scorer's goal and placed into the only area of the net that Lindback could not cover.

The second period ended with Jerred Smithson in the box for hooking and 1:04 of power play time left for the Stars to start the third period. Down by 2 goals, the Predators were going to have to bring their best game in the final 20 minutes to have a chance in this contest.

The second period saw the Predators continue to skate hard and get pucks on the net. They out shot the Stars 14-13 and 31-21 through the first 40 minutes. The outcome of this game would hinge on the Predators continuing to shoot the puck and get to the net for second chance scoring opportunities.

The potent Predators power play (yes, you read that correctly) struck again at 4:30 of the third period to make it 4-3. With Alex Goligoski in the box for delay of game, Colin Wilson sped drove down the right side of the slot a slipped a nice pass to David Legwand, who hammered the puck home to cut the Predators deficit to one goal.

Momentum to the Predators and a chance to seize control.

Not so fast.

Just 30 seconds later, Jamie Benn beat Mike Fisher in the low slot and took a great feed from behind the net by Loui Erikkson to bang home a back breaking goal for the Stars and put them up by 2 goals again.

The Stars used the Benn goal to propel themselves to a decided territorial advantage for the majority of the third period. The Predators spent much of the third chasing the Stars in their own zone and were not able to muster much in the way of an offensive thrust.

Michael Ryder iced the game for the Stars at 17:53 with an empty net goal to make it 6-3, which was the final score of the game.

I cannot fault the effort of the Predators. They skated hard and fired the puck at the net. They out shot the Stars 37-29 and showed good compete.

I can fault the annoying tendency of this team to continue to fall into an early hole and having to spend lots of time and energy trying to dig themselves out of it. Tonight, the Predators found out that the Dallas Stars are not the Columbus Blue Jackets, and falling into a deep deficit against a quality opponent almost always spells defeat.

The Predators now have the Christmas break off with Detroit coming to town Monday. It is going to be imperative that this team tighten up its defense and not hang their goalies out to dry. They are going to have to understand that an early game deficit is not a winning formula.

A better defensive showing from the second and third D pairing, a more consistent effort for the entire game, and avoiding the early game hole are critical for the team's success going forward.

I hope Santa is listening.

My three stars:

1. Loui Eriksson

2. Richard Bachman

3. Marty Erat

My View

2011-12-23T11:34:00.000-06:00

The Christmas season opens our heart to giving to others. We focus on finding that perfect gift, the gift that creates a excited response and a memorable impression. We are encouraged to make it a "Christmas to remember" by car companies that depict THE present parked in the driveway adorned with a red bow. Our senses are assaulted as we enter stores as the merchandising screams at us to "buy".

Right now, there are scores of shoppers fighting their way through last minute crowds to find that perfect gift, attempting to complete the task of finding the obligatory and necessary gifts for every family member and maybe even a few close friends thrown in for good measure. Often, the process of giving is about the process of getting. Our gift has to be commensurate with the gift we expect to receive. Christmas cheer and all that, you know?

In the midst of the frantic searching for gifts, our consciousness is occasionally pierced by the heartwarming story of an anonymous gift to a worthy cause, or of those that spend some time serving at a local mission to benefit those that are needy or on the street. These stories catch our attention because they are good stories.

Perhaps more importantly, in a season of giving and getting, they catch our attention because we see generosity given to those that can give nothing in return. The street person, the homeless, the displaced, are recipients of the gifts given by those that are capable, and in return, they can offer nothing but their gratitude.

And that is the real message of the Christmas season for all of us. When the light of the Christmas star pierced the darkness of the plains of Bethlehem, there was an announcement of a gift that was given to all mankind, a gift of hope and redemption, of which we were not worthy. WE are the street person, the homeless, the displaced. We had and have nothing to give to respond to that gift.

Nothing except our gratitude. And in our thankful response, our recognition of the gift that was given to us, we in turn respond to each other with gratitude and the joy of the hope we now possess. That is the gift of the Christmas season, a gift that transcends stores, packages, and bows on cars.

In the material joy of this Christmas season, we pause and remember the real gift of this season. May our hearts always be moved to respond in gratitude.

Predators Wow the Home Crowd With a 6-5 Victory Over the Jackets

2011-12-22T23:51:00.000-06:00

Wow!

That sentiment, along with a few others, can only begin to capture what happened in the Bridgestone Arena as the Nashville Predators faced the Columbus Blue Jackets in a Central Division tilt. The Predators won the game 6-5 in spite of making it extremely difficult on themselves.

Heck, they didn't make it difficult on themselves. They nearly gave away the game.

Don't believe me?

The Predators gave up 4 power play goals, three in the first period on a 5 minute penalty kill after absorbing a major penalty to fall into a 4-1 hole after twenty minutes.

I will get to that in just a moment.

Pekka Rinne got the start for the Predators, while Curtis Sanford was in net for the Blue Jackets.

These two teams typically play a tight checking game, with most contests decided by a goal. This game started no differently, with each team probing the others defense and looking for an opportunity to score.

That first opportunity would belong to the Predators, as Mike Fisher was left alone at the side of the net and had an easy tap in of a rebound of a Sergei Kostitsyn shot at 12:29 of the period. This goal was a result of the Predators playing their type of hockey- shooting the puck and crashing the net. Simple hockey, effective hockey.

Predator fans had hardly settled back into their seats when the BJ's tied the game on a shot from Jeff Carter. Carter beat David Legwand on a drive to the net and launched a wrist shot from just inside the face off circle that beat Rinne over his shoulder at 12:56 of the first period.

The first "Wow" moment came at 14:26 of the first period as Brian McGratten boarded Derick Brassard as Brassard was going off on a line change. McGratten was given a 5 minute major for interference and a game misconduct. While the penalty can be debated as to the severity, the fact is that this was a boneheaded and selfish play by McGratten, who skated across the rink to deliver the hit. It is the type of hit that the League looks at closely and one which the officials have been quick to call. It was a totally unnecessary hit.

And it would cost the Predators.

Columbus would tally 3 times during the major to take a 4-1 lead. Jeff Carter got 2 goals to give him a first period hat trick, with his goals coming at 14:35 and 16:14. Sandwiched between those two goals was a gaol by Ryan Johansen at 15:30.

Yes, it was a major penalty, but the Predators penalty killers were manhandled by the Jackets forwards. Columbus peppered the Predators net and crashed hard to gather in rebounds and tally goals. Pucks were bouncing off legs of the defenders and the Predators could not clear the front of the net, and they were burned by the Jackets because of their ineffectiveness.

Down 4-1 at the end of the first period, the Predators were going to have to play Predator hockey and chip away at the Jackets lead in the second period.

Patrick Hornqvist would make it 4-2 with a tap in of a rebound of a shot from Shea Weber at 5:28. Once again, the Predators benefited from shooting the puck and going to the net.

The Jackets would again extend their lead to 3 goals on the power play. Ryan Johansen took a shot that hit Ryan Suter's leg and skidded by Rinne for the Jackets 4th power play goal to make it 5-2 at 7:52 of the second period.

The Predators did not deviate from their style of play, as they kept shooting the puck and going hard to the net. Nick Spaling was the next Predator to score at 8:53 of the second period. Spaling was working hard in the low slot and gathered in a rebound of a Colin Wilson shot and shoveled the puck past Sanford to make it 5-3 Columbus.

The Predators made it 5-4 at 13:41 of the second as Roman Josi took a pass from Francis Buillon and wired a shot over the shoulder of Sanford with Mike Fisher screening in front. Josi is rounding into a very solid defenseman who handles the puck well and has a good shot. Each game, he appears to be playing with more confidence.

The Predators caught a break in the second as Mark Letestu got free in the low slot and beat Rinne with a shot that hit the post and bounced out.

Going into the third period and trailing by one, I felt that if the Predators could tie the game, they would win it.

The Predators did just that at 16:14 of the period as David Legwand corralled a rebound of a Colin Wilson shot and banged home the tying goal. With that score, one could sense the fragile Jackets were on the verge of breaking, and with the partisan crowd roaring, the Predators were looking for one more improbable win over the BJ's.

Wow!

Improbable? How about absolutely amazing?

The Predators were not done with their "wow" moments just yet.

Ryan Suter found Marty Erat streaking through the middle of the ice and hit him with a pass on his tape. Erat split the defense of the Jackets and fought off a hook to break in on Sanford. Erat made a nice forehand backhand move to open Sanford up and slid the puck five hole with 8.4 seconds to go to give the Predators a 6-5 lead.

WOW!!

As the horn sounded, a Blue Jacket player summed up their night by shattering his stick at the bench, just like their hopes for a victory were shattered by a gritty and never say die group of Predators.

Make no mistake, this win feels good. But as good as it feels, the Predators should have never been in that position. Frankly, the Predators kept Columbus in the game with the stupid major penalty and the resulting ineffectiveness of their penalty kill. Against a team that is not as fragile as the Jackets, the result would probably not have turned out as good as it did for the Predators.

Strong play tonight from Mike Fisher and Colin Wilson. Both of these players are skating hard and doing the little things that lead to big plays. this type of effort was instrumental in turning around this contest.

What this contest should point out to this team is that you are never out of it. Play your game- shoot the puck and go hard to the net- and good things happen. When this team was down early, rather than quit, they fought back and fought back hard.

That is character.

That is Predator hockey.

My three stars:

1. Marty Erat

2. David Legwand

3. Jeff Carter

Capital Punishment: Caps Punch Out the Predators 4-1

2011-12-20T20:41:00.001-06:00

There are times the Nashville Predators looks like Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks.

No, not an offensive force.

Instead, like Sedin getting punched by Brad Marchand in the Stanley Cup finals, they often look like a team that is getting punched in the face and not responding.

In their game against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center, the Predators watched the Capitals out skate and out hit them consistently throughout the first period en route to a 2-0 lead. The Capitals did pretty much what they wanted and the Predators did not respond.

Anders Lindback started in net for the Predators, while the Capitals went with Michael Neuvirth. Lindback was under assault throughout the period, while Neuvirth had very little to do at his end of the ice.

The Predators recorded their second shot on net after 11 minutes had elapsed off the clock, if you want an indication of how ineffective the offensive effort was.

Alex Ovechkin notched his 11th goal of the season at 7:42 of the first period as he drove the net and beat Jonathan Blum to the low slot. His wrist shot beat Lindback over the shoulder to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead.

Nicklas Backstrom got his 12th goal of the season on a nice wraparound goal. He used the net to scrape off Jerred Smithson and beat Lindback to the far post at 15:51 to make it 2-0 Capitals.

Frankly, if the Capitals had not missed some open shots, the score could have been much worse.

The Capitals out shot the Predators 11-4 in the first period, but totally dominated the play as the Predators offense failed to show up in this period. The Predators continued their poor offensive effort that started in the St. Louis game, and unfortunately, that game did not appear to be an aberration.

In the second period, the Predators skated better and generated 8 shots on net to 3 for the Capitals. The Predators once again caught a couple of breaks as they gave up two 2 on 1 rushes that the Capitals could not convert. Although they generated 8 shots, there were only a few quality scoring chances, and Neuvirth was up to the task of stopping the Predators.

The Predators had three power plays in the the third period, and never really challenged Neuvirth on any of them. One failed to generate any shots on goal. The power play has been surprisingly potent up to this point for the Predators, but the Capitals PK was hustling and shutting down quality chances for the Predators.

Through two periods, the Predators had reverted back to their old and frustrating ways by passing up shots in favor of an extra pass. The fact is that the Predators lack the elite finishers that make this style of play a solid offensive strategy. The Predators were going to have to commit to shooting the puck and crashing the net if they were going to get back in this contest in the third period.

The Predators finally found the back of the net at 4:40 of the third period as Sergei Kostitsyn stole the puck and weaved his way through the Capitals defense and let a snap shot go from the face off circle that beat Neuvirth. Good to see Kostitsyn find the back of the net again. This was his fifth goal of the year.

The Predators began to skate and challenged the Capitals (finally!). The started buzzing the net, firing the pucks, and controlling play. This was the Predators team that was finally employing their formula for success.

The Capitals seized momentum back at 10:21 of the third period as Alex Semin skated in and unleashed a laser to the top corner that beat Lindback to make the score 3-1 Capitals. Now the Predators faced the double challenge of overcoming a Capitals lead and the enemy that was the clock.

With Craig Smith in the box for hooking, the Capitals tallied on the power play as Troy Brouwer tipped a shot from the point by Dennis Wideman to make it 4-1 at 13:46.

The Predators had a chance to cut into the deficit as Joel Ward was called for slashing at 14:16, but the Predators failed to get a shot on the power play.

The Capitals spent the rest of the period choking off the Predators offense, and the final score was 4-1 Capitals.

The frustrating thing about this team is their consistently inconsistent effort. You would think that by now this team would have learned that they have to play a full 60 minute game. Apparently, that has not been ingrained into their psyche even this deep into the season. One bad period can and often does spell defeat for this team, and they have continued to struggle with this concept.

Until they grasp the concept of a 60 minute game, they will continue to get punched out by their competition.

Kinda like Daniel Sedin.

My three stars:

1. Nicklas Backstrom

2. Alex Semin

3. Sergei Kostitsyn

Predators Stop St. Louis in a Shoot Out 2-1

2011-12-17T23:33:00.000-06:00

The Nashville Predators defeated the St. Louis Blues in a shootout by the score of 2-1.

That's the good news.

The rest of the story?

The Predators were out hit, out worked, out shot, and generally out hustled all night. They were fortunate to escape with the win.

Pekka Rinne got the start in net for the Predators, and his effort was outstanding and he single handedly kept the Predators in the contest.

His counterpart, Jaroslav Halak, got the start for the Blues, and he was rarely tested by the Predators.

The Blues out shot the Predators in every period. Embarrassingly so. Here is the bad news in that regard: 14-2; 15-11; and 11-4. The only period where the Predators showed much offensive push was in the overtime session, where the Predators out shot the Blues 3-0.

The first period was scoreless, mainly due to the efforts of Rinne. The Blues controlled the puck throughout the period and fired 11 shots on Rinne. He was solid in net, rarely giving up rebounds, shutting down the Blues second chances.

The first period was a portent of things to come for the Predators. The Predators consistently lost puck battles and were easily taken off the puck. They had a difficult time entering the offensive zone, and when they did, the Blues defense thwarted their offensive effort.

The Predators did not help themselves by taking six penalties in the course of the contest. The Predators PK unit did a good job, but the Predators were flirting with disaster by giving the Blues the man advantage.

The Predators offensive effort was better in the second period, but they could not solve Halak. The Blues were similarly stymied by Rinne at the other end, and the second period was another scoreless 20 minutes. The Blues best scoring chance occurred late in the period when Jamie Langenbrunner gathered in the puck that had squirted out from under Rinne and lifted a shot toward the open net. Defenseman Jack Hillen, backing up Rinne, corralled the puck under his arm and froze it in the blue ice to negate the Blues scoring chance.

The game was taking a decidedly negative feel for the Predators, as their offense was impotent and it appeared to be just a matter of time before the Blues found the back of the net.

Those negative feelings among the Predator faithful would lift at 12:32 of the third period. Mike Fisher stole the puck from Kevin Shattenkirk, who stumbled at the Blues blue line and passed the puck to Shea Weber, breaking in on the left side. Weber drew the defense to him and forced Halak to respect his potential shot. Weber was able to slide the puck to Marty Erat and he buried the puck in the open net to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.

That lead disappeared as the Predators were called for too many men on the ice and T.J. Oshie got loose in the slot and beat Rinne five hole to tie the game at 16:08 of the third.

The Predators were whistled for yet again another penalty, this time David Legwand for slashing at 18:31. Once again, the Predators PK killed off the penalty in regulation and the first 29 seconds of the overtime. The remainder of the overtime period was scoreless, although the Predators generated all the offensive chances.

Heading into the shootout, the Predators elected, as they always do, to have the visitors shoot first. Rinne stoned the three Blues shooters, T.J. Oshie, David Perron, and Patrick Bergland. Halak stopped Mike Fisher and Craig Smith, but the Predators third shooter, David Legwand, beat Halak with a great forehand backhand move over his glove for the Predators improbable win.

For the Predators to come out on top in this contest is amazing, considering the way they played. All night, they looked a step slower than the Blues. Frustratingly, they were beaten on the puck or to the puck all night. Yet Pekka Rinne held the Predators in the game with his solid play, and the Predators did just enough to hang around and finally win the game.

It was pretty incredible that the Blues were not whistled for a penalty until the very end of overtime. There will be games like that, and for the Predators, it was imperative that they fight through that type of officiating. Tonight, the PK unit held the Blues to 1 of 6 on the power play, and without that level of play, the Predators could have easily been blown out of the arena.

While it is good to get the win, this contest pointed out that the Predators cannot just skate out on the ice and expect to win many contests. Tonight, they were fortunate. That will not be the case very often.

This game shows the team that they cannot revert back to their former ways when they ere in their losing skid. They have to win puck battles, keep from turning they puck over- which they did a lot tonight- and limit the other team's scoring chances.

This is one of those games where the team can let out its collective breath and say they escaped with a win.

Hopefully, we will take this game and learn from what happened and return to playing a complete game again.

And we will not feel like we escaped with a win.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Marty Erat

3. David Legwand

My View

2011-12-16T11:51:00.002-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

If you want to get a sense of why the world economy is in a funk and the there is a generally glum feeling here in the United States, one has to look no further than the American middle class.Why? Because this group of people has driven global demand and spending for the last four decades. After World War II, the middle class grew exponentially because of several factors: steady job growth fueled by the building of homes and the purchase of autos, appliances, and the accoutrement's that made a great majority of us...well, middle class. Industry was centered around the "blue collar" worker that could make a very good living in an hourly job. Low unemployment meant that workers were in demand and job mobility was readily available to the work force. Not today. The foundation of our economy- the jobs that supported the middle class- has eroded as many of those jobs have disappeared and have been supplanted by lower skill (and lower paying) jobs. As our country tries to recover from the impact of job loss, keep in mind that there are three factors that are in play, and these critical areas will have to improve significantly before our job market and our economy turn around. The first: we must begin again to create net NEW jobs in our economy. The pace of job creation in our country is anemic, and at the present rate of new job creation, it will take us approximately another 3 years until we get back to 2007 employment levels. Second: we must get more people back into the work force. Currently, only 58.5% of the eligible work force is employed. This obviously ties in with job creation, and it is in our nation's best economic interest to have high labor participation. Finally, and this is the most difficult, we must create jobs that are productive and compensate well the employee. One of the main problems our nation faces right now is that the jobs being created will not sustain the middle class. The fastest growing categories of jobs? Food service workers, home health aides, and customer service representatives, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are no easy solutions to our problems, but identifying accurately where we are and the problems we face are the first steps toward moving toward positive solutions.

The relationship my wife and I have is based on chemistry. She is on Prozac; I'm on Valium.

Here is some insight into some of the problems that we as a nation are facing when it comes to leadership in Washington. Congress pass the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, and act that has far reaching effects on the financial service industry and in turn, other industries in this country. The Act is 5,230 pages of proposed and partially finalized rules that is a morass of new rules, regulations, and added compliance costs for all companies in the financial sector. Unfortunately for those companies, the Act left open ended how some of the proposed rules would be implemented and the penalties for violation of those yet to be formulated rules. As of this date, only 25% of the rules have been established and implemented. This to me is truly amazing, that we have passed a set of "laws" that are as of yet unwritten and could completely change the way some banks do business. And the tentacles of this law reach into the manufacturing sector as well as there are certain provisions that mandate companies that sell finished goods imported from overseas certify that their raw materials are only from approved countries. If you wonder why job creation is sluggish and why more businesses in this country are moving jobs overseas, take a look at the way Washington works and you will see clearly some of the reasons.

Actually, my wife and I have a strange and wonderful relationship. She's strange. I'm wonderful.

Tucked away inside Obamacare is a provision called the "medical loss ratio", and this little detail has been called the "bomb" that will blow up the private health care system. Why? I'm glad you asked. This provision states that health insurance companies must spend 80% of the dollars they collect in premiums- 85% for large group insurers like Blue Cross- on medical care rather than overhead, marketing expenses, or retained as profits. Friends, this little provision has the power to cause most if not all private health insurers to face a grim future. The Department of Health and Human Services will determine in rules that they are formulating what will and will not be a medical expense for the purposes of meeting this requirement.The high bar that has been set for expenditures on patient care seems well meaning, but it is highly invasive and takes away the discretion of management as to how they run their company. Friends, I have railed against the power grab by Washington for some time; I have railed against socialized medicine; but now for all of us, it starts to get real. Washington and the bureaucrats that inhabit it are attempting a power grab of unprecedented proportions and the control over your life will be astounding if they are successful. This, my friends, is what the upcoming election in 2012 is all about.

Taking a multi vitamin with a beer for breakfast is the same thing as a bowl of Wheaties, right?

And that, my friends is my view.

Resilient Predators Dump Detroit 4-3

2011-12-15T23:21:00.001-06:00

Persevere verb "to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of obstacles, difficulty,or discouragement"

The Nashville Predators faced the Detroit Red Wings at Bridgestone Arena in a contest that required the Predators to persevere, fight, and claw their way to a 4-3 win for their fourth straight win and even their season series with the Red Wings at one game each.

The Predators faced a significant test against the Red Wings, who had been red hot and playing some of the best hockey of any team in the NHL. Everyone knew this one would be a tough test for the Predators.

It was that, and then some.

Pekka Rinne got the start in net for the Predators, while Detroit countered with Jimmy Howard. Rinne was tested early and often throughout the contest, as the Wings fired a total of 40 shots at the Nashville net. Jimmy Howard faced 21 shots from the Predators.

Detroit opened the scoring on the power play as Ryan Suter was called for a weak hooking call and was in the box. Ian White sent a shot toward the net that pinballed off several sticks and legs, eventually coming to Tomas Holmstrom alone at the side of the net. Holmstrom had an easy tap in to give the Wings a 1-0 lead.

The Predators answered the Wings score at 10:09 of the first period as David Legwand took a shot from the left side of the net that Howard stopped with his pad. The rebound came right back to Legwand, and he lifted the puck over a sprawling Howard to knot the game at 1.

Tied going into the second period, the Wings asserted themselves. They outshot the Predators 15-5, controlled the puck for long stretches, and thoroughly stymied the Predators offensive effort. Oh, by the way, they also scored two goals.

The first of those goals came at 10:03 of the second with the Wings on another power play. Jerred Smithson was in the box for hooking, and the Wings got control of the puck down low. A nice tic tac toe pass from Todd Bertuzzi to Juri Hudler to Henrik Zetterberg found Zetterberg alone at the side of the net and he had a virtually empty net in which to shoot the puck to give the Wings a 2-1 lead.

Nicklas Lidstrom made it 3-1 Detroit at 11:30 of the period as he beat Rinne with a shot from the blue line at even strength. For Predator fans, things looked grim. Detroit was 18-0 when they had a 2 goal lead and the Predators offense was virtually invisible, having failed to record a shot on net for 11 minutes in the period.

The Predators would show some signs of life as Jordin Tootoo tallied off a rebound of a Kevin Klein shot to beat Howard and make it 3-2 Detroit at 17:22 of the period. Tootoo continues his strong play with his 9th point in the last 10 games, and he has brought a spark and a scoring touch to his line that the Predators have long expected out of him and that they have desperately needed.

Detroit is strong on the puck, and in the third period, they continued to control the puck and keep the Predators hemmed in their own end. With the clock melting away, it appeared as if the Wings would strangle the life out of the Predators.

The momentum would turn toward the Predators at the 15:14 mark of the third period, as Jimmy Howard was called for hooking, the only Detroit penalty of the night. The Predators would make the Wings pay for this transgression at 15:36 of the third as Shea Weber unleashed a blast from just inside the blue line. Patric Hornqvist was screening Howard, and the puck flew past the Detroit netminder to tie the game at 3.

That goal energized the crowd, who was in full throat in support of the Predators, and the home team responded.

The Predators got the puck into the zone, and Jordin Tootoo got the puck to Weber at the blue line. He took a wrist shot that bounced about 10 feet in front of Howard and skipped over his shoulder to give the Predators a 4-3 lead.

The Predators were able to hold off the final push by the Wings with Howard out of the net and the extra attacker on the ice. As they horn sounded, the crowd erupted, and as improbable as it might seem, the Predators had the 4-3 win over their rival.

After the game, I heard someone say that the Predators "stole" that game from Detroit. Here is the aspect that one should keep in mind: the Predators kept themselves in a position to win that game- "steal" it if you insist- by persevering. It would have been easy to quit, to let Detroit continue to dominate and choke the life out of the Predators. The fact that this team didn't quit and kept fighting is telling.

The bottom line is that they put themselves into a position to win the game.

Here is a blinding flash of the obvious: Detroit is talented. They are well coached. They are experienced. Those characteristics overshadow the fact that the Predators faced adversity and they were in a 2 goal hole, but they continued to push, they continued to skate, and there was no quit in them.

This is a young team that is growing up right before our eyes. They are learning to fight, to scrap, and to persevere.

More importantly, they are learning to win.

This is the result of a total buy in of what the coaching staff has been teaching. It is a result of believing in the coaches and the teammates on the ice.

There will be more tests of this young squad, and more chances to persevere.

This contest with the Wings shows this team that they are never out of a contest.

Just keep persevering.

My three stars:

1. Shea Weber

2. Jordin Tootoo

3. Nicklas Lidstrom

Predators Put Out the Flames 2-1

2011-12-13T23:00:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators and the Calgary Flames played one of their typical games, a one goal affair characterized by stellar goal tending, fierce forechecking, and opportunistic scoring. The Predators prevailed on their home ice in an entertaining affair by a 2-1 score.

For the Predators, this was their first win on home ice against the Flames since 2008, a streak of six home losses.

The Predators had Pekka Rinne in net, while the Flames had Rinne's countryman, Mikka Kiprusoff, and both goaltenders were outstanding tonight.

The Predators have been a team that has struggled to find their identity this season, and if recent games are any indication, they have found it. The first period saw the Predators skating as well as they have skated in any game this season. They tilted the ice in their favor and poured shots on Kiprusoff. Kipper was excellent in net, and made two outstanding saves on point blank shots by David Legwand and Marty Erat.

Early on, this game appeared as if the Predators were going to run into the wall that was Kiprusoff and were not going to be able to solve his solid play in net. That would change at 11:43 of the first period as the Predators fourth line would get on the board. Brian McGratten sent a puck off the boards that Kiprusoff stopped with his pad. Matt Halischuk was lurking at the front of the net and made a nifty play to gather in the bouncing rebound and lift a backhand shot that beat Kipper short side for the Predators first goal.

Although that was the only score of the period, the Predators pressed the play and dominated in puck possession. They put 18 shots on net in the period to 6 for Calgary.

Everyone in the building knew that Calgary would have a strong push in the second period, and they did just that. Calgary started to tilt the ice in their favor, and the fear among Predator fans was that the Flames would eventually force a mistake by the Predators.

That happened at 6:12 of the second period as Curtis Glencross split the defensive tandem of Roman Josi and Jack Hillen and skated in on Rinne. He lifted a backhand shot over the shoulder of Rinne to tie the game at 1. This is a play that cannot happen and the concern was that it would deflate the Predators.

That was not the case, however, as the Predators matched the effort by Calgary as each team fired 17 shots on net in the period. Rinne and Kiprusoff both made some solid saves to keep the game knotted at 1.

The Predators would notch the game winning goal in the third period while on the power play. Craig Smith took a shot from the slot that Kiprusoff kicked out with his pad. Colin Wilson was crashing the net and slid the puck five hole for the tally at 3:31.

The remainder of the period was a back and forth affair that saw each goaltender make some big saves. Rinne was exceptional late in the period as the Flames pressed for the tying goal, and the Predators managed to keep the Flames tied up and having to work hard for shots. The horn sounded with Calgary scrambling around the Predators net, but unable to get the needed goal past Rinne.

This team has started to embrace fully the message that the coaching staff has been preaching all season: skate hard for 60 minutes; shoot the puck; and crash the net. Tonight, they did that for a full 60 minutes. Evidence of this is the final shot total: Predators 45 SOG to 36 SOG for Calgary.

Kudos to the power play unit, which continues to operate at a high level. Tonight, that unit was 1 for 3 with the game winning goal. This unit has displayed a growing confidence, much better movement, and good shot selection. this is a solid plus for the Predators.

Another plus for this team is they are starting to dominate in the face off circle. This is so important for puck possession and the effort in the circle has benefited this team over the last three games. It will be imperative that they continue to be successful in this area.

It takes time for a young team to learn who they are and start to gel. They are showing signs of learning who they are and playing to their strengths. This is what will make this team successful.

Three games, three wins. These three games do not make a season.

They do, however, point the way, to continued success.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Mikka Kiprusoff

3. Colin Wilson

Predators Down the Ducks 3-2

2011-12-10T22:25:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators were looking to string together some wins and especially to reverse their fortunes on home ice, where they had the worst home record in the NHL. What better opponent to face than the struggling Anaheim Ducks.

Nashville once again had workhorse Pekka Rinne in net, while the Ducks went with former Nashville Predator Dan Ellis.

The first period was scoreless but not without controversy. Colin Wilson scored for the Predators on the power play, but the goal was waved off because it was deemed by referee Stephan Auger that Wilson had kicked the puck into the net. The replay did not confirm this, but after a lengthy review, the call on the ice stood.

The first period was scoreless, but the Predators had a decided territorial advantage and out shot the Ducks 7-5. Ellis made some good saves to keep the Predators off the board, but the effort by the Predators was one of their best of the season. They controlled the puck for long stretches at a time and did not let the explosive Ducks offense get in gear. For the Predators, the task was to solve Ellis and find the back of the net.

The Ducks opened the second period with a score just 38 seconds into the second frame. Andrew Gordon took a feed from Brandon McMillan and walked out of the corner with it past defenseman Roman Josi, who had fallen and was scrambling to catch up to Gordon. Gordon fired a snap shot that beat Rinne to the far post to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.

The Predators appeared to tie the game when Mike Fisher banged home a rebound in a goal mouth scramble, but once again, the Predators had the goal waved off as it was ruled to have been kicked in.

Could it be one of those nights?

The answer would be a resounding "No".

Nick Spaling took a nice pass from Colin Wilson across the slot and beat Ellis high glove side to tie the game at 1 at 12:03 of the second period. This goal was not waved off.

The Predators once again dominated the period, maintaining a huge territorial advantage in the offensive zone and out shooting the Ducks 13-5, yet the game was tied at 1 heading into the third period.

The game was in the balance, and it was going to be important for the Predators to step up and take control.

And that is just what they did.

With Brandon McMillan in the box for slashing Jordin Tootoo, Roman Josi took a feed from Shea Weber and unleashed a rocket from just inside the blue line. The shot beat a screened Ellis over his glove to make it 2-1 Predators at 2:33 of the third.

Jordin Tootoo extended the Predators lead to 3-1 as Kevin Klein found Toots streaking in and hit him with a pass at the Ducks blue line. Tootoo drove hard to the net and his hard wrist shot beat Ellis over his glove hand at 5:25 of the third period.

Francois Beauchemin scored for Anaheim at 13:24, beating Rinne high over his glove to cut the lead to one for the Predators.

The Predators managed to shut the Ducks down for the remainder of the period and had won consecutive games for the first time since November 17th. More importantly, they had protected their home ice.

The Predators did a good job of overcoming adversity, having two goals waved off by the officials. Their ability to bounce back and persevere has been what this team has inconsistently done throughout this season, and it was good to see the resiliency of this team shine through.

I mentioned that the Predators had a territorial advantage throughout all three periods. The shot totals reflect that, with the Predators out shooting the Ducks 28-17. This would not have happened if the Predators had not been dominant in the face off dot. Particular mention goes to Mike Fisher, who was 10 of 13 in the dot, and was especially strong in the offensive zone. This was very important to the Predators as they were able to maintain possession, particularly on their power plays.

About that power play: although they were 1 of 4, they dominated with the man advantage. There was one power play that stands out. The Predators kept the puck in the offensive zone for 1:40 before the Ducks could get a clear. The movement was better and the chances that the man advantage created were good scoring chances. This has to continue for the Predators.

Although the Ducks are struggling- heck, let's call it like it is- they are inept, this was a solid win for the Predators. Their defensive effort against the Ducks offensive weapons was exceptional, shutting them down all night. A great effort from Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. Having Frankie Buillon back in the line up settles the other pairings as well, and their work tonight was very good.

This team is developing their edge again. They are playing Predator hockey- aggressively forechecking, opportunistic offense, and solid defense.

Keep playing like this and you will down some more teams.

My three stars:

1, Jordin Tootoo

2. Roman Josi

3. Mike Fisher

My View

2011-12-09T09:40:00.001-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

As a nation, we import most of our oil from countries in the middle east, many of which are hostile to our nation and its interests. Why, you ask? The standard response is that is where the oil and energy resources are located that we as a nation need. Based on that premise, a movement to cut foreign oil imports and move toward more green alternatives, such as electric cars and solar energy, has arisen. In and of itself, that is not bad. Here is something you should know: in 1980, the U.S. government estimated that our proven oil reserves in this country was 30 billion barrels. Yet over the last 30 years, the U.S has produced 77 billion barrels of oil (source: Institute for Energy Research). So did that oil just magically appear? No. The fact is that our country has all the natural resources that we need to supply our energy needs for years to come. Consider the following (click to enlarge):

Again, this data is from a study by the aforementioned Institute for energy Research. The desire for a clean environment is something we all want, and a clean environment and utilization of our natural resources can co-exist. The continued transfer of the wealth of our nation to oil producing countries of the middle east is unnecessarily costing consumers billions of dollars and funding countries whose interests are counter to ours.

We know that much of the oil in our country is in Texas and Alaska. Perhaps we are having such a hard time finding it because all the dipsticks are in Washington.

In the last 100 years, the population of the U.S. has tripled; life expectancies have increased 70%; the per capita Gross Domestic Product has risen 600%; and standards of living have increased across all income classes. There are several reasons for this, one of which is readily available, reasonably priced energy sources. The automobile industry, for example, has grown because of reasonably priced and readily available gasoline. Petroleum based products, such as plastics, has changed our standard of living for the good and has improved our quality of life. So why are some wanting to limit the availability of these resources, which in turn will cost us more out of our pockets and in turn lower our standard of living? For some, their opposition to developing our own resources is rooted in a true philosophical belief that utilizing our own reserves of natural resources will harm the environment. The perception of the energy industry in this country of a horrific polluter (which at one time it was) drives their actions. I can respect that position. I would tell you, dear reader, that this is a minority of those that are opposed to developing our own resources. Instead, I will tell you what I always tell you- follow the money. Look closely at the government guaranties, grants, loans, and legislative support that the "alternative" energy sector has received and is receiving. There is a monumental pecuniary interest for many by promoting green energy and receiving government largess for doing so. Here is the bottom line that we should all keep in mind: environmental responsibility and stewardship is necessary and worthwhile; we cannot however, ignore the economic benefits we receive from affordable and readily available energy.

My wife is like nature: she abhors a vacuum.

Last week, the markets cheered an improvement in the unemployment rate, as the nominal rate dropped below 9% for the first time in 18 months. The stated rate was 8.6%. Here is what you should know: that "good" number is absolutely meaningless. Why? Because under the direction of the Obama administration, the labor force was arbitrarily reduced, which through a simple mathematical effect of working off a smaller base would make the number look better. In the latest calculation, over 425,000 adults that are out of work were "re-classified" (not counted) from the prior month, which shrinks the adult work force down to 64%. Where did those people go? Alien abductions? Perpetually stuck in a line at the Department of Motor Vehicles?We all know the economy is weak and the job market stinks. The blatant manipulation of the numbers is nothing more than a political ploy and cooking the books by the federal government. As investors, and more importantly as citizens, we should not be fooled.

How did I get over the hill without getting to the top?

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Stun the Jackets in OT 4-3

2011-12-08T20:12:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators ventured to the Nationwide Arena to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets and were desperately looking for a win to turn around their fortunes. The Predators came into the game with a 3-6-1 record in their last ten games, while the Jackets have improved their play of late and entered with a 5-3-2 record in their last ten game.

Pekka Rinne got the start in net for the Predators, while the surprisingly solid Curtis Sanford started his 11th straight game for the Blue Jackets.

Stop me if you have heard this song before.

The Predators were dominated in time of possession and in shots in the first period. With 17 minutes gone in the first period, the Predators had been outshot 10-1, and except for some good saves by Pekka Rinne, the Blue Jackets would have blown the Predators out of the barn in the first period.

As it was, the Jackets had a 1-0 lead by virtue of a goal from Jeff Carter at 12:42 of the period. Carter skated from behind the goal and whipped a shot from just outside the goal line that was in and out of the net so fast that play continued. After a stoppage of play and a video review, the goal was credited to Carter and the Jackets.

The BJ's made it 2-0 at 10:49 of the second period as Antoine Vermette eluded Jack Hillen and was able to gather in a rebound of a shot by Jared Boll and backhanded the puck over Rinne.

The Predators showed some life as Mike Fisher tallied at at 13:10 with a nice backhand shot off a feed from Sergei Kostitsyn. Finally, the Predators had a response and looked like they had some life.

Whatever momentum the Predators had was quickly squelched as Derek Dorsett absolutely blew through the Predators defense and skated in uncontested on Rinne. His snap shot beat Rinne high glove side just inside the post to make it 3-1 Columbus.

With Rinne pulled for an extra attacker late in the period, Shea Weber sent a shot to the net, and Patric Hornqvist, working hard in the dirty area, banged home a rebound for his 8th goal of the season to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 1:38 left in the contest.

The goal was on only the 4th shot of the period for the Predators.

With 1:06 remaining in the contest, Sami Pahlsson of the BJ's was sent to the box for cross checking. With Rinne pulled, the Predators had a 6 on 4 advantage.

The Predators tied the game with 12.1 seconds to go in the contest as Marty Erat took a shot from the face off circle and the shot was re-directed by Sergei Kostitsyn.

With this flurry at the end of the period, the Predators had amazingly managed to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Fortunately for the Predators, their slumbering offense finally awoke to salvage a point that this team desperately needed.

At 1:45 of the overtime period, Marty Erat skated in 2 on 1 with Colin Wilson. Erat hit Wilson with a perfect pass on his tape and Wilson buried the one timer for the game winning goal.

An improbable win?

Absolutely.

A win that can turn the fortunes of a team?

Without a doubt.

This time, the song turned out differently for the Predators.

The Predators were badly outplayed for stretches at a time in this contest. The BJ's were dominant at times. Yet this team kept fighting and working, and finally were rewarded for their effort.

During this miserable period of hockey for the Predators, there have been times where this team hasn't worked and times where they have quit.

Not tonight.

I have mentioned on too many occasions that this young team has had to learn some painful lessons. Tonight, they learned that if they keep working and playing their game, eventually they will be rewarded.

This lesson is a lot more fun to learn.

Confidence can be fleeting. Over the past few games, this team has not been confident. The takeaway from tonight's game is that the team should be confident in their work ethic and they should know that if they keep fighting, skating, and working hard, they will be rewarded.

Now it is time to take the lessons from this game and the confidence that you should have from your effort and build on it.

That song is much more fun.

My three stars:

1. Colin Wilson

2. Patric Hornqvist

3. Jeff Carter

Predators Fail to Finish (Again), Fall to Phoenix 3-2

2011-12-06T22:41:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators fell to the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 at the Bridgestone Arena, dropping another home game and going 3-6-1 in their last 10 games. Once again, this was a contest that hung in the balance and the unfortunately for the Predators, they were once again unable to finish a game that they had a chance to win.

You can read the box score of the game here.

The Coyotes got on the board just nine seconds into the game on what can be charitably called a soft goal. Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne fielded a shot that hit him in the crest of his jersey. Rinne did not control the puck and it dribbled out under his arm. Rinne thought he had the puck frozen, but it was sitting in the blue paint, and Taylor Pyatt swooped in and swatted the puck into the back of the net just 9 seconds into the game.

Jason Labarbera got the start for the Coyotes, who played last night in Chicago with Mike Smith in net, and he was stellar for the Desert Dogs until the last 10 seconds of the period. Labarbera had shut down any scoring opportunities that the Predators had created until this point, when Jack Hillen fired a puck at the net with Mike Fisher creating havoc in front of Labarbera. The puck eluded the Phoenix netminder and the Predators tied the game with 10.8 seconds remaining in the period.

The second period was scoreless, but not for lack of effort by the Coyotes. They dominated in time of possession and fired 11 shots on Rinne to just 5 for the Predators in the period. Rinne made some good saves to keep the Predators in the contest.

The Coyotes would take a 2-1 lead at 1:40 of the third period as 2 Predators were tied up with Radim Vrbata below the goal line. Vrbata got control of the puck and found Ray Whitney alone in the low slot. Whitney's one timer beat Rinne glove side to give the Coyotes the lead.

The Predators would tie the contest at 2 at at 12:53 of the third period on a 5 on 3 power play. Shea Weber would get loose just inside the blue line, and his rocket shot would beat Labarbera to knot the contest.

Labarbera made several huge saves to keep the Predators off the board, and it looked as if the two teams would be heading to overtime.

The notion of overtime would be squelched at 18:15 of the third period as Keith Yandle was able to evade the Predators defensive coverage, and take a cross ice pass from Shane Doan. His one timer beat Rinne for the Coyotes margin of victory.

The Predators did not muster much of an offensive challenge in the remaining time, having trouble even getting the puck in the offensive zone. Once again, the Predators failed to finish in a contest they desperately needed to win.

The Predators are a fragile team right now. This come with being a young team that is learning on the fly, and it is painful. When the Predators make a mistake, more often than not it is winding up in the back of their net. This has victimized the Predators too often in this skid.

It victimized them again tonight.

A defensive lapse, a soft goal, and the Predators are finding themselves in a hole. And once in a hole, the offense cannot generate sufficient firepower to overcome the deficit.

The Predators are hustling and beginning to shoot the puck more. These are positives. I cannot fault their effort in the last few losses.

The fact is that this team, as it is constructed now, cannot overcome many mistakes in their game. They have to play nearly flawless hockey to secure a win, and right now, that is not happening.

This is what you get when you have a young team. The mistakes are more problematic and they tend to wind up in your net. This is part of the painful learning process that a young team has to endure.

Keep your head up boys. Keep working hard. The lessons that are being painfully learned now will pay off for you in the future.

There is only one way out of this funk in which you find yourselves.

Keep working hard.

And finish.

My three stars:

1. Jason Labarbera

2. Keith Yandle

3. Jack Hillen

Was Tootoo Suspended 2 Games for Lucic Hit on Miller?

2011-12-06T14:03:00.001-06:00

Those reading this headline to the blog probably think I have lost my mind, but after the NHL today suspended Nashville Jordin Tootoo two games for the collision he had with Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller in Saturday night's contest, the question bears asking.

The play itself has drawn out arguments on both sides: Sabres fans vehemently contend that Tootoo "ran" Miller; Nashville fans say that Tootoo could not help the collision when, after beating Sabres D man Christian Ehrhoff, he was pushed just enough to knock him off stride and force him into Miller.

That debate is never going to be settled, and each side can argue a valid point or points about about the play.

The problem for League disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan is the meting out of justice to Tootoo for just such a play that is open to those arguments when he failed to do so when Miller was legitimately run by Boston's Milan Lucic two weeks ago on a play that had absolutely no gray area.

Lucic demolished Miller on the play, hurting his back and potentially giving him a concussion in the process. Tootoo appeared to attempt to avoid Miller by leaping over him and mitigating much of the contact (he failed, but the attempt was there).

Helpful tip: turn off your speakers so you don't have to listen to the Buffalo announcers

And this is where it gets dicey for Shanahan and the League.

If the punishment to Tootoo was to make up call for the one you missed earlier, then this is an egregious miscarriage of the responsibility that Shanahan has to the players and the integrity of the game.

The appearance of any partiality or favoritism toward a player or a team undermines any credibility that Shanahan- and by extension, the League- has. That credibility and impartiality must be paramount in the the administration of discipline and enforcement of the rules, and any appearance otherwise is detrimental to the League, its players, and its fans.

I don't blame Lindy Ruff for being incensed at the play, or Ryan Miller, Paul Gaustad and every Sabre on the ice going after Tootoo. I would want the Predators to respond the same way if that type of collision occurred with Pekka Rinne. Don't tell me, however, that this hit was anything like the hit that Miller received from Lucic.

It wasn't.

And for Shanahan to say that Lucic's hit was a hockey play and this one wasn't is disingenuous at best.

So while I can disagree with the assessment that Tootoo was not steered by Ehrhoff toward Miller and with the suspension, I am making that judgement through Predator colored glasses, just as the Buffalo fans think that this hit was a heinous attack on their goaltender are viewing the play through their Sabres glasses.

The players and fans of the NHL hope that Shanahan's vision is 20/20.

Sabres Stick the Predators 3-2

2011-12-03T22:44:00.001-06:00

The Buffalo Sabres ventured to Bridgestone Arena to take on the Nashville Predators in what turned out to be a spirited contest between two teams that were evenly matched. Although these two teams rarely see each other, the venom was ramped up as the game went along.

Anders Lindback got the start in net for the Predators and Buffalo had Ryan Miller back after an injury from a collision with Boston's Milan Lucic.

You can read the game summary here.

Here are some thoughts from the game...

The first goal against Lindback was a scrambling kind of goal, as the puck was bouncing all over the place before it was buried by Luke Adam. I can't really fault Lindback on that goal as the puck was bouncing from side to side of the net and the defense could not clear the front of the net.

The second goal was a result of a momentary indecision by Roman Josi. That momentary hesitation allowed Zack Kassian to break in alone on Lindback and he roofed a nice backhand shot over the shoulder for the score. When you play a young player at any position, you have to live with their mistakes on their learning curve. This was that type of play, and it bit the Predators. Josi shows a lot of promise, and he owned up to his mistake after the game, which was a stand up act. Look for this young man to continue to develop and his game to get stronger.

The controversial play that got the blood boiling on both sides was a drive to the net by Jordin Tootoo that resulted in a collision with Ryan Miller. Tootoo was driving hard to the front of the net and was shoved by Christian Ehrhoff. Tootoo appeared to try to avoid Miller by leaping to try to miss Miller, but still collided with him. Tootoo went down, and Miller took five or six good punches at Tootoo. Miller got no penalties for his actions, but Tootoo got a 5 minute charging penalty and a game misconduct. Paul Gaustad got a 4 minute roughing penalty and a 10 minute misconduct out of the fracas after the play.

If Tootoo had really wanted to run Miller, the fact is that Miller would not have remained in the game. I know the officials were sensitive to protecting Miller because of what happened in the Boston game, but in my view overreacted. There was no consideration of the fact that Ehrhoff was beaten on the play and shoved Tootoo at the last moment, causing Tootoo to veer directly toward Miller.Obviously I view this play from Predator colored glasses, but it appeared that Tootoo did his best to avoid completely steamrolling Miller.

Buffalo fans- and players- will disagree with that assessment. So be it. It was a bang bang play that resulted in contact with the goalie. If this had been any other player than Ryan Miller, Tootoo would not have received the game misconduct.

Craig Smith scored with a blistering shot that beat Miller short side. He continues to be the most dynamic offensive player for the Predators, and I certainly hope the coaching staff has come to this realization. Playing Smith on the third line like they have is a failed experiment. Put Smith with some of the more talented players on the first or second line and he will produce. My hope is that he stays on the first or second line for the remainder of the season.

David Legwand notched another goal, his team leading 12th of the season. I wish Legwand would adopt Smith's attitude of shoot first and pass second. Legwand too often passes up shots in favor of passes, and if he would take a shoot first mentality in the offensive zone, his production would be exceptional.

Ryan Miller was very good in net. The Predators put 34 shots on net to 14 for Buffalo, but had a hard time solving Miller. Part of this is due to Miller's solid play, but part of this is due to the Predators being unable to finish chances.

Let me ask this: outside of Smith, does anyone really scare the opposition when they carry the puck into the offensive zone? Colin Wilson has flashes. Anyone else? And therein lies the problem for the Predators. This team is built with grinders and blue collar players. The finishers? Erat? Too inconsistent? Legwand? Also inconsistent. Anyone else?

I didn't think so.

Which means the Predators are going to have to overcome the mistakes that young players will inevitably make and they are going to have to outwork the opposition. Tonight, they could not beat a very good netminder that played an very good game.

However, if they keep shooting the puck like they did tonight and minimize their mistakes, they will win more than they will lose. The effort tonight cannot be criticized too much. It is important that this team continue to play to their identity.

If they do, they will stick it to their opponents.

My three stars:

1. Ryan Miller

2. Luke Adam

3. Craig Smith

My View

2011-12-02T10:31:00.001-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

Today, friends, we are going to have a little different "My View", one that will address an issue that is going to impact all of us in the near future. That issue is one of the two certainties in life. Yes, we are going to talk about...

TAXES!

(cue the ominous background music)

So buckle up and hang on for the ride.

With the recent failure of the Congressional Super Committee fresh in our minds, it is a good time to talk about taxes. The Super Committee bogged down as Republicans held the line on tax increases and the Democrats demanded more tax increases. It is very easy to slip into a partisan mindset about taxes and point fingers at the other side, but it is critical that we in the public really understand the fundamentals about what is going on regarding taxes so that we can make reasoned decisions and provide valid input to our elected representatives.

So I think it is important for us to understand what is happens in a progressive tax system like ours, and why our system is not working efficiently.

We all talk about taxes and the tax rate, the rate at which a person or a business is taxed, but we really need to explore and understand what we are talking about. Here are some important definitions:

Nominal Rate- This is the stated tax bracket. This is also called the statutory rate. When someone says,"I am in the 28% bracket", they are referring to their nominal tax rate.

Marginal Rate- the tax on the last dollar earnings. This is important as one's income rises. For instance, one could earn a bonus in a calendar year that moves them from a 28% bracket to a 31% bracket for tax purposes. Individuals and business make marginal tax considerations an important part of their decision process if they are going to pay more in taxes to earn another dollar of income.

Effective Rate- This is the tax rate that an individual or business pays AFTER all government offsets or deductions are applied.

It is very important to have these concepts in mind, because understanding them will help us understand part of the financial dilemma that we are facing in our country.

Did you know that the United States has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world? The current corporate tax rate is 35%. Do you think most corporations pay taxes at the 35% rate?

That would be a big UH-UH.

The effective corporate tax rate in the U.S. last year was 22%, significantly lower than the nominal corporate rate of 35%. Many companies did not pay taxes. One of the most frequently cited examples of companies not paying taxes is General Electric, which in 2010 had income of $14 billion and yet paid no taxes. How did that happen? They used legal deductions and offsets to pare down their tax liability to nothing.

And GE is no different than you or me. I deduct mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and claim the maximum exemptions allowed all in an effort to do what GE did, and that is to minimize my tax burden.

Do you see the problem starting to emerge? Congress can raise nominal rates to 50% in this country, but the EFFECTIVE rate will still be lower.

Why is this?

For several reasons. Washington views the world in a static way, which means their belief is that if taxes are raised, collections by the government will rise in a straight line to a certain amount. The reality is that the world does not work that way. You and I will legally avoid paying the maximum amount of taxes in any way possible. We may defer income; we may make more charitable contributions; or we just may not work as much and engage in more leisure activities to avoid generating higher income and higher marginal taxes (see where all those definitions start to mean something?).

Also, having a complicated tax code with numerous deductions, exemptions, and special credits gives Congress an enormous amount of power to bestow said deductions, exemptions, and credits on favored groups or industries. Think Congress wants to give up this power? Neither do I, but in so doing, could actually move the effective rates higher. We will talk about that in a minute.

So the real problem for leadership in Washington is to raise the effective rate, not the nominal rate. The discussion about nominal rates- "raising taxes"- is sound and fury with little net effect.

I want to stop right here. Those of you that have read these Friday blogs know that I disdain the inordinately high tax rates in this country and the subsequent wasteful spending that it engenders at all levels of government. So what I am about to talk about- improving tax collections- doesn't mean that I have gone to the dark side of the liberal left. You will see why.

The salient question for all of us is how do we improve tax collections- increase the effective rate- without decimating the economy?

I'm glad you asked.

There are several ways.

First, close the loopholes and eliminate all deductions except mortgage interest and charitable contributions. Congress should not be in the business of deciding to favor certain industries or interest groups with exemptions. This step alone takes away one of the primary tools used by Congress for legislative overreach and is a gigantic first step in reining in the power of Washington legislators.

Why keep mortgage interest and charitable contribution deductions? Without the mortgage interest deduction, housing prices will fall even lower than their current levels, and since for many in this country, their house is the major component of their assets, this is essential to maintaining their wealth. As for charitable contributions, the elimination of that deduction would obviously impact the flow of dollars to these ventures and limit their outreach.

The second thing that MUST occur concurrent with the closing of the loopholes is that the tax rate at all brackets should be lowered. We currently collect taxes on individuals at an effective rate of 14%. If that effective rate doubled to 28%, can you imagine the profligate spending that would come out of Washington? Think if Washington flattened the tax code to two rates, say 10% below a certain income level and 20% above a certain income level. Do you think the effective rate would go up? Especially if the loopholes are closed? Simplify the tax code and impart certainty to the taxpayer, and the results would be astounding.

And here is why. Remember those marginal tax rates we talked about? Under our current system, an individual that makes $83,600 is in a 25% tax bracket. They owe a base tax of $4,750 PLUS 25% on the earnings over $34,500. However, say that individual closes one last sale in December and earns $85,000. Their situation changes significantly. Their base tax is now $17,025 and 28% of all income over $83,600. In effect, that last sale cost them some significant money by pushing them into a higher tax bracket.

This is the effect of rising marginal rates. At a certain level, they create a disincentive to earn.

Now go to the flattened rate that I mentioned above. Rather than rising marginal rates- meaning the government is going to take a progressively larger amount out of each additional dollar that you earn- the rate stays the same and the worker is not penalized for earning more money. Do you think this would lead to more economic activity and growth?

I do.

Obviously, both sides of the flat tax, or flatter taxes, can be argued, but here are two things to keep in mind. Washington vehemently opposes a simpler tax system, whether a flat tax system or some other. Why? Check the list of campaign contributions given to our elected officials and compare that to the tax breaks or credits that some of those groups have received. Remember what I have told you- ALWAYS follow the money. The current tax code is one of the biggest sources of power for those in Washington and consequently one of the biggest tools used to gather campaign funds. This has to stop.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the current system is not working effectively. All of us are avoiding taxes through any legal method available, and this behavior will continue. We all act in our economic self interest, and that includes legally keeping as much of our hard earned income as possible. Washington has to understand that this current system is broken and will not provide the vehicle to effectively collect revenue nor does it provide a framework the economy to grow.

Hopefully, this discussion will shed some light on what is happening with the debate on taxes and provide some understanding of how it will impact us as taxpayers.

And it will impact us.

Our engagement in this process will be essential to shaping the direction of our tax policy. Get involved and contact your elected representatives and let them know your feelings on this matter.

The federal government views your income as "theirs".

And remember, "theirs" can be also be "THE IRS".

And that, my friends, is my view

Predators Cap an Improbable Comeback, Vanquish Vancouver 6-5

2011-12-01T21:18:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators faced a monumental task, trying to get their game back on track against a formidable for in the form of the Vancouver Canucks at the Rogers Centre in Vancouver. The Predators came into the game 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, while the Cancucks entered the contest on a tear, with an 8-2 record in their last 10 contests.

Nashville had Pekka Rinne in net, while the Canucks countered with their red hot goalie- no, not that guy- Cory Schnieder, who was 5-0 in his last five starts.

The Predators changed up their lines, moving Craig Smith up on a line with Mike Fisher and Marty Erat. Smith was replacing the injured Sergei Kostitsyn, and the hope was that this line would generate some offensive push for the Predators, who desperately needed some scoring.

The Predators opened the contest skating hard and generating some offensive chances. Their offensive efforts would be short circuited early as the aforementioned Smith would get called for hooking. Fortunately for the Predators, Dan Hamhuis was called for holding just 58 seconds into the power play.

Shortly after the Predators went on the power play, Colin Wilson dug the puck out from behind the net and passed it to David Legwand. Legwand ripped a shot short side over the shoulder of Schneider to make it 1-0 Predators at 5:44 of the first period.

The Predators would make it 2-0 on a goal by Mike Fisher at 8:16. Fisher took a pass from Marty Erat and was strong on the puck driving the net. His backhand shot beat Schneider to the far side post and the Predators had tallied goals on their first two shots of the game.

One of the keys for the Predators was to stay out of the box, as the Canucks have the number one ranked PP unit in the NHL. Unfortunately, Shea Weber didn't get that memo, as he was called for holding. Cody Hodgson made the Predators pay for their transgression as he drove the net and beat Pekka Rinne over his shoulder to make it 2-1 at 9:58 of the first period.

The Predators managed to kill off a Marty Erat penalty (whew!) and got back to even strength and skated well with the Canucks. They managed to keep an explosive offensive relatively in check, helped by some good saves from Pekka Rinne.

At 18:49 of the first period, Henrik Sedin was called for for hooking. Cory Schneider made an amazing save on a Shea Weber blast from the blue line. Weber would get his revenge with just 10 seconds left on the period as he had crept down low in the zone and lifted the puck over Schneider to make it 3-1 Predators.

The Predators power play was very efficient, as was their offensive effort. The Predators scored on both their power plays and on 3 of their 5 shots in the period. The Canucks were held to seven shots in the first period.

A solid period of hockey by the Predators, save for the the three trips to the penalty box. It was time for this team to put together a full 60 minutes of hockey and capture an important victory.

Roberto Luongo came in for the Canucks to start the second period.

Once again, the Predators could not stay out of the box, and it bit them in the ass.With Jerred Smithson in the box for slashing, Daniel Sedin got loose at the side of the net and beat Rinne with a shot that Rinne would like to have back at 3:10 of the second.

Just 48 seconds later, Aaron Volpati got free in the low slot and beat Rinne five hole to tie the game at 3.

So much for that solid 60 minutes of hockey by the Predators. They now had to get momentum on their side and take back control of the game.

The Canucks took a 4-3 lead as Henrik Sedin walked out from behind the net and it was re-directed by Alex Burrows at 8:16 of the second period. Three goals erased all the momentum and work of the first period as the Predators collapse was in full swing in this period.

The defense of the Predators had become a sieve in this period, and it was burning the Predators. An absolutely horrific defensive effort in this period had victimized the Predators as they saw their momentum and their lead evaporate.

Jannik Hansen made it 5-3 Canucks at 10:29 as he blew a puck past Rinne, who was unscreened. That was it as Rinne was pulled and Anders Lindback came on for the Predators.

Jordin Tootoo has shown no quit in his game, and he got loose just inside the face off circle and rifled a shot past Luongo at 16:09 off as assist from Ryan Suter and Craig Smith. Tootoo's effort momentarily halted the momentum of the Canucks and breathed some new life into the Predators. This was Tootoo's third goal of the season, and for the night, Craig Smith had three assists.

Colin Wilson tied the game on the power play with Ryan Kessler in the box as he took a nice feed from David Legwand. Wilson was breaking in and took the puck to his backhand and lifted the puck over the shoulder of Luongo for the Predators third power play goal of the game.

Just when it looked as if the Predators had given up, suddenly, they showed some heart and clawed their way back into this game. Tied at 5, this game has the makings of a wild affair going into the third period.

The third period was back and forth, mostly back for the Predators as the Predators were kept on their heels for most of the period by the aggressive offensive attack of the Canucks. Lindback made some big saves, and for the most, the Predators were struggling to generate some offense.

That would change at 18:35 of the third as Marty Erat broke in toward the net and fed Mike Fisher who backhanded the puck over the sprawling Luongo to give the Predators an improbable 6-5 lead.

As unreal as it appeared after the Predators collapsed in the early part of the second period, they had come back to claim a huge 6-5 road win over a quality opponent.

This is the kind of win that can prove to be pivotal for a young team. Learning how to face down adversity and come back from a disastrous period of hockey. Learning how to keep fighting and scrapping and realizing that you are never out of a game.

Vancouver out shot the Predators 37-20, and kudos go to Anders Lindback, who stopped all 19 shots he faced.

In previous games, this team would have folded in the face of this kind of adversity. Tonight, they kept fighting. Tonight, they grew up a little.

This team still has lessons to learn. Never let an opponent claw their way back into the game like you did tonight, boys.

The other lesson? You are never out of it. Your heart and your fight and your character carried you to a win tonight.

Build on that lesson.

My three stars:

1. Mike Fisher

2. Anders Lindback

3. Colin Wilson

Predators Fall to the Flames 1-0

2011-11-29T20:43:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators continued their western Canada with a tilt against the Calgary Flames at the Saddledome. The Predators had recently halted a 4 game losing skid with a win the previous night in Edmonton, while the Flames were looking to get their game back on track, having just one win in their last five games.

The Predators had Pekka Rinne in net, while the Flames opened with their workhorse Mikka Kiprusoff.

After an up and down first period, the Flames drew first blood at 18:49 as a shot from the point by T. J. Brodie was deflected past Rinne by Derek Smith. Smith was driving the net and beat Craig Smith coming back for the Predators . Rinne had no chance on the re-direct and the Flames took a 1-0 lead through hustle and driving to the net..

For the period, the Predators out shot the Flames 9-7, but once again found themselves trailing at the end of 20 minutes.

Blake Comeau was called for high sticking Jordin Tootoo with 20 seconds remaining in the period, so the Predators would open the second with 1:40 of power play time.

The second period saw both teams do a lot of skating, each get a few scoring chances, but neither team able to score. The closest chance came from the Flames when Roman Horak rattled the puck off both posts but did not cross the goal line.

Very troublesome for the Predators was the fact that they passed up several shots in favor of a pass. In last night's victory, the Predators shot the puck- often- and created chances. Tonight, the shots were not as abundant, and as a result, Kiprusoff was not challenged nearly enough by the Predators in the first 40 minutes.Nashville manage only 6 shots in the second period, a painful reversion to their old habit of not shooting the puck nearly enough.

It was now coming down to the final 20 minutes of play for the Predators. Key to their effort was going to be first and foremost getting pucks on net.

Remember, I said the key to winning this game was getting pucks on net.

Well... through 11 minutes of the third period, the Predators had managed only 4- count 'em, 4- shots on net.

Not exactly a winning formula.

How bad was it?

The Predators had a power play and managed no shots on goal.

Here is the truth. The Predators offense was generally impotent tonight. The good work habits and effort of the previous night were not evident in this game tonight. The Predators managed 10 shots on goal in the third period- 25 for the game- and none really challenged Kiprusoff.

The Predators executed their style of play the night before. Tonight, they did not. And it cost them a win.

Up and down. Inconsistent.

This has been the style of play for the Predators this season. It is a sign of a team that has not grown into their role and become the type of team of which they are capable of becoming.

Frustrating?

Without a doubt.

And it will continue to be so until this team grows up.

My three stars:

1. Derek Smith

2. Mikka Kiprusoff

3. Pekka Rinne

Predators Slide by the Oilers 2-1 to End Losing Streak

2011-11-28T23:11:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators looked to stop their 4 game skid by venturing to Rexall Place to take on the up and coming Edmonton Oilers. For the Predators, this was a game that was going to require discipline and the necessity of playing a full 60 minutes of hockey.

Since this was the first of a back to back series of games, Anders Lindback got his second start of the season, while the Oilers went with Nikolai Khabibulin.

The Oilers young talent has demonstrated speed, creativity, and play making ability so far in this season, and in two previous contests, they have out skated and outworked the Predators. For the Predators to win this contest, they were going to have to work and minimize mistakes.

Unfortunately for the Predators, the first mistake they made wound up in the back of their net.

Shea Weber had the puck in the defensive zone and made a blind pass that was intercepted by the Oilers Ryan Nugent Hopkins. Hopkins got the puck to Jordan Eberle, who circled behind the net and took a shot that Lindback stopped with his pad. The rebound came right back to Eberle, and he roofed a shot over the shoulder of Lindback at 7:07 of the first period.

There was no more scoring in the period, as the Oilers D and Khabibulin made the early goal stand up. The Predators did skate better and generated some traffic in front of the Oilers net and created some scoring chances. For the period, the Predators out shot the Oilers 6-4.

It is apparent that the Predators need to bury some shots and get their confidence back in the offensive zone. Finish some chances and stop gripping the sticks so tightly.

The Predators certainly had some chances to get their offense going as the Oilers started a parade to the penalty box as Theo Peckham was called for cross checking and Ryan Jones got a 5 minute major for elbowing Blake Geoffrion, both at the 6:35 mark of the second. Geoffrion was injured on the play and left the game. Jordin Tootoo was also called for diving after the cross check by Peckham, so the Predators were skating 5 on 4.

The Predators power play was short circuited 20 seconds later when Sergei Kostitsyn was called for interference. Skating 4 on 4, the Predators started to shoot the puck and creating chances with traffic in front of Khabibulin.

Roman Josi was called for a weak tripping call on Jordan Eberle, and the Oilers had a brief 4 on 3. Lindback made a couple of good saves to keep the Oilers off the board.

With Kostitsyn out of the box, the Predators continued their man advantage and continued to press the attack in the Oilers zone. Khabibulin made some great saves with Predators crashing the net, and it appeared as if the Predators were going to squander this golden opportunity.

That would change with one second left in the man advantage as Shea Weber skated the puck into the zone and let go a shot from the face off circle that beat Khabibulin cleanly to tie the game at 1 at 11:34 of the second period.

There was no further scoring in the period, but not for lack of effort by the Predators. For the first time in a looong time, the Predators were not afraid to shoot the puck, and shoot the puck they did. In the second period, the Predators forechecked hard, created turnovers, and the result of their effort was a 16-7 shot advantage. By far and away, this was the best period of hockey that the Predators had played in their last five games.

Once again, the Predators were heading into the final 20 minutes of hockey with the game in the balance. Would this be the game where the Predators took control of a game and skated away with a victory?

The third period was another back and forth period of hockey, with both teams skating hard. Neither team could crack the scoreboard, although they had good chances. The positive for the Predators is that there was no drop off in their intensity and their effort.

The Predators would break the tie at 12:21 of the third because of good work by Craig Smith and Jordin Tootoo in the corner to control the puck. Tootoo got the puck and passed to Nick Spaling in the low slot who rifled a shot past Khabibulin to give the Predators a 2-1 lead.

This goal was a direct result of hard work on the boards by Smith and Tootoo and the desire to win the puck battle, something that had been absent in the Predators previous four losses.

The remainder of the period saw the Predators continue their aggressive play and hard forechecking. They blocked shots when the Oilers pulled Khabibulin with time running down, and as the seconds melted away to a Predators victory, they had achieved what they had failed to achieve in their previous four contests.

A victory the Predator way.

For Anders Lindback, it was his first win of the season.

This was a pivotal game for the Predators, not only just to stop the four game losing streak, but to instill again in the team the value of playing hockey like this team is capable of playing. The Predators will not often win pretty, but they will win the majority of their games where they work like they did tonight.

Evidence of how hard they worked was the final shot total. The Predators out shot an explosive Oilers squad by at 31-18 margin.

Good things happen when you shoot the puck, boys.

Here is what this team should take away from this contest: when you win puck battles, when you skate hard, when you are strong on the puck, good things happen.

Hopefully, we have learned this lesson.

My three stars:

1. Nick Spaling

2. Anders Lindback

3. Shea Weber

Predators Fail to Measure Up, Fall to the Red Wings 4-1

2011-11-26T18:47:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators often say that the Detroit Red Wings are their measuring stick, that they want to be as consistently good as their Central Division rival.

If the first period of tonight's game at the Joe is any indication, the Predators have a ways to go.

Pekka Rinne opened in net for the Predators, and he was under assault during the first period. Jimmy Howard got the start for the Wings, and he could have spent a lot of time listening to his i-Pod. Don't believe me? The Wings out shot the Predators 14-3 in the first period.

The Predators never established any offensive presence in the first, getting one significant scoring chance, while the Wings peppered Rinne with shots. Rinne was solid in turning away the Wings attempts and keeping the Predators in the game.

The Wings broke through on the power play with Mike Fisher in the box for tripping. Todd Bertuzzi took a shot that Rinne amazingly kept out of the net. The rest of the Predators PK must have thought that Bertuzzi scored as they stopped. Valtteri Filppula pounced on the loose puck at the side of the net and lifted a backhand shot in for the Wings score at 13:23.

Frankly, after that first period, it could have been much worse for the Predators save (pun intended) for the efforts of Rinne.

The Wings extended their lead to 2-0 at 18:29 of the second period as Henrik Zetterberg took the puck behind the net and faked a wraparound shot. Rinne went down to the ice and Zetterberg smartly backed away and lifted the puck over a sprawling Rinne.

Detroit made it 3-0 at 11:26 as Juri Hudler launched a shot from the blue line that got past Rinne when it was re-directed by Valtteri Filppula, who was camped at the top of the blue ice and was immoveable by the Predators defense.

As poor as the Predators offense had looked to this point in the game, that 1-0 lead would have probably held up. A 3-0 lead against this team is insurmountable.

The only question now would be if the Predators would show any push back at all.

That would be a resounding "no".

The Predators offensive efforts were completely stymied by the Red Wings, and what offense the Predators did generate never seriously challenged Howard.

Lest you think I'm being too hard on the Predators, consider this. In the second period, the Predators were out shot 11-5, making the shot totals through two periods 25-8 for the Wings.

Inexcusable and unacceptable.

The outcome was no longer in the balance. It was now just a matter of how bad would this debacle be?

Darren Helm stole the puck from Mike Fisher and fed Dan Cleary, who one-timed the puck past Rinne to make it 4-0 Red Wings at 15:57 of the third.

The Predators finally got on the board as Jack Hillen drove the net and took a perfect feed from Colin Wilson at 14:26 of the period.

The goal gave the Predators some jump, and for the first time in the game, the team started to move their feet and skate some.

The Predators finally started playing Predator hockey and shooting the puck and crashing the net, but they still could not solve Jimmy Howard, who was solid in the face of several Predator flurries around his crease.

There was a scary moment with about two minutes to go in the game as Patrick Eaves went down to block a shot by Roman Josi and took the puck off the side of his head. Eaves was carried off the ice on a stretcher but was conscious.

The aforementioned Josi saw his first ice time of the season for the Predators as he was called up prior to the game. The Predators lost Frankie Buillon in the third period to a lower body injury, which meant Josi saw more ice time. For the game, Josi logged 12:20.

The final was 4-1 Wings. The reality was that the Predators were dominated from start to finish and were never in this contest.

The Predators have dropped 4 straight games, and they have not looked good in doing so. In every loss, there has been at least one period in which the Predators have not shown up.

Tonight, there were three.

And for the life of me, this makes no sense. This is a young team, but the time for excuses is past. There is no excuse for not skating hard. There is no excuse for playing a period like you don't want to be on the ice. There is no excuse for no being hard on the puck and using the talent that this team has to move through the neutral zone and establish offensive presence.

Once again, the shot totals are indicative of the lack of effort. Detroit out shot Nashville 37-18.

This is frustrating beyond words.

Every team hits a rough patch. I can accept that.

What I cannot accept is guys on the ice not working hard.

The only way out of this funk is for this team to get back to basics, back to playing Predator hockey. And the first step in doing so is to work hard.

Harder than you worked tonight.

My three stars:

1. Valtteri Filppula

2. Dan Cleary

3. Jimmy Howard

Hard Hitting Journalism or Hit Piece?

2011-11-26T13:54:00.001-06:00

News Channel 5 investigative reporter Phil Williams has supposedly "unearthed" some shocking information about the Nashville Predators and the operation of the Bridgestone Arena, information that was unbeknown by the Mayor of Nashville and which Williams has intimated is a backdoor, sweetheart deal for the Predators.

Really?

You can read Williams "story" here.

Let's take a look at the claims made by Williams and the facts.

Williams is shocked-shocked!- that the Mayor of Nashville is unaware of the details of the arrangement from the State of Tennessee. Is this surprising?

There were two bills that Williams references. The first, a bill passed by the State Legislature, that took sales taxes from non-hockey events such as concerts, and sent the money to the Sports Authority to be used for covering the cost of operating the Arena. The second bill, passed into law in 2009, directed that money be sent to the Convention and Visitors Bureau to be used by the Predators as well as creating a tax on athletes of $2,500 per game up to $7,500 annually that was to be used for the operation of the Arena (surprisingly- or not- there is no such tax on NFL players to be used for the upkeep of LP Field, the costs of which are solely borne by Metro taxpayers. Now THAT is a story). These were bills that moved through the proper legislative process at the State level and was enacted into law by then Governor Phil Bredesen.

Furthermore, Williams is offended that the Predators used a lobbyist, James Weaver, to help push these bills through the Legislature.

Phil, the fact that the Predators used a lobbyist to promote their interest would be news if this were the first time it has ever happened. I think if you check, however, that this is the normal course of business in the legislative halls of capitol hill.

Is it surprising to you, Phil, that the Mayor of Nashville did not know the specifics of a bill that originated in the State Legislature? Even if the lobbyist was a long time supporter of the current mayor? I would think that a lobbyist has some responsibility toward their current clients regarding confidentiality, which Weaver would have with the Predators. The fact is that Weaver was under absolutely no obligation to inform Nashville's Mayor about what he was doing for the Predators and that this was a state legislative process.

Williams asked Mayor Karl Dean if he would have agreed to the terms of the bill if he had known about the bill. C'mon Phil, you know that question has zero relevance. It would not matter if Mayor Dean had agreed to the terms of the bill or not because it was a piece of State legislation, not local legislation that was moving through the City Council.

Here are the facts that anyone who reads or has seen Williams piece needs to know:

The bills were legitimately passed by the State Legislature. It is not surprising that the Predators or the management team for the Arena have acted in their economic self interest. Every business and individual does that. Funds that are being used by the Predators and the Arena management group were not clandestinely obtained and are being used to bring in events outside of hockey and for arena upkeep.

The effect of the State legislation is simply this: the State gave up its portion of the sales tax revenue that was generated from hockey and non-hockey events at the Arena. The City of Nashville still gets their piece of the revenue that the Arena and the Predators generate.

How successful has the Arena management group been in bringing in events to Nashville, and generating sales tax revenue? According to Pollstar, the Bridgestone Arena is the 4th most active venue in the United States and the 12th most utilized venue in the world for non-hockey events.

Let me ask you this, Phil. Think any of the businesses in downtown Nashville are bitching about the effort? When their bars, restaurants, and shops are full of visitors, do you think these business people are unhappy with the effort to bring both hockey and non-hockey related events to downtown Nashville? What is noticeably absent from your story is the real story- the economic impact of the Predators and the other events that occur at the Bridgestone Arena. And it is substantial.

Here is another little discussed fact: these "investigative reports" occurred during sweeps week. What does that have to do with this? Well, we all know that sensationalism sells, and manufacturing a story about taxpayers getting supposedly screwed is good for ratings. Crafting a hit piece is good for eyeballs and nothing more.

I spoke to J.D. Elliott, the Chairman of the Sports Authority before I wrote this. According to Elliott, the Sports Authority is "happy with their relationship with the Predators and the operation of the Arena." Elliott said that there were some members of the Sports Authority that did not like the Predators for whatever reason, but that the majority of the members approved of the Predators and the way that the relationship had developed with the ownership group.

Could it be that these members unhappy with the Predators are the source of this "story"?

Nashville built an arena before it had the Predators, and the hope was to attract a professional sports team to occupy the arena and fill dates as well as attract non-sporting events to the venue to create traffic downtown and generate sales tax revenues. It seems to me that this has happened and it has been wildly successful.

What would really be news would be if this wasn't happening.

Then you might have a real story, Phil.

My View

2011-11-24T20:05:00.001-06:00

By the time you read this, most will have completed their Thanksgiving celebrations. Family members will be reunited, copious amounts of food will have been consumed, and laughter and good times shared.

For most of us, Thanksgiving is a brief respite in the hectic pace of our daily routines. It is a time to relax, to eat, to enjoy family, and the abundance of the blessings that we have.

Thanksgiving calls us to something else, something bigger and more transcendent than just one day of celebration, one day in which we pause to to give thanks for the good things that have been brought into our lives.

The spirit of Thanksgiving, the essence of this day, calls us to be thankful in all things for all things in our daily existence. Not just on this one special day, but every day.

For some of us, being thankful is difficult. Some have absorbed and endured the harshness of life. The stark reality of death has touched our lives; loved ones lie sick, some with little prospect of recovery; some are enduring dire economic hardship, some are desperately lonely.

In those trying times, it is difficult, if not impossible, to feel thankful. Gratitude is not an easy emotion to summon in troubling times.

It is in those dark times that pausing to remember and recount the good things that we enjoy is essential. Know this- that even in the darkest of times that each of us experience, there are still blessings for which we can be thankful. A kind or encouraging word that lifts us up, a smile that is given freely, and expression of support are all little things that lift us up. Little things for which we can be thankful.

An attitude of thankfulness opens us up to receive these blessings and more. A thankful heart keeps bitterness from encroaching and stealing the joy of living that each of us should have.

My hope for each of us is that the spirit of this day will abide with us every day, that our hearts will be attuned to the good that occurs around us and to us each day. Even the days that seem so dark and without joy.

May our hearts enjoy a spirit of Thanksgiving every day.

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Give Away Another Game, Lose to the Wild 3-2

2011-11-23T19:57:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators traveled to the great white North to take on the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center in a game that saw the Predators seeking redemption for the putrid effort the night before in Nashville.

Pekka Rinne once again got the start for the Predators as the Wild went with Josh Harding as Nicklas Backstrom was out of the lineup to attend to personal business.

The Predators opened the contest looking just like they did in their debacle against Edmonton the night before. Minnesota was out skating the Predators and got the first four shots on goal. For Predator fans, this was a big "uh-oh" and the thought was "here we go again."

The Predators got their legs under them and started skating with the Wild, and when they did, they were very competitive.

Jordin Tootoo got the Predators on the board with their first shot on goal at 5:21of the first period as he skated the puck out of the corner straight to the front of the net. Tootoo jammed the puck in on Harding and the puck got through his pads and trickled into the net to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. Rookie Craig Smith picked up an assist on the play, giving him 15 points on the season.

The period was a back and forth contest with both teams generating some good chances. In the period, the Wild out shot the Predators 10-9, which is a decidedly better effort than the Predators put forth in their previous contest.

The second period was scoreless, but not for lack of effort by both teams. Both Rinne and Harding came up with some big saves for their respective squads. Each team created some good scoring opportunities from close in, but both netminders were up to the task. The Predators certainly made their task tougher in the period as they had to kill off a 4 minute double minor for high sticking by Colin Wilson.

In the second period, the Wild out shot the Predators 11-8.

Once again, this young team was going into the third period with a lead, and they knew they would face the inevitable push from the Wild. And once again, the question that hung in the balance was "Would the Predators be able to lock down the other team and hold the lead?"

That question was answered just 1:05 into the third period as the Predators got caught with 4 men down low and gave up a 2 on 1 that Dany Heatley buried to tie the game.

The Predators did their best to give the game to the Wild as the period wore on. They took back to back penalties to Craig Smith and Ryan Suter, with Suter's penalty coming with just 13 seconds remaining in Smith's penalty. Yes, both penalties were questionable calls, but nevertheless, the Predators put themselves in a precarious position. Although they were able to kill off the brief 5 on 3, the Predators could not kill Suter's penalty as Kyle Brodziak took a shot that Rinne got most of, but couldn't stop it and the puck found the net to give the Wild a 2-1 lead at 9:39.

Perhaps more indicative of the Predators imminent collapse was the fact that the Predators had only mustered 2 shots on goal through 12 minutes of the period. Yes, one of those shots was highway robbery on Sergei Kostitsyn by Harding, but it still remains a troubling fact that the Predators offense cannot seem to put in a full 60 minutes of effort.

The wheels came off for the Predators at 13:19 of the third as the Predators gave up a shorthanded goal. Rinne came out to play the puck that was dumped down the ice and stumbled and could not get back into position. Cal Clutterbuck picked up the puck and scored what will probably be his easiest goal of the season as he had nothing but an open net into which to shoot the puck.

The Predators demonstrated some heart and pulled within one at 13:57 as they scored on a 5 on 3 power play. Jordin Tootoo took the puck at the goal line and found Ryan Suter alone in the low slot. His quick wrist shot beat harding over his shoulder to make it 3-2 Wild. This was Suter's 5th goal of the season, topping his goal total from last season.

The Predators has a chance to tie the game as Ryan Suter hit both posts with a shot and the team still on the man advantage. Harding was able to swallow up the rebound in a furious scramble in the blue paint to thwart the Predators.

The Predators were unable to generate any more offense, and once again, a game that they led going into the third period was given away, victimized by another 20 minutes of poor hockey.

Same song, different verse.

And it's becoming a very tired refrain.

The shots on goal were 8 to 8 in the third period, but the majority of those shots for the Predators came during desperation time. Frankly boys, when you go through 12 minutes of a period- especially one where you have a lead and are trying to squeeze out the opposition- you more often than not are going to lose the game.

Like tonight.

I have often talked about lessons, and some of these lessons are painful. I guess it hasn't gotten painful enough for this team, because they haven't consistently learned how to take control of a game when they have a lead. Giving up three goals in crunch time is inexplicable and shows that this team has not developed a killer instinct.

Yet.

Here's a bit of advice: develop that killer instinct. Learn how to finish a game ( and start a game for that matter).

Do that, and you will not be giving games away.

My three stars:

1. Josh Harding

2. Jordin Tootoo

3. Kyle Brodziak

Predators Fail to Show Up in 6-2 loss to the Oilers

2011-11-22T22:07:00.001-06:00

Let's say this: the young Edmonton Oilers are a talented team. Their young players are quickly blossoming into quality NHLers.

That being said, the Nashville Predators made them look like the Oilers dynasty of old as they absolutely failed to show up in a 6-2 loss.

You can find the terrifying box score here.

The fact is that the Predators were not ready to play this game. Edmonton came in and kicked dirt in the face of the Predators, took their lunch money, and kissed their girl.

The most disturbing aspect of this?

The Predators did not respond.

No heart. No fire. No grit.

Once again, the Predators had a first period that looked as if they thought the game started at 8:00 instead of 7:00. Out shot 13-3 and down 3-0, the Predators were dead in the water.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why this team is so sluggish in the first period. Throughout the first 20 minutes of the contest, the Predators stood around and watched the Oilers skate around them, by them, and though them. And the Predators did not respond.

Disappointing doesn't even begin to describe it.

Embarrassing?

Beyond embarrassing.

The fact is that the Oilers punched the Predators in the mouth and they just took it. No response at all. And this is troubling.

This team has got to understand who they are and play to their strengths. In the last two games, the Predators have veered from their character and their work ethic, and it has cost them. This team is a blue collar team that thrives on hard work and gritty play. Tonight, their were neither of those characteristics evident in their play.

I am still trying to figure out why the coaching staff has decided that putting their most potent offensive threat- Craig Smith- on a third line with Matt Halischuk and Jordin Tootoo. Nothing against those players, but frankly they are not the appropriate compliments to a player like Smith. David Legwand has been moved to the center position between Patric Hornqvist and Colin Wilson, and that line has been rendered invisible. Smith was moved back to centering the line of Wilson and Hornqvist in the third period, but frankly, the chemistry had been altered to ill effect by then.

It goes without saying that the effort in the last two games has been frustratingly disappointing. It is time for this team to go back to the basics and bring the intensity and grit that has made them successful. The failure to do this in the last two games has yielded horrific results.

Unfortunately, this team has stopped playing in front of Pekka Rinne, and he has been hung out to dry too often. Rinne was pulled to start the second period and Anders Lindback was inserted between the pipes. The truth is that this team owes Rinne an apology.

Continue to play with the lackadaisical attitude and effort and we will see more results like tonight.

My three stars:

No one from the Predators. Take your pick from the Oilers lineup.

Predators Suffer an Embarrassing Loss to the BJ's in OT 4-3

2011-11-19T22:37:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Bridgestone Arena that was in a word, embarrassing.

Throughout the game, the Predators were unable to get through the neutral zone and turned the puck over more times than I can count. Rather than skate the puck through the zone or dump it deep and establish the cycle in the offensive zone, the Predators were content to make blind crossing passes or drop passes that were quickly gathered in by the Jackets and started the other way. Frankly, the inability to get through the neutral zone against this team was inexplicable and plagued the Predators all night long. Even more baffling was the persistence in making bad- or dumb- passes that resulted in turnovers.

When the Predators got into the offensive zone, they had trouble establishing their cycle and offensive flow against the aggressive Jackets defense. The Predators reverted to form on a couple of occasions, and when they did, they challenged Curtis Sanford in the Jackets net and tallied three goals for their efforts. The problem for the Predators was that they were too inconsistent in doing the essential things that would have lead to a victory.

Colin Wilson opened the scoring for the Predators at 18:29 of the first period as he gathered the puck in a goal mouth scramble and lifted it over Sanford to make it 1-0 Predators.

Jeff Carter tied the game at 1 at 3:29 of the second period with his first goal of the year. He used Ryan Suter as a screen and beat Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne with wrist shot over his shoulder.

The Predators took the lead again on the power play as Mike Fisher scored from in front of the net off a rebound of a Shea Weber shot at 10:27 of the second period.

The Predators could not seize the momentum and hold on to the lead as Columbus tallied on the power play with Ryan Suter in the box. Vinny Prospal lifted a backhand past Rinne to the short side. Rinne got most of the puck but could not stop it completely and it fluttered into the net to tie the game at 2.

The BJ's took a 3-2 lead at 1:45 of the third period as R.J. Umberger scored on the power play with Ryan Suter again in the box for roughing.

Nick Spaling tied the game at 3 as he corralled a rebound in the low slot and slipped the puck five hole on Sanford at 14:24 of the third.

There was no more scoring in the third period, and off to overtime, which has not been kind to the Predators. Going into this OT, the Predators were 1-3.

Make it 1-4.

James Wisniewski scored past a screened Rinne at 2:43 of the overtime period to end the BJ's string of futility with 27 straight losses at Nashville.

Yes, the Predators got a point. That is the positive.

Losing to a team like Columbus is the major negative. In a word, it is embarrassing.

Actually, two words. Unacceptable.

Sloppy play has been the hallmark of the Predators in the last two games. Tonight, their poor play bit them in the ass. Frankly, the Predators got what they deserved in this contest.

The Predators got David Legwand back in the lineup, and Head Coach Barry Trotz inserted him as the center between Patric Hornqvist and Colin Wilson, breaking up the dynamic line of Hornqvist, Wilson, and Craig Smith. Legwand was generally ineffective with his line mates, and in the third period, Smith was reunited with his line. This line should have never been disbanded, and in doing so, the offensive effort suffered.

The Predators have lost their identity in the last two games. The team has tried to be cute and play a finesse game rather than their blue collar style of hockey. Tonight, when they played their game, they were effective. Too often, they deviated from that game and it cost them a win.

Hopefully this team has learned their lesson about what it takes to be successful. They did not do that consistently in this game.

Keep on being inconsistent in your play, and there will be more embarrassing losses.

My three stars:

1. Curtis Sanford

2. Colin Wilson

3. James Wisniewski

My View

2011-11-17T23:29:00.001-06:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

One of the pretenses of Obamacare is that once the socialized healthcare program was implemented, there would be little to no effect on private insurance coverage.Do you think that is the case? During the debate over this program, one concerned voiced by those in opposition was that the federal government's intrusion into the marketplace was that it would drive out private health insurers. Guess what? That is exactly what is happening. According to the Gallup organization, the percentage of Americans that are getting their health insurance from an employer ha declined substantially. Currently, only 44.5% of working Americans are receiving coverage from their employer. Why is this happening? More and more employers are dropping private insurance and opting to let employees get coverage from the government. The problem with this is that the price of healthcare insurance and the quality of the insurance offered are not comparable to what the private sector had provided. More employers are choosing not to offer healthcare insurance as a benefit because of rising costs of providing that benefit as more insurers are forced to raise rates because of government intervention in the marketplace.The end game of Obamacare was to drive private insurers out of the marketplace, solidifying the government's control over healthcare. It's working.

When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the fire department uses water.

Keynesian economics was born in the 1930's during the great depression. The central tenet of Keynesian economics, promulgated by its namesake John Maynard Keynes, was that free markets needed government intervention to produce a healthy economy. You should know that most government economists are Keynesian economists. Why is this important? Simply for this reason: every swing in the economy or the business cycle became a problem that the government has to "fix". This line of reasoning over the years, and in particular the last three years, has led our country to a level of unsustainable debt. How bad is our debt level? Currently, we are in the hole to the tune of 400% of our nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Throughout the history of our country, we have averaged debt at a level of approximately 150% of GDP. In simple numbers, to return to normal debt levels, we must reduce our federal debt by $30 TRILLION. Because of the attitude that the government must do "something" to prevent normal downturns in our economy we have created an unsustainable level of debt that will burden our nation for generations to come. Remember that the next time a politician tells you that the government must do "something" to help the economy.

We have enough gun control. How about some idiot control?

Watch closely the unfolding scandal in the "green industry". Solyndra and Beacon Power are just the tip of the iceberg. These companies, and more, received sizable government guarantees that are now being called by lenders since the companies have either failed or filed bankruptcy. These green companies would not have survived as long as they did without the government backing. The free market had already decided that their products either were too expensive or did not perform as advertised. Ultimately, the cost of these government guarantees will be born by you and me, the taxpayers. Risk has been shifted from a company that could not successfully compete in the free market to you and me. This is the problem with government intervention into the marketplace: it skews the normal forces that decide winners and losers and takes away risk from the supposed entrepreneurs and gives it to the taxpayer. In effect, there is no risk for investors in those companies because that risk has been transferred to us. I would love to offer my clients investments with absolutely no risk. Unfortunately, that is not the way investment markets work. The business market should be no different.

Some people say "If you can't beat them, join them." I say "If you can't beat them, beat them." They will be expecting you to join them, and you have the element of surprise.

And that, my fiends, is my view.

Predators Win Ugly, Drop the Leafs 4-1

2011-11-17T22:35:00.001-06:00

Sometimes, you win ugly.

The Nashville Predators were the embodiment of ugly in defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bridgestone Arena by a 4-1 margin.

The score belies the fact that at times, Toronto looked dominant and controlled the play for stretches at a time. Indicative of how the night went, the Leafs out shot the Predators by a 39-22 margin. In fact, the Predators only managed 3 shots in the first period but went into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

That lead was courtesy of the first shot on goal by Marty Erat. Mike Fisher got control of the puck and fed it to Erat, who walked in from the face off circle and beat Toronto netminder Ben Scrivens to the short side at 5:48 of the first period.

The remainder of the period saw the Predators try to get the puck out of their zone and establish and offensive presence. That effort was futile, as Toronto had 9 shots on Pekka Rinne and controlled the puck for most of the period. Rinne was his usual stellar self, turning away all the Leafs scoring attempts.

The intermission must have been, shall we say "interesting" for the Predators as they visited with their coaches. Whatever was said in the locker room had an effect, as the Predators came out and played a solid second period.

Although the period was a good one for the Predators, it didn't start particularly well. Toronto defenseman John-Michael Liles tied the game at 1 with the Leafs on the power play after a phantom high sticking call against Jack Hillen. With the Predators unable to clear the zone on the PK, Liles walked in past Ryan Suter and an exhausted group of penalty killers and beat Rinne with a wrist shot from just inside the face off circle at 10:36. The Leafs power play goal broke a string of 112 straight kills for the Predators.

Suter atoned for the Leafs goal by scoring his 4th marker of the year at 12:42. With Mike Fisher creating havoc in front of the net, Suter skated into the high slot and fired a wrist shot that beat Scrivens to make it 2-1 Predators.

Going into the third period, the game was still very much in the balance. Marty Erat gave the Predators some much needed breathing room at 2:05 of the third period as he notched his second goal of the game. Mike Fisher broke in and drew the defense to him and fed the puck to Erat, who buried the shot past a sprawling Scrivens.

Good thing for the Predators, because they proceeded to revert to their first period form. They were out shot in the third period by an atrocious 22-5 margin. Granted, many of the shots were from the perimeter, and most of the saves that Rinne had to make were routine in nature, but the shot differential is totally unacceptable. If this had been a healthy Leafs squad, the outcome could have certainly been different.

As the clock wound down, Scrivens was pulled for the extra attacker. What happened next was one of the oddest plays that I have ever seen in a hockey game.

The Predators got control of the puck at the Leafs blue line. Sergei Kostitsyn fed the puck to the Honey Badger, Craig Smith. Smith skated into the zone and was alone at the top of the blue paint with an empty net.

ENG, right?

Wrong.

Smith attempted to roof the puck into the net but missed everything and shot the puck into the protective netting over the glass.

Oh well, Honey Badger don't give a...

Anyway, Matt Halischuk showed how to score an empty net goal as he tallied from outside the blue line at 19:37 to make it 4-1 and seal the win for the Predators.

This is a win, and I certainly covet the 2 points for the Predators. This one was ugly, though, and this level of play will bite the Predators if it continues. The defensive zone coverage, while not poor, was such that the Leafs were able to crank shot after shot on the net. Puck management was in a word, poor. The Predators often failed to get the puck clear when they needed to do so, and they were often unable to generate an effective breakout or any speed through the neutral zone.

Without a doubt, the Predators had some positives out of this game, and they should build on those positives. Sergei Kostitsyn tied his best point total with three assists. Mike Fisher was solid. Marty Erat has started to heat up and is finding the back of the net. All of these are aspects on which the Predators can build upon.

The Predators should draw upon the lessons of this game and improve upon the areas that need work. Enjoy the win, but know that this type of play is going to result in being on the wrong end of the score more often than not.

And here is the truth: I would rather win ugly than lose pretty.

My three stars:

1. Marty Erat

2. Sergei Kostitsyn

3. Mike Fisher

Who is Brett Wilson?

2011-11-17T14:21:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators ownership group yesterday announced that Brett Wilson had purchased 5% of the team. This is a great move for the Predators, and given his musical background with the Beach Boys, he should fit in well in Nashville...

Wait... What?

Brian Wilson?

Uh...

Seriously, the addition of Wilson is a plus for the Predators organization. They have added a very astute and successful businessman to the ownership group, a businessman that has a track record of successfully creating companies and weallth from his home base in Calgary. Currently, Wilson is Chairman of Canoe Financial, a $2 billion private investment management firm.

I would invite anyone to take a look at his website here for a unique look at this most interesting gentleman.

Outside of the business world, Wilson has made a name for himself as a philanthropist involved in raising large sums of money for various charitable causes in the provinces of Calgary and Saskatchewan. In 2007, he joined with several leading businessmen in Calgary to raise over $3 million for prostate cancer awareness and research. Later that same year, he raised a similar sum for financial assistance for families of children awaiting organ transplants.. He also established the Wilson Centre for Domestic Abuse Studies at the Calgary Counseling Center and the Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence at his alma mater, the University of Saskatchewan.

Bringing a successful and community minded individual like Brett Wilson into the ownership group was not just a a happenstance. Wilson is friends with one of the members of the Predators ownership group, David Freeman. Freeman is co-owner of the the Jackson Generals, a AA baseball team in Jackson, Tn, with Wilson. Freeman had introduced Wilson to the ownership group several years ago, and it was announced that he would be making an investment into the Predators at that time.

Wilson owns a condo in downtown Nashville and has for several years. Having the financial strength of this new owner as well as his community oriented focus is good for the Predators and is especially timely as the team continues to negotiate to sign both Ryan Suter and Shea Weber to new contracts.

Brett (not Brian), welcome to Nashville. I think you will fit in well with the Predator faithful and with our community at large.

Capital Punishment: Predators Defeat the Caps 3-1

2011-11-15T22:32:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators took on the Washington Capitals at the Bridgestone Arena in a game that had all the characteristics of a heavyweight fight. Both teams took shots at the other, both teams had surges, and in the end, only one team was left standing.

That team was the Nashville Predators.

The Predators went with Pekka Rinne, while the Capitals countered with former Predator Tomas Vokoun.

For 55 minutes, it was a contest that went back and forth, with each team getting opportunities and both netminders making excellent saves.

Punch and counter punch.

The Predators opened the first period flying and generated some quality chances. Vokoun was up to the task for the Caps, while Rinne was solid at the other end of the ice. The Predators did a good job in this period of limiting secondary scoring chances as the Caps often got one shot on net and the defense was there to clear the puck and start the breakout.

The Predators out shot the Capitals 10-8 in that period.

In the second period, the Capitals asserted themselves. They created scoring opportunities and outworked the Predators throughout the period. Their 15 shots on goal to 8 for the Predators was testimony to their effort in the Predators zone. Rinne was called upon to make some tough saves to keep the Capitals off the board.

The Predators had a glorious scoring chance as Mike Fisher had a breakaway but was topped by the right pad of Vokoun. This was by far the best scoring opportunity for the Predators, and this game had the feel of one that would be decided by the first team that would crack under the pressure of a tight contest.

In the third period, the Predators got their feet moving again, and although out shot 17-13, they created some good scoring opportunities. Yet they were unable to solve Vokoun as the period wore on, and Predator fans were left wondering if they would find the back of the net.

Although there was a better effort in the offensive zone, the Predators went down 1-0 at 15:14 as Troy Brouwer took a shot that deflected off a Mike Fisher and over the shoulder of Rinne.

With the way this game had gone to this point, one had to wonder if the Predators could solve Vokoun and salvage a point.

The Predators would do better than get a point.

Just 28 seconds after Washington took the lead, the Predators would tie the game. Shea Weber carried the puck deep in the zone and slid a pass to Marty Erat, who was driving the off wing. Erat got behind the defensive coverage and tapped the puck into an empty net to tie the game at 1.

The Predators were energized by that goal and were skating hard in the final minutes. Their effort paid off as Marty Erat took the puck behind the net and slipped it to Colin Wilson who was driving the net. Wilson had an open net and buried the shot as he was being leveled by a Caps defender to give the Predators a 2-1 lead at 19:35.

With the face off at center ice, the Capitals chose to pull Vokoun for the extra attacker. The Predators controlled the face off and Shea Weber iced the win with an empty netter from the blue line at 19:40.

This was a character win by the Predators. They battled hard with the Capitals- a very good team that has an explosive offense- and took their best shot and came out with the victory. The Predators were able to keep the potent trio of Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Alex Semin off the board. They created some good scoring chances and capitalized (pardon the pun) on their opportunities in crunch time.

Crunch time.

That critical period of the game when the team was down one and time was running out. The time when a lesser team would have folded. The Predators didn't fold, but instead kept fighting back, kept skating hard, and kept creating chances. Their effort didn't wane when it would have been easy for it to do so.

Character.

This is the type of win that can define a team. A win that a team can build upon. This game showed this young team that they can compete with one of the better teams in the NHL. Not just compete, but come out on top.

Just one game, but a game on which this team can build and draw upon in this long season.

A game that showed the Predators that they can another team's best shot and still stand victorious.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Marty Erat

3. Colin Wilson

Predators Party Spoiled by the Habs

2011-11-12T22:46:00.001-06:00

The Nashville Predators celebrated their 1,000th game by hosting the Montreal Canadiens at the Bridgestone Arena. Quite an achievement by a franchise that many thought would be relocated just four years ago. There were many festivities leading up to the game, as employees, coaches, and management were honored in pre-game ceremonies. The events leading up to the game created a party like atmosphere.

About that game.

Montreal captured a 2-1 overtime victory.

Party foul.

Pekka Rinne got the start for the Predators while the Habs went with Peter Budaj.

In the first period, both teams generated some chances, but for the Predators, their offensive effort was spotty at best. Often they would enter the zone and fail to cycle the puck and get a shot on net. The Canadiens defense did a good job of shutting down the Predators offensive thrusts, and there was a stretch of nearly 10 minutes where the Predators did not muster a shot on net.

David Desharnais got the Habs on the board at 13:49 as he got behind the defense and took a pass from Eric Cole that he backhanded past Rinne for a 1-0 lead.

In the first period, the Habs out shot the Predators 8-4, and while the Predators generally did a good job of limiting the offensive effort of the Habs, too much time was spent in their zone and the offensive effort was lacking.

That changed in the second period as the Predators got their legs moving and started generating some offensive chances. The Predators would use a short handed goal, however, to tie the game.

With Matt Halischuk in the box for tripping, the Predators got control of the puck and entered the offensive zone. Shea Weber took a pass from Ryan Suter and unleashed a blast form the top of the face off circle that absolutely blew past Budaj to knot the game at one.

Neither team would score again in the period as both goalies made some solid saves. Rinne in particular made some very good saves to keep the Habs off the board.

The Predators out shot the Canadiens 13-7 in the second.

After a scoreless third period that saw both goalies continue their stellar play, we were heading to overtime.

Max Paccioretty would end the contest at 2:31 of the OT period as P.K. Subban dug a puck off the boards and slipped it to Paccioretty. His wrist shot from the face off circle would beat Rinne over his shoulder on the stick side for the win.

In this game, the Predators top line of Colin Wilson, Patric Hornqvist, and Craig Smith were shut down. I'm not faulting their effort, and there will be games where a line is shut down. That's hockey. What is troubling about this loss is that the Predators other lines were ineffective. If the Predators are going to win these types of games, it is imperative that the team get production from Mike Fisher, Martin Erat, Sergei Kostisyn- the Predators second line tonight. Fisher has been held without a goal since missing a game after a hit in a game against the Ducks, a total of five games. Kostitsyn's game has yet to get on track. These are players that have to produce for the Predators.

Perhaps the party like atmosphere was a distraction for this team. Whatever the reason, there has to be more consistent offensive effort throughout the lineup for this team to be successful. Hopefully, this team will see some of the aforementioned players get their game going.

Do that, and it will be party.

My three stars:

1. Peter Budaj

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Max Paccioretty

My View

2011-11-10T21:11:00.001-06:00

In the quiet of the morning, the wind gently moves among the silent white crosses. The simple memorials stand in stark contrast to the manicured grass of the grounds. In the silence, there is peace.

For those that are memorialized by these crosses, the peaceful setting belies the the struggle and sacrifice of those that are buried in this hallowed ground. Each of these souls has given their all for the freedoms that we enjoy. Some that are buried here have spent their final moments in the chaos, sweat, and blood of defending our freedoms that under gird our great nation.

Freedom, liberty, peace. These are lofty ideals and empty words without the substance to back them up. Across the world, there are people that talk about these concepts, that yearn for freedom, and yet they never truly experience what we enjoy in this great nation. These concepts are nothing more that that- concepts- without the men and women who sacrifice to make them real.

Each of us enjoy freedom, liberty, and peace because throughout our history even to today men and women have stood against those that would take them away. They have sacrificed time away from loved ones; they have suffered privation and hardships; and some have made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us.

Those quiet, simple crosses stand as a testimony to that sacrifice.

Today, each of us will rise up and go about our daily activities in an environment of freedom and peace. Our liberties stand as a beacon of hope to the world. We have made this day a day of honor for our veterans, living and dead, for their service and their sacrifice. We can do so because of them.

The truth is that this day is not enough. "Thank you" fails to truly signify our gratitude for what our veterans have done for us. Yet we pause to honor and thank our veterans, living and dead, for their service and for their sacrifice.

It is the least we can do.

To all that have served, both living and dead, and are serving today, we honor you. Thank you for all that you have done are are doing to keep us free, to preserve our liberties, and to allow us to live in peace. Our gratitude is heartfelt. As a people, we stand on your shoulders.

This day will pass, and the tributes to veterans will quickly fade into memories.

To those that have served and are serving, know this: we will never forget you. We will never take for granted what you have done for us and are continuing to do even to this day.

The quiet, simple crosses demand that we remember and that we honor you.

Hee Haw! Predators Pound the Ducks 4-2

2011-11-09T23:46:00.002-06:00

The Nashville Predators faced a familiar nemesis in the Dirty Ducks of Anaheim at the Pond in Anaheim in the final game of a five game road trip out west. The fact that there is no love lost between the Predators and the Ducks is well known. This contest promised to be a continuation of the enmity between the two teams.

For the Predators, it was priority number one that they play a 60 minute game against the Ducks.

Pekka Rinne was back in net for the Predators after getting a rare night off, while the Ducks countered with Jonas Hiller.

The Predators struck first just 1:20 into the game as Craig Smith dug a puck out from behind the net and fired a bad angle shot that went off the back of Hiller and into the net.

Simple hockey, but effective hockey against a team that is explosively ~~whiny~~ good.

The Predators scored again at 4:56 of the period as they forced the puck into the Ducks zone and Colin Wilson centered a pass across the crease toward Patric Hornqvist. The puck caromed off a Ducks defenseman puck past Hiller to give the Predators a 2-0 lead.

Two shots, two goals.

It's amazing how simple this game can be sometimes.

The Predators dominated the play in the first period, firing shot after shot at Hiller and generating several good scoring chances, but could not bury a shot past the Ducks netminder.

Anaheim would grab some momentum back as the Predators had generated a strong puck possession in the Anaheim zone. Unfortunately, the five skaters for the Predators were on the ice for a looong time and got caught in a very bad line change. This allowed the Ducks to gain the zone and Cam Fowler fired a shot toward the net with traffic in front. The shot eluded Rinne and the Ducks were on the board at 19:21.

This period of hockey was as good for the Predators as the second period against the Kings was bad. Now it was going to be important for the Predators to come out and play another strong period in the second. Remember boys, it's a 60 minute game.

In the first period, the Predators out shot the Ducks 12-11, but often controlled play for stretches at a time in the Ducks zone with their aggressive forecheck.

REMEMBER BOYS, IT'S A 60 MINUTE GAME!

Apparently, the Predators didn't remember that the game was a 60 minute affair, as the Ducks had out shot the Predators 6-2 through the first 9 minutes of the period and had a dominant territorial advantage. The Predators kept tempting fate by taking some untimely penalties.

With Craig Smith in the box, Marty Erat stole the puck a got a breakaway, that was stopped by Hiller. He was awarded a penalty shot however, and Erat converted at 12:41 to give the Predators a 3-1 lead. Erat absolutely blew the puck past Hiller on the glove side for a huge goal for the Predators.

Erat stole the puck again and had a breakaway that Hiller stopped, but Erat's effort on the penalty kill was outstanding. This after Erat was hit in the face in the first period by an errant puck that required a trip to the locker room and stitches.

The Ducks got back to within 1 goal at 14:41 as Ryan Getzlaf walked out from behind the goal and shot a puck that Rinne appeared to have covered. The Ducks kept whacking at the puck and Francois Beauchemin jammed it past Rinne to make it 3-2 Predators.

The remainder of the period saw the Predators awake and get their game in gear. They generated some quality chances but could not bury their chances, but it was good to see this team respond and begin to play like they did in the first period.

Indicative of how they played in the second half of the period was the shot total. For the period, the Predators out shot the Ducks once again by a 12-11 margin. Recall they had been out shot 6-2 after nine minutes of play.

To capture this game, it was going to be incumbent upon the Predators to get back to their basics: forecheck aggressively; get the puck deep; and play solid defense. Just like they did in the first period. Everyone on the Predators bench knew that the Ducks would come out with a strong push in the third, and the Predators were going to have to match that intensity.

Remember boys, it is a 60 minute game.

The Predators opened the third period with the line that had played a stellar game- Colin Wilson, Patric Hornqvist, and Craig Smith- doing damage to the Dirty Ducks once again. Wilson took the puck on the low cycle and found Craig Smith driving the net. He put a pass from the corner right on the tape of Smith's stick and he lifted the puck over the pads of Hiller to give the Predators a 4-2 lead at 1:36 of the third period. This was Smith's 7th goal of the season as the young rookie has made a significant impact on this Predators team.

The remainder of the third period saw the Predators keep pressure on the Ducks and spend time in their zone. When the Ducks mounted an attack, the Predators defense limited secondary scoring chances and kept the Ducks big threats from getting solid chances.

Pekka Rinne was excellent in net, making some huge saves to keep the Ducks off the board. Inevitably, the Ducks have enough talent to generate some chances. When they did, they were met by the Finnish Wall who stoned their scoring opportunities.

This was a solid road trip for the Predators as they captured 7 out of a possible 10 points against some quality competition.

Watching this game, it was apparent that when this team works and plays Predator hockey- for 60 minutes- they are tough to play against and they can play with anyone in this league.

60 minutes.

It really is a simple game.

My three stars:

1. Colin Wilson, Patric Hornqvist, Craig Smith

2. Marty Erat

3. Pekka Rinne

Predators Fall to the Kings 4-3

2011-11-09T00:09:00.002-06:00

The Nashville Predators continued their west coast swing with a visit to Los Angels to take on the Kings at the Staples Center. The Predators gave workhorse Pekka Rinne the night off and Anders Lindback got his first start in net since March 20th of last season.

The Kings went with their back up netminder Jonathan Bernier.

The Kings opened with an interference penalty just 25 seconds into the contest. The Predators did not get a shot on net during their power play, and just as the penalty expired, Patric Hornqvist was called for interference. With 10 seconds remaining in that penalty, Jerred Smithson was called for tripping. The Predators killed off Hornqvist penalty but 5 seconds later gave up a power play goal as defenseman Alec Martinez got open on the weak side and took a nice cross ice pass from Justin Williams and buried the shot past an out of position Lindback to give the Kings a 1-0 lead.

Drew Doughty gave the Kings a 2-0 lead at 13:47 of the period as he unleashed a blast from just inside the blue line that beat Lindback over his shoulder and just under the crossbar. The Kings have struggled to score goals this season, and unfortunately for the Predators, they looked as if they had broken out of this slump early on in the contest.

It was a deficit that the Predators did not need to face and certainly not the start they wanted. It was now going to be another test of character for the Predators to claw their way back into this game.

Matt Halischuk cut the deficit to one with a 4 on 4 goal at 10:41 of the first. This goal was the result of nothing but hard work and hustle, as Haslichuk dumped the puck in the zone, retrieved it, got it out front and got a rebound of a Shea Weber shot and wristed the puck past Bernier. A Predator hockey goal and a nice answer to the push the Kings had put on early in the period.

Character showed itself at 16:02 of the period as Craig Smith blasted a rocket from the face off circle past Bernier while the Predators were on the power play. This was Smith's fifth goal of the season, and the thing about Smith is that he is not afraid to shoot the puck, and it is paying off in good scoring chances and in goals.

The Predators were guilty of some horrific turnovers in their zone- one by Teemu Laakso and one by Jordin Tootoo- that could have resulted in Kings goals, but Lindback made some big saves to keep the Kings off the board. The period ended with the score knotted at 2, but certainly the Kings had some glorious chances to take the lead late in the period.

The Predators troubling trend of getting badly outshot reared its ugly head in the first period, as the Kings outshot the Predators 16-8.

More ominously, the Predators lost David Legwand early in the period to an upper body injury.

The action in the second period was back and forth with both goaltenders making some good saves, but the Kings finally cracked the scoreboard at 9:28 on a 3 on 2 break out. Mike Richards took a nice cross ice pass from Dustin Brown and beat Lindback with a shot inside the post.

The Kings extended their lead to 2 on the power play with Jordin Tootoo in the box for hooking as Simon Gagne took a shot from the face off circle that was deflected by Predators defenseman Jonathan Blum and past Lindback to make it 4-2.

The second period ended with the Predators a man down as Patric Hornqvist took his third penalty of the night, one of five the Predators incurred through the first two periods. The Predators were also down 4-2 on the scoreboard. While the first period demonstrated the character and grit of this team, the second period was the complete opposite. The Predators gave the Kings numerous quality scoring chances and didn't generate much of anything in the way of offensive push.

The second period was in a word, disappointing. The lack of discipline and response by the Predators was frustrating to say the least.

With one period left, it remained to be seen how the Predators would respond. Would it be a San Jose effort, or we we see another Edmonton implosion?

For most of the period, we saw very little. The Predators failed to generate quality scoring chances and challenge the Kings in their zone. Yes, we shot the puck, but it was a fairly easy period for Bernier.

But at 18:48, with the extra attacker on, Ryan Suter threw the puck at the net and Patric Hornqvist deflected the puck past Bernier to make it 4-3. Nice to see Hornqvist atone for some of the penalties he took earlier. This was the 6th straight game in which Hornqvist has recorded a goal.

The Predators had a good flurry in the final minute, but it was too little too late as a horrifically sloppy second period and a mostly flaccid third period effort doomed the Predators as they fell 4-3.

This team cannot take a period off, and must play Predator hockey for 60 minutes if they are going to have an opportunity to win games. Tonight, they did not play a full 60 minutes and it cost them.

Hopefully, this team does not have to keep learning this lesson.

My three stars:

1. Jonathan Bernier

2. Dustin Penner

3. Craig Smith

Predators Cap an Improbale Comeback, Defeat Sharks 4-3 in OT

2011-11-06T00:16:00.001-05:00

The Nashville Predators continued their west coast swing with a visit to the Shark Tank to take on the San Jose Sharks. The Tank has not been a hospitable place for the Predators, and they were looking to change their fortunes in the second meeting between the two teams.

Pekka Rinne got the start for the Predators, while Antti Niemi was in net for the Sharks.

Although the first period was scoreless, it was not for lack of effort by the Sharks. They blasted shot after shot at Rinne, a total of 18 in the period. Rinne was stellar, making some big saves to keep the Sharks off the board.

By contrast, Niemi had little work on his end of the ice, facing only 7 shots, and most of his saves were of a routine variety as the Predators rarely challenged the Sharks tender with serious offensive pressure.

The way this game started, it appeared as if the Predators were going to spend the entire game chasing the Sharks around the ice. The lack of offensive pressure was disconcerting and left Predator fans wondering where their offense was.

Apparently Head Coach Barry Trotz had a heart to heart talk with his team at intermission, because the Predators came out with more jump. Their efforts paid off at 1:02 of the period as David Legwand tipped a shot from Colin Wilson while driving the net to stake the Predators to a 1-0 lead.

The Sharks tied the game at 4:40 when Joe Pavelski took a nice pass from Logan Couture and beat Rinne stick side. This play was set up by good forechecking pressure from the Sharks, which they used to perfection in the first two periods to create havoc in the Predators zone.

The Sharks took a 2-1 lead at 9:50 of the period as Martin Havlat scored off a goal mouth scramble. Logan Couture was in the crease after being knocked down and appeared to be impeding the ability of Rinne to get over to the side of the net, but it was a non call and the goal stood.

The relentless forecheck of the Sharks was causing problems for the Predators, and everyone knew that it was not going to let up in the third period. The Predators were going to have to find a way to break the pressure and get through the neutral zone and establish their offense to have a chance in the third period.

In the second period, the Predators outshot the Sharks 13-10, indicative of a better effort by the Predators. It was going to be imperative that the Predators bring this kind of effort in the final twenty minutes.

The Sharks opened a 2 goal lead as the puck took a strange carom off the end board and went out front right to the stick of Logan Couture, who buried the shot past an out of position Rinne just 50 seconds into the period. The Sharks are tough enough without fluky goals going into the Predators net.

Patric Hornqvist pulled the Predators back to within one goal as Shea Weber took a wrist shot from the point that Niemi could not control. Hornqvist found the puck laying in the blue paint and tapped it home at 2:57 of the third. That was Hornqvist's 6th goal in the last 5 five games.

Ryan Suter tied the game at 5:58 of the third on the power play. With Patrick Marleau in the box, Suter worked his way to the high slot and rifled a shot past a screened Niemi with Craig Smith in front. For the Predators, this was their first power play goal in three attempts.

The remainder of the third period saw both teams generate some good chances in end to end action. Pekka Rinne preserved a point for the Predators with an amazing save on Joe Pavelski with 28 seconds left in the period and the Predators a man down. Rinne slid across the crease and got a pad on the shot to keep the Sharks off the board.

The third period was the best period of the night in regulation for the Predators. They outshot the Sharks 13-7 and their forecheck was very strong and created chances.

The Predators opened the overtime period with the carryover of the penalty to Jonathan Blum, and they were able to successfully kill off the penalty.

The Predators capped an improbable comeback as David Legwand roofed a backhand shot over Niemi with Colin Wilson doing the dirty work in front of the net with a great screen. The score came 2:53 into the overtime period.

This was a gritty, character win by the Predators. Down 3-1 early in the third, this team fought back and did not quit. They were down two regulars, Kevin Klein and Sergei Kostitsyn, and broke up their top D pairing of Weber and Suter. They were dominated in the first period, but kept fighting back.

They played Predator hockey, and the result was a victory.

Kudos to Colin Wilson, who skated hard all night, shot the puck, and was screening in front on the game winning goal.

This young team has learned some painful lessons in their early season losses. They are now learning to win these types of games, tough games that require heart.

These lessons are a lot more fun.

My three stars:

1. David Legwand

2. Logan Couture

3. Patric Hornqvist

Honorable mention: Pekka Rinne, Colin Wilson

My View

2011-11-04T15:48:00.000-05:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

We all know that our economy is struggling with high unemployment. There are a lot of reasons for this, but one that is often overlooked is the effect of housing, specifically the lack of new housing starts that impacts our economy. Take a look at the following chart:

Notice that as the blue line (housing starts) starts to decline in 2008, the red line (unemployment) starts to rise significantly. Housing as an industry makes up a large component of our work force. As housing starts have fallen over the past three years, there has been a corresponding increase in unemployment. To be sure, the high level of unemployment cannot be attributed solely to the decline in the housing market, but the impact of a declining housing market has been a major contributor. The problem that the Fed faces is that low interest rates have not stimulated new demand and the housing market still has some significant problems that have to be rectified. Corporations get blamed for a lot of the problems in this country and for not hiring. Some of that criticism is justified. Know this, however: until the housing market begins to improve, it will be difficult for the unemployment rate to come down to more normalized levels.

I was offered a job at a company that makes compasses. I turned it down. I didn't think they were headed in the right direction.

Since the economy rolled over into a recession in 2008, most people have seen their net worth decline significantly. Savings were depleted to pay bills and retirement accounts generally took a hit in the market declines. It has been a difficult time for everyone. Well, not everyone. From 2008 through the end of 2010, according to Congressional disclosures released by Roll Call Magazine, the average net worth of our legislators in Washington increase by 25% to a cumulative $2 billion. Frankly, this is understated because Congressional disclosures do not include homes and non income generating assets. This is spread evenly between the parties, meaning that both Democrats and Republicans have financially benefited from their "service" Now I am all for any individual legitimately making and keeping all that they can, and I am not implying that these gains enjoyed by our legislators were illegitimately gained. But the idea of government "service" seems to have gone by the wayside and tenure in Washington is seen as a means to gain riches. This furthers the perception that our Congressional leaders are out of touch with most Americans and are only looking out for their own interests.

When I am down, I like to whistle. It makes my neighbor's dog run to the end of his chain and choke himself.

One of the central tenets of the Occupy Wall Street movement is that income inequality in our country is an evil problem. We have all heard their mantra that the "rich are getting richer" and the implication is that this is getting worse and is unfair. Forget the fairness argument, but what is really happening with income inequality? Here are the facts. According to Census Bureau data, the wealthiest 5% of Americans saw their incomes fall 7% when George Bush was in office. Betcha don't hear that anywhere in the discussion, do you? The gap between the wealthiest and the poorest actually narrowed under President Bush. Under President Obama, the wealthiest 5% of Americans have seen their incomes rise by 5.7%. I know you will not hear that in the mainstream media. So incomes have been rising for the wealthiest Americans with a Democrat in the White House.I have no problems with that, again as long as their increase has been achieved legitimately. Here is the point: we should not be concerned with how much a person is making. Instead, we should be focused on making it as easy as possible for someone in a lower income bracket to move to a higher income bracket through their efforts. Rather than focus on class warfare, our leaders and our nation should be focused on creating an environment where the success and corresponding income of an individual is determined only by their efforts, not some artifice of the federal government.

Sex is like air. It's not important until you're not getting any.

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Bite the Coyotes 3-0

2011-11-03T23:36:00.001-05:00

The Nashville Predators must feel that they are looking in the mirror when they play the Phoenix Coyotes. Both teams are aggressive on their forecheck, play tough defense, and have good goaltending. Often their contests are a punch/counter-punch affair, with each team looking to capitalize off the others mistakes.

This game, at least early on, was just this type of affair.

Nashville had newly signed and extended Pekka Rinne in net, while the Coyotes countered with Predator killer Jason Labarbera in goal for this contest at Jobing.com Arena.

Both teams played to a scoreless first period, with the Predators outshooting the Coyotes 11-8. Neither team could solve the play of the goaltenders and spent the first 20 minutes in the aforementioned punch/counter-punch mode.

That would change in the second period as Jonathan Blum cracked the scoreboard first for the Predators with a low shot through traffic with Matt Halischuk screening that eluded Labarbera at 8:01 to make it 1-0. This was Blum's first goal of the season.

The Predators would extend the lead to 2-0 as Craig Smith continued his electrifying play with a hard drive to the net and a nice feed to Matt Haslischuk. Halischuk lifted a backhand shot over the pads of Labarbera to make it 2-0 at 16:04 of the second.

Once again, the Predators had the dreaded third period lead to protect.

The Predators opened the third period with great pressure on Labarbera, taking the first 3 shots of the period and generating good pressure. That effort was short circuited with a questionable interference call on Ryan Suter.

Once again, the Predators PK unit was solid and managed to kill off the penalty.

After the opening burst by the Predators, they proceeded to spend the next ten minutes of the period sitting back on their heels and letting the Coyotes come through the neutral zone with ease and spend way too much time in the Predators zone. This is annoyingly too common for this team.

The Predators managed to hold off the Coyotes with some great saves by Rinne and some fortuitous defense in front of Rinne.

Patric Hornqvist tallied an empty net goal at 19:01 to make it 3-0 Predators and his 4th goal in as many games to seal the win for the Predators.

Pekka Rinne celebrated his birthday and the new contract with his 23rd career shutout.

For the game, the Coyotes out shot the Predators 35-32. The positive aspect of this is although the Predators were once again out shot, the shot differential is narrowing substantially.

With the win, the Predators go to 6-4-2.

The Predators are showing signs of progress. There play through the first two periods was solid. The concern remains the about the mentality of sitting back on a lead. In the third period, there were stretches where this happened, and this has to stop. The Predators did generate some good pressure in spurts, but it must be more consistent throughout the period.

More growing is to come for this team, but they are making significant progress toward playing more consistently and playing Predator hockey.

The key for this team is to keep building on this progress.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Matt Halischuk

3. Jonathan Blum

Predators Sign Pekka Rinne for 7 Years, $49 Million

2011-11-03T13:19:00.001-05:00

The Nashville Predators announced today that they had signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to a 7 year, $49 million dollar contract extension. Here is the press release from the Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to a seven-year, $49 million contract – the largest in franchise history.

“Today’s signing is further evidence of our ownership’s commitment to keeping our core intact,” Poile said. “This is the first step of a process designed to retain our key players and leaders. Pekka has grown with our franchise, just recently established our franchise record for career shutouts and is now recognized as one of the game’s elite players. We’re thrilled to know that he will be backstopping our franchise for several years to come.”

Rinne, who is celebrating his 29th birthday today (11/3/82), finished second in voting for the 2011 Vezina Trophy and fourth in voting for the 2011 Hart Trophy, in addition to being named to the 2010-11 NHL Second All-Star Team. Rinne ranked second among NHL netminders in save percentage (.930), third in goals-against average (2.12) and tied for sixth in shutouts (6) in 2010-11, with the save percentage and goals-against average numbers setting franchise records. During the 2011 Playoffs, he led the Predators to their first-ever series victory in the Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. Anaheim, then posted a franchise-record for goals-against average in a series (1.94) along with a .932 save percentage in the Western Conference Semifinals against Vancouver.

Already in 2011-12, the Kempele, Finland native has recorded his 21st and 22nd shutouts, moving into first on the franchise’s all-time list and giving him the most whitewashes in the League since 2008-09. His record-breaking 22nd shutout on Saturday against Anaheim was also his 100th career victory.In becoming the first goalie in club history to start each of the team’s first 11 games of the season, Rinne has risen to first in the NHL in saves (307), second in shots against (333), and third in minutes played (624:37).

Nashville’s 10th choice, 258th overall (eighth round), in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Rinne has also represented Finland in two of the past three World Championships (2009, 2010), being named one of the nation’s three best players in both years.

Immediately, there was joy from the Predator nation about the signing, while the reaction across the hockey world has been mixed. Let's take a look at this signing and what it means for the Predators.

The Predators have locked down a goaltender that is arguably the best netminder in the NHL. Rinne finished second in the Vezina voting this past season to Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins and fourth in the Hart voting as the League's Most Valuable Player. There is no doubt that Rinne is integral to the success of the Predators, having won at least 29 games each season since taking over the starting goaltender's role in the 2008-09 season. Rinne has stolen more games than Predator fans and opponents can count with his play in net.

The Predators have a philosophy of building from the net out, and the signing of Rinne is consistent with that philosophy. While Rinne becomes the highest paid goaltender in the NHL, the question begs "Is he worth it?"

I would answer a resounding "YES".

Rinne's victory totals have been 29, 32, and 33 in each of the last three seasons. His save percentage and GAA over those seasons have been: .917 and 2.38 in 2008; .911 and 2.53 in 2009; and .930 and 2.12 in 2010. Undoubtedly, the Predators would have been challenged to make the playoffs without that kind of effort.

Many in the hockey world have speculated that the Predators could not sign their "big three" of Rinne, Suter, and Weber. Imagine the hue and cry if the Predators were not able to sing any of the big three, or just one of them. The negative perception of Nashville would have been huge, and frankly, it may have made it more difficult to attract top line free agents to the club. And know this: there would be teams lined up to pay Rinne this kind of money should the Predators have chosen not to sign him.

A goaltender of this caliber is rare. There are those that have said that it is not a good market for goaltenders and that the Predators have overpaid for the services of Rinne. I disagree. True enough, there are a lot of goaltenders in the NHL; there are few of this talent level. Locking in a player like Rinne for the next seven years was, in my view, a very smart move by the Predators management.

What message does this send?

There are two.

To the team, and specifically to Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, it says that the team is committed to keeping the key players in the fold, players that can help the Predators win and go deep in the playoffs. It removes the cloud of having to sign one of the stalwarts of the team and says that management is going to do what is necessary to keep winning.

To the hockey world, it says that this in not the "same old Nashville", and by that I mean that Nashville is a team that can develop good young talent but cannot pay to keep them when they hit their prime. The signing of Rinne destroys that argument, and once the Predators sign Suter (and they will), maybe that tired meme will disappear.

I am going to venture into the realm of speculation here. The signing of Rinne, especially the length and size of the contract also tells me that perhaps the goalie pipeline of the Predators is nowhere close to being ready to step up to the next level. The coaching ability of Mitch Korn notwithstanding, I would not be comfortable with any of the goalies in our system right now as either a starter or a backup that would have to play 10-15 games a season.

On a positive note, it does tell me that there is confidence in the depth of the D corp. Should the Predators not be able to sign one of the two defensemen- Suter or Weber- the depth on the blueline is such that the team could manage if they do not sign one of the blueliners. Without a doubt, there would be a drop off, but there is talent that can play at the NHL level.

That is why it was imperative to get Rinne under contract.

We should not forget either that GM David Poile has some degree of flexibility with Weber. He can match any offer sheet since Weber has another year as a restricted free agent. I would have to guess that any offer sheet for Weber would be around the same dollars that he is currently receiving. This gives Poile the luxury of another year to negotiate a deal with Weber and his agents should the Predators choose to match an offer sheet.

For the Predators, this is a great signing on several fronts, and the message to the team is that management is committed to winning.

The message to the hockey world is that this is not the same old Predators.

Predators Fall to the Blackhawks in OT 5-4

2011-10-31T22:32:00.000-05:00

The Nashville Predators journeyed to the United Center for a Halloween night tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks, and in a game befitting the night of tricks and treats, it was a wild affair as both Pekka Rinne and Corey Crawford will have nightmares about this contest. Crawford will probably sleep a bit better than Rinne as the Hawks outlasted the Predators in overtime 5-4.

For the second game in a row, Patric Hornqvist wasted no time getting the Predators on the board. Blackhawks netminder Corey Crawford misplayed the puck behind his net, failing to stop the puck. David Legwand picked up the puck and found Hornqvist driving the net for an empty net tap in just 26 seconds into the contest. For Hornqvist, this was his third goal of the season, and as he has started to return to 100% health, his game has started to heat up.

The Predators gave the Hawks three power plays in the first period, and against an explosive offensive like Chicago has, this is tempting fate. Fortunately for the Predators, they were able to kill off all three penalties.

The Predators did a good job of limiting Chicago's speed through the neutral zone in the first period, and once Chicago gained the zone, were hard on the puck, limiting the scoring chances. Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne, making his 11th straight start, was solid in net, turning away the Hawks chances...

Until there were 49 seconds remaining in the period. The Predators had the puck in their zone but failed to control it and clear the puck. Patrick Sharp got control of the puck and slipped it to Patrick Kane, who whistled a quick wrist shot by Rinne to tie the game at 1.

As this season has progressed, the Predators have started to discover their identity, and that is one that incorporates speed, solid defense, and aggressive forechecking. Those characteristics were on display in the second quarter. After being outshot 9-8 in the first period, the Predators came out skating hard in the second and recorded the first 6 shots on goal en route to outshooting the Blackhawks 11-6.

That effort paid off with a Craig Smith goal at 6:00 of the second. Marty Erat broke into the zone, drew the defense to him and found Smith alone just inside the face off circle. Smith roofed a shot over the shoulder of Corey Crawford to make it 2-1 Predators.

This lead would stand until 11:51 of the second as Patrick Kane found Nick Leddy with a nice pass from behind the net and he lasered a shot past Rinne to tie the game at 2.

The Blackhawks gave the Predators a prime opportunity to take the lead again as Patrick Sharp was called for goaltender interference and just 25 seconds later Dave Bolland fired the puck over the glass to give the Predators a 5 on 3 advantage. Patric Hornqvist made the Hawks pay for their transgressions as he took a pass from Ryan Suter and used Brent Seabrook as a screen to fire the puck past Crawford to make it 3-2 at 18:48 of the second period.

Once again, a young team early in the season was going into the third period with a lead. Would this team show maturity and be able to hold the lead?

The Blackhawks opened the third period buzzing and the Predators were back on their heels. The pressure paid off for the Hawks as the Predators turned the puck over at the Chicago blue line and Patrick Kane broke in on Rinne and fired a shot that trickled through between his arm and his body to tie the game at 3 at 14:59. This was a goal that Rinne would like to have back.

The Predators then started to go into self destruct mode. Marty Erat was called for slashing and almost immediately Jerred Smithson was called for roughing and Matt Halischuk got a 10 minute misconduct penalty. The Blackhawks would now have nearly 2 minutes of a 5 on 3 power play.

The Predators penalty killers did an amazing job killing off the 5 on 3 with great hustle and determination. Kudos to those guys on the PK unit, because their play throughout the night was spectacular.

Brian Bickell put the Hawks ahead 4-3 as the cycle down low worked to perfection for Chicago and he rocketed a shot past Rinne at 13:08.

That lead lasted 1:41 as David Legwand buried a rebound of a Jordin Tootoo shot at 14:49 to tie the game at 4.

Once again, the Predators PK unit was going to be called upon to hold off the Hawks as Ryan Suter was called for slashing. The Predators kept tempting fate, giving the Hawks their 7th power play of the night.

And once again, the PK unit did their job, aided by an amazing save by Rinne as he sprawled to take a way a scoring opportunity by Kane who was alone in front of the net.

Regulation ended with the teams tied at 4. The Predators were not able to hold another third period lead, but unlike some earlier games in the season, they fought back to take the powerful Hawks to overtime and earn a point.

In the third period, the Hawks outshot the Predators 18-8. Frankly, as much pressure as the Hawks put on the Predators, the Preds were lucky to get a point.

Just 30 seconds into overtime, Pekka Rinne made an incredible save to keep the Hawks off the board.

Viktor Stalberg ended the contest with a blast at 2:37 of the overtime period, beating Rinne stick side.

This is a game that the Predators will look back upon and realize that they gave away a point. Kudos to the team for fighting back, but this is another instance of sloppy play and sitting back on their heels that cost the Predators a win. Once again, this team failed to seal the deal in the third period.

There were bright spots for the Predators to be sure. I liked the way they fought back in this contest, and their work ethic was good.

This team is on the cusp of being good- very good. But it will take some more maturing for this team to get to that level. There are painful steps in that learning process.

Like tonight.

My three stars:

1. Patric Hornqvist

2. Patrick Kane

3. Viktor Stalberg

Dirty Ducks Downed by the Predators 3-0

2011-10-29T23:03:00.000-05:00

The Nashville Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-0 at Bridgestone Arena in a contest that can only be characterized charitably as "chippy".

Heck, let's just call it the way it was. The Ducks were their typically classless and dirty selves.

The Predators set the tone for the contest by scoring just 14 seconds into the contest as Patric Hornqvist banged home a rebound of his own shot past Ducks netminder Jonas Hiller to make it 1-0 Predators.

The Ducks dirty play began at 7:14 of the first period as Francois Beauchemin hit Mike Fisher in the head from the blind side in open ice, knocking Fisher out of the game. Kevin Klein cam over to seek retribution against Beauchemin, but the Ducks defenseman turtled and wouldn't fight. Both players were assessed four minute double minors.

The Predators made it 2-0 at 18:59 of the first period as Marty Erat, playing in his first game since the opening game of the season, gained the zone and left a drop pass for Jordin Tootoo. Tootoo made a sweet pass to Erat, who one timed the puck from just inside the face off circle past Hiller. It was good to see Marty back on the ice and playing a strong game tonight.

Pekka Rinne started his 10th straight game for the Predators, and was strong in net in the first period. Although he didn't see a lot of work in the first- the Ducks only had 7 shots- he made some quality saves to keep the Ducks off the board.

The Predators tallied 16 shots on net in the first period. Yes, you read that correctly. The Predators outshot their opponent by a wide margin. The two first period goals were a direct result of making Hiller move and scramble throughout the period.

The second period was scoreless, with the Ducks outshooting the Predators 10-7. The Predators generated some scoring chances, but could not get one past Hiller. Once again, Rinne locked down the net for the Predators.

Throughout the contest, the Predators did a good job of limiting the Ducks on secondary scoring chances. Often, the Ducks would get one shot on goal and the Predators were in good defensive position to prevent shots off rebounds.

The Ducks reverted to form in the third period, taking four penalties, the cheapest of which was a Corey Perry spear of Jordin Tootoo. Tootoo had a strong game all night, and was clearly under the skin of the Ducks. Perry's frustration boiled over with his egregious cheap shot. If there is any justice, he will hear from the Shanahammer and be suspended for this cheap shot.

The Predators made it 3-0 at 2:14 of the third, as Shea Weber notched his first goal of the season on the power play with a blast from the blue line that Hiller never saw with a screen in front. It is good to see the big cannon unleashed from Weber and finding the back of the net.

Any thoughts of the Ducks getting back into the game were erased when Sheldon Brookbank to a double minor high sticking penalty at 14:05. The Predators stifled the Ducks for the remainder of the period to capture their second win in a row on home ice by a 3-0 margin.

Congratulations to Pekka Rinne, who recorded his 100th win for the Predators and his 22nd shutout, a franchise record. Rinne was solid, and his level of play has been consistently strong even when the team in front of him has struggled.

Now that it appears the team has found their identity and has begun to play Predator hockey, this team could start to make some noise.

With the win, the Predators go to 5-4-1 and 11 points. The positive aspect of this is that the team is starting to play Predator hockey. They are skating hard, aggressively forechecking, and the defense has begun to settle down and play sound hockey. This is Predator hockey, and it is a winning formula for this team.

We all knew that there would be growing pains for this young squad, and it was going to be important that they grow quickly. They last two games show me that they are starting to "get it" and hearing what the coaches are telling them. They are playing Predator hockey.

And that is winning hockey.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Patric Hornqvist

3. Jordin Tootoo

Predators Send Cal O'Reilly to Phoenix

2011-10-28T17:19:00.001-05:00

The Nashville Predators sent Center Cal O'Reilly to the Phoenix Coyotes for a 4th round draft pick in the 2012 draft. Here is the press release from the Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has acquired a fourth-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft in exchange for forward Cal O’Reilly. The trade is pending O’Reilly passing a physical.

The Predators now have nine draft picks for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft to be held June 22-23, 2012 at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. – their own picks in the first, second and fourth through seventh rounds in addition Toronto’s third-round pick and the New York Rangers’ sixth-round selection, and now, Phoenix’s fourth-round selection.

O'Reilly had been out of the line up recently because of a pulled groin.

One has to wonder about this trade. O'Reilly had provided depth at the center position and had played some quality minutes for the Predators. In 74 games for the Predators, O'Reilly had 11 goals and 24 assists. It leads me to speculate that O'Reilly was considered expendable with the depth at center and perhaps GM David Poile is amassing some draft picks to use as possible trade fodder.

It is no secret that the Predators need scoring, and now Poile has nine draft picks for the draft. Poile has to be keenly aware of the need for more scoring on this team, and he could package some draft picks with a player to pick up some offensive punch. Regardless, this gives him a few more cards in his hand to play as the trade deadline approaches.

My View

2011-10-28T13:02:00.000-05:00

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

The Occupy Wall Street protests that have spread around the country have demanded a lot of things, but the centerpiece of their irritation with America is income inequality and the desire to see said income redistributed. Let me say right now that there is greed and corruption in America's business community. Always has been, and always will be. That statement is not to dismiss this condition, but to acknowledge it. That being said, the question that I have to the OWS protesters is simply this: is the total reason for income inequality in this country because of greed, corruption, or gaming the system? Perhaps there are other factors at play, factors that weigh even more heavily on income inequality in this country. As the global economy has expanded and created new opportunities, one has to ask if our educational system has kept up and continued to turn out graduates that are equipped to compete in the global economy? (Answer: No). One has to wonder if the public policy of bailing out institutions and companies that make horrible business decisions, like GM, Chrysler, and numerous banks, has spilled over to personal decisions as well (Answer: It Has, and it is the wrong decision in both cases). Taking on enormous student debt to get a degree that provides no marketable skills was the choice of the student, but I shouldn't be asked to pay off your student debt because of that unfortunate choice. The OWS crowd decries "income inequality" and demands that incomes and wealth be redistributed as a solution to this problem (Answer: It Has Never Worked). Cut to the core of the OWS demands and what you find are demands that are nothing but income redistribution, which has ALWAYS stunted an economy and lowered a country's standard of living.
While the OWS has raised some valid points, their focus is mis-directed and will not provide for long term economic growth in this country that will benefit everyone.

I think that auctioneers are proof that white guys could rap if they tried hard enough.

Halloween is a time where we enjoy some scary moments. Here is one that may have escaped your view, but should scare the daylights out of you. Right around Halloween, the National debt of our country will surpass our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Now I know that doesn't necessarily make you quake in your boots as if Jason is chasing you with a chainsaw or if there was a socialist in the White House... wait...what? Anyway, here is the significance of this event: the world notices and you can count on interest rates going higher as we have to pay more to purchasers of our debt to entice them to take on more risk by buying our bonds. This affects credit card debt, mortgage debt, and most importantly the amount of money that our country has to pay in the form of interest payments to our creditors. As a nation, we have enjoyed the benefit of a lower rate environment, but with this change in condition, I would look for rates to rise in the near future. This means more of our budget will be spent on debt service and it will crowd out other spending. Look for quite a battle in Congress as we are forced to cut domestic spending on social programs as well as defense spending. It will be gruesome and scary.

My life is like a Lamborghini. It's going way too fast and costs too much money.

Have you heard of HARP? This is the latest scheme...uh, program from Washington, and it stands for Home Affordable Refinance Program. The program is designed for home owners that want to refinance their house to take advantage of the current low interest rates but cannot do so because their house isn't worth what it was when originally purchased. This is a condition in which many homeowners find themselves due to the collapse of home prices in 2008. This is all well and good, but someone has to pay for this program. HARP falls under the auspices of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and they have said that they are not paying for these refinances, which are supposed to be without fees to qualified customers of the participating financial institutions. Fannie Mae, who ultimately buys the refinanced mortgages, says they are not paying for this program. Instead, the said the Treasury Department is paying for the program. Treasury says, uh... no we are not. Here is the point: this is typical of Washington programs that grow dramatically and cost the taxpayers billions of dollars and have little to no oversight. Ultimately, we all know who pays for these programs, and that is you and me.

My wife treats me like a god. She doesn't know I exist until she wants something.

And that, my friends, is my view.

Predators Light Up the Lightning 5-3

2011-10-27T23:40:00.001-05:00

The Nashville Predators re-discovered the simplicity of hockey in their home tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Shoot the puck, and you have a good chance to score.

The Nashville Predators shot the puck and did so very efficiently, notching 5 goals on 27 shots en route to a 5-3 win over the the Lightning at Bridgestone Arena.

For the Predators, this was their first win on home ice in four attempts, and could not have come at a better time for a team struggling to find its identity.

The Lightning went with Mathieu Garon in net, while the Predators had their stalwart, Pekka Rinne between the pipes.

There is no doubt that the Lightning have an offensively explosive team, and for the Predators to have a shot at victory, they were going to have to play solid defense and force the Lightning to spend time in their zone defending the Predators.

The home team did that pretty well tonight.

Rookie Craig Smith continued his stellar play as he connected with Sergei Kostitsyn on a two on one rush up the ice. Smith fed Kostitsyn at the side of the net with a beautiful pass and Kostitsyn buried the shot at 6:25 of the first period to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.

Kostitsyn figured into the second Predators goal of the period as he corraled the puck in the offensive zone and patiently waited for an opening. He found Mike Fisher alone at the side of the net and got him the puck through traffic for an easy tap in to make it 2-0 Predators at 14:05 of the first.

The Lightning got on the board at 16:36 of the first as Ryan Malone dug the puck off the board to Teddy Purcell. Purcell found Steven Stamkos alone in the slot and he roofed a backhand over the shoulder of Rinne to make it 2-1.

The Lightning tied the game on the power play with just 27 seconds left in the first period. With Jordin Tootoo in the box for a questionable charging call, Teddy Purcell tallied to make it a 2-2 game going into the first intermission.

The first period saw the Predators exert some good offensive pressure and skate as well as they had skated all season. The two goals were a direct result of their effort in the neutral zone with good breakouts and in the offensive zone with good puck movement and quality- and numerous- shots.

The fact remained that the Predators were in this game as Pekka Rinne made some outstanding saves and held the Lightning off the board early in the contest. For the Predators to have a chance to win this game, they were going to have to play a consistent game for all three periods. The second period was going to be critical for the Predators.

The question of how they would play in the second period was answered resoundingly by the Predators, as they chased starting netminder Garon from the game with 3 goals. Dwayne Roloson came on in relief of Garon.

Two of the three goals were from players that desperately needed to get off the schnide, as both Patric Horqvist and Nick Spaling found the back of the net. Hornqvist recorded his first goal of the year at 7:43 of the second period as he crashed the net and banged home a rebound. Spaling was camped at the top of the blue paint and slid a rebound through Garon's pads at 11:20.

The final nail in the coffin for Garon was Mike Fisher's second goal of the night, a rocket that hit both posts and went in at 12:10 of the second. Fisher now has four points in his two games back in action after missing the first seven games of the season.

Garon must hate facing the Predators, as his lifetime record fell to 2-8-2 against them.

Steven Stamkos tallied his second goal of the night at 17:03 of the third to make the final margin 5-3 for the Predators. The Predators shut down the Lightning for the remainder of the period, and finally a home win. Iit must have felt good to celebrate at center ice to the cheers of the home crowd.

The Predators played their game in this contest, and when they play that style- using their speed, aggressively forechecking, blocking shots and controlling the neutral zone- they are usually successful. The difference tonight is that the Predators shot the puck and forced the Lightning netminders to make saves. The shots came from all angles and created numerous chances, something this team has been unable or unwilling to do in previous contests. This is reflected in the shot totals, with Tampa Bay outshooting the Predators by only five shots 32-27. This is the first game this season that the shot differential has been in single digits, and although the Predators were outshot, this is certainly a step in the right direction.

Unlike the loss to San Jose, when 9 forwards had one shot or less, only one forward, Blake Geoffrion, did not record a shot on goal. This is much improved, and for continued success, must happen every night.

This game is a clear indication of the ability of this team. The mark of their maturity will be to string together games that have this kind of effort, especially on the offensive side of the ledger.

I know Pekka Rinne appreciates the goal support. It's time for this team to start making his life easier.

My three stars:

1. Mike Fisher

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Nick Spaling