On the Forecheck

Predators Game Thread #58 : Nashville @ NY Islanders

2010-02-09T23:02:39Z

Dirk: As part of the pre-game festivities, I did an interview with Jordan Lauterbach of WCWP radio on Long Island talking about the Preds and Isles. Forgive my brain cramp when trying to come up with Kyle Okposo's name as one of New York's exciting young players. I should have known better, I've got him on my fantasy team!

Dirk Hoag on WCWP 2010-02-09 (Part 1)

Dirk Hoag on WCWP 2010-02-09 (Part 2)

Colin Wilson and Nolan Yonkman recalled by the Nashville Predators, Cody Franson to IR

2010-02-09T18:43:14Z

More photos » Frederick Breedon - AP

Nashville Predators forward Colin Wilson (33) scores a goal from between between Atlanta Thrashers forward Jason Krog (40) and goalie Drew MacIntyre (30) during the third period of a preseason NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)

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Nashville Predators goaltender Dan Ellis set off a firestorm of conversation among Preds fans earlier today when he posted the following on Twitter:

I hear we are calling willy and yonks up. It will be good to see those guys again...been awhile.

"Willy", of course, is Colin Wilson, the 2008 1st-round draft pick who has gotten on a roll lately after injury concerns slowed him during the opening months of the season. "Yonks" is Nolan Yonkman, the captain of the Milwaukee Admirals, a 28-year-old defensive blueliner with 50 games of NHL experience across three seasons with Washington. He's in his fourth season with Milwaukee, but this is his first callup to Nashville. Click his name in the info box below to check out his scouting report:

Nolan Yonkman

#34 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-6

Weight: 236

Born: Apr 01, 1981

This triggers all sorts of questions, naturally. ~~Will Wilson play on the wing, given the presence of Cal O'Reilly and Marcel Goc at center?~~ Does Yonkman's callup mean that another defenseman is on his way out via trade (like Dan Hamhuis)?

UPDATE: Marcel Goc will not play tonight, so Wilson presumably fills a center spot.

The text of the team's press release follows after the jump. One very important point to note here is that Yonkman's recall is not related to a roster emergency, so if he plays 10 games or stays on the roster for 30 days, he would have to pass through waivers if sent back down to Milwaukee (hence the trade speculation).

UPDATE #2: We can probably set aside the trade speculation for the moment, as the team mentioned via Twitter that Dan Hamhuis' wife Sarah is about to deliver their 2nd child, so that would explain why they need an extra D on hand right now.

As the PR notes, defenseman Cody Franson has been placed on injured reserve due to his rib injury.

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled forward Colin Wilson and defenseman Nolan Yonkman from Milwaukee (AHL), and placed defenseman Cody Franson on injured reserve.

Wilson, 20 (10/20/89), started his rookie professional season with the Predators, posting a goal and an assist while averaging 13:57 of ice time in 10 games from Oct. 12-31. Assigned to Milwaukee on Nov. 22, 2009, the Greenwich, Conn., native has 29 points (12g-17a) in 35 games at the AHL level, including 24 points (9g-15a) in his last 17 outings. Nashville's first choice (seventh overall) in the 2008 Entry Draft was also recently named Reebok AHL Rookie of the Month for January.

Yonkman, 28 (4/1/81), has been exclusively with the Admirals since the start of the 2006-07 campaign, serving as captain for the past two seasons. He last dressed for an NHL game on April 18, 2006 with Washington (at Tampa Bay), and has eight points (1g-7a) and 90 penalty minutes in 50 career NHL contests, all which came with the Capitals between 2002-06. The Punnichy, Sask., native paces Milwaukee with 112 penalty minutes, in addition to posting nine points (2g-7a), in 52 games this season.

Tuesday's news: To trade, or not to trade, that is the question all around the NHL

2010-02-09T15:50:13Z

With the NHL standings typically jam-packed around the #8 and final playoff position in both conferences, the question in many cities is whether or not their GM's should pick up a difference-making player to bolster their team's chances for a long playoff run, or pack it in and obtain some value that will pay off down the road.

This morning after the jump, we've got that question being raised, as well as reaction to major changes in Montreal, and an ugly confrontation between a blogger and Mike Milbury at Sunday's Washington/Pittsburgh game...

Predators News

Callin’ It As I See It: A Mini-Series – Prologue " Pull My (Fang)Finger
AJ's getting riled up, particularly after that frustrating loss to San Jose on Saturday night.

Callin’ It As I See It: A Mini-Series – Part I: Dan Hamhuis " Pull My (Fang)Finger
AJ then wonders if David Poile should just go ahead and trade Dan Hamhuis now, given the probability that he'll leave as a free agent over the summer. Is Alexander Sulzer ready to fill that void?

Game Night: Island Edition - Paul McCann
Paul hopes that the Preds' better play of late starts translating into wins.

Preds On The Glass: POTG Podcast and Tuesday Tidbits
Buddy's morning notes include a recap of last night's podcast, and a picture from Mark ("View From 111") as he attended an NHL Tweetup on Long Island.

Islanders Gameday: To catch a Predator - Lighthouse Hockey
Dominik has a look at tonight's game from the Long Island perspective.

Predators face four Atlantic Division teams before Olympic break - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond writes that starting off this four-game road trip with a win on Long Island will be critical.

Predators may trade to improve depth - The Tennessean
John Glennon says we shouldn't expect a blockbuster acquisition by David Poile in the next few weeks. Where is Jan Hlavac, anyway?

Around the NHL

A Great Player Does Not Make A Great Executive - View From My Seats
The title says it all, as Bob Gainey stepped down as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens yesterday.

CBCSports.ca - Blogs - Gainey planned exit strategy long ago
Elliotte Friedman's latest includes news that while many criticized Bob Gainey for never obtaining Vincent Lecavalier for Montreal, there were also a couple opportunities to get Marian Hossa that fell through.

Hicks Sports Group update - Dallas Morning News
Tom Hicks complains that the NHL's spending model is broken, and that the economy can't support a southern team spending $56 million on salary. Guess what Tom, nobody says you have to!

An interview with Tampa Bay Lightning Head Athletic Trainer Tommy Mulligan - From The Rink
Frank gets the low-down on what athletic trainers do for an NHL team on a day-to-day basis. When you consider the long grind of an 82-game regular season, they are essential to keeping a roster full of players performing at their best.

Should The Thrashers Be Buyers or Sellers at Trade Deadline? - Bird Watchers Anonymous
If Atlanta stumbles into the Olympic break, might a guy like Maxim Afinogenov hit the trade market? Stop hyperventilating, Jeremy...

Jeff Carter Knocks Anssi Salmela Out Cold - Broad Street Hockey
Here's a good example of a guy cutting into a high-traffic area with his head down, and the dangers inherent in that. In my opinion, Jeff Carter shouldn't get suspended over this hit.

Analyzing the Mike Milbury vs. hockey blogger 'assault' - Puck Daddy
The whole "bloggers in the press box" notion takes a hit as a bozo in Washington gets worked up over a Mike Milbury comment and triggers an ugly confrontation.

Predators Game Day Preview: Predators @ Islanders

2010-02-09T07:00:20Z

More photos » Paul J. Bereswill - AP

The Preds take on Rick DiPietro and the Islanders tonight in New York.

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The Nashville Predators battle the New York Islanders this evening, in a game pitting two of the league's surprises this year. The Predators, 31-22-4 with 66 points are hanging on to the 8th and final playoff spot in the West, while the Islanders sit a mere five points out of eighth in the East with a 23-27-8 mark and 54 points. Swing by Lighthouse Hockey to catch up on some Islanders news.

Tonight marks the beginning of a four game Eastern Conference road swing before the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Predators will hope to have Marcel Goc back in the lineup, and look to take advantage of playing an average opponent before taking on the likes of New Jersey and Pittsburgh.

Be sure and check out my interview with Islanders blogger Dominik, and follow after the jump for breakdown...

Nashville coming in

The Preds are fresh off a disheartening loss to the San Jose Sharks, which saw them blow three leads. J.P. Dumont responded well to his coach's criticism, pitching in 2 goals. Cal O'Reilly sprung to life, as well, with assists on all three Nashville goals. I have to admit that I didn't think a line containing arguably the two best passers on the team would work very well, but O'Reilly and Dumont teamed up for some productive offensive play. The power play struck again after its outburst against Colorado, but the penalty kill continues to disappoint, giving up two goals to Dany Heatley. Pekka Rinne continued to play well, and only one goal could really be attributed to him. It will be interesting to see if Barry Trotz goes with Pekka for the remaining games up until the break.

New York coming in

The Islanders are led by a group of young players, which seems like its becoming more the norm around the NHL. John Tavares, Matt Moulson, and Kyle Okposo provide the spark for an Islanders team that is short on big names but long on talent and effort. They have a bit of a revolving door in net, with 3 starting-level goaltenders on the roster. Its hard to tell on any given night which of Rick DiPietro, Dwayne Roloson, or Martin Biron will get the call. Their power play, shockingly, is worse than the Predators', so it could be a good night to get that Nashville penalty kill out of its' funk. Speaking of penalty kills, the Islanders', again, is worse than Nashville. You may consider changing the channel to Food Network or some other such boredom when either team goes on a man advantage...

Who's hot

For Nashville, as mentioned, J.P. Dumont had a great game against San Jose and contributed well on the power play against the Avs:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - J.P. Dumont	49	11	25	36	10	18	2	1	3	0	77	14.3

Who's not

Martin Erat seems to have tailed off quite a bit since returning from a knee strain suffered against St. Louis in December, and the Preds really need him to pick it back up for the stretch drive:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Martin Erat	50	18	16	34	-2	32	4	0	2	0	103	17.5

Here's Dominik on these categories for the Isles:

Who's Hot? No one is hot. They've lost seven regulation games in a row. But Frans Nielsen is a very smart two-way center most people don't know about: Two minor penalties this year while facing the opposition's better lines, .5 points per game, +12 on a bad team. To watch him play is to see what smart hockey is about.

Who's Not? Everyone. But Tavares has 1 goal in his last 20 games. The best sign for the Islanders' future is that their best stretch of the season -- from Dec. 23 to mid-January -- came with Tavares in the middle of a slump.

The Guys in Goal

I'm going to assume that based on recent patterns Pekka Rinne will go tonight, but check back here throughout the day for confirmation.

Pekka Rinne

#35 / Goalie / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 206

Born: Nov 03, 1982

	GP	MIN	W	L		GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Pekka Rinne	38	2081	20	11		96	2.77	990	894	.903	3

For the Isles, Martin Biron gets the start after being recalled from Bridgeport of the AHL.

Martin Biron

#43 / Goalie / New York Islanders

Height: 6-3

Weight: 180

Born: Aug 15, 1977

	GP	MIN	W	L		GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Martin Biron	17	950	2	11		51	3.22	508	457	.900	1

Projected Lineups

For Nashville, considering Cody Franson is still out and Marcel Goc returns, I anticipate this:

Forwards

Sullivan - Arnott - Hornqvist

Ward - Legwand - Smithson

Tootoo - Goc - Erat

Jones - O'Reilly - Dumont

Defense

Suter - Weber

Hamhuis - Klein

Bouillon - Sulzer

Not entirely sure, but using a few websites and educated guesses, New York could look like this:

Forwards

Moulson - Schremp - Okposo

Bergenheim - Tavares - Comeau

Tambellini - Nielsen - Hunter

Sim - Weight - Park

Defense

Streit - Gervais

Sutton - McDonald

Meyer - Kohn

Fearless Prediction

For the Predators this season, it really has been road sweet road. The Islanders, while dangerous, are not the Sharks, Avs, or Coyotes, three teams that the Preds either beat or played well in the past week. I think Barry Trotz will have the boys ready to rumble as they kick off this road trip, assuming that the Olympics aren't in the back or front of any players' minds. Hopefully the power play can keep producing, but either way, I've got Pekka Rinne out 'tending whoever in a 4-1 Predator victory.

Cal O'Reilly, finally an NHL regular with Nashville?

2010-02-09T00:48:14Z

More photos » Jerry S. Mendoza - AP

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By sticking with the Nashville Predators after a number of injured teammates returned to the lineup, Cal O'Reilly now has enough NHL experience to qualify for waivers, and it appears that he'll stick in Nashville for the time being. It's a fine achievement for a guy who's ridden the Milwaukee/Nashville express quite a bit in recent years.

Today on the Thom Abraham Show, Cal (coming off a 3-assist night vs. San Jose) talked about his plans for the Olympic break, and how the Predators appear to be set up for a busy week on the road. You can listen to the segment via the following link:

Cal O'Reilly on Thom Abraham Show 20100208

It will be interesting to see how the ice time is split between O'Reilly and Marcel Goc. Cal's definitely here to contribute offensively, while Goc is valued for his defensive responsibility and faceoff skills. So don't be surprised if Goc's production tails off over the coming weeks; it may be more a case of O'Reilly getting more of that opportunity.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Marcel Goc	51	10	9	19	6	8	0	0	0	0	82	12.2

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Cal O`Reilly	19	0	7	7	3	2	0	0	0	0	10	0.0

All signs point to Bridgestone as Nashville Predators arena sponsor, despite official "no comment"

2010-02-08T21:27:02Z

Despite "no comment" responses from officials with both the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone about a potential arena naming rights deal in the making (as reported by Brandon Gee at the Nashville Business Journal earlier today), evidence continues to mount that Bridgestone will indeed take over as the naming sponsor for the Predators' arena (currently the Sommet Center) in the near future.

CoolSprings.com, which first broke this story last Friday, posted a series of internet domain registrations that have been made in recent weeks by Bridgestone, presumably reserving them for use relative to a new arena name. Over a dozen variations of "Bridgestone", "BridgestoneTire", "Arena", "Center", and "Centre" were all created and reserved by Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. at the end of last month.

It's understandable that the official parties involved can't say anything until all the i's are dotted and the t's crossed, but all signs point to a very positive development for the Nashville Predators here.

I checked a few other variations, and "Place" is also another word they've reserved. "Bridgestone Place", perhaps? "FirestoneArena.com" is not registered, so it doesn't appear that Firestone is likely to be part of the name.

What variations can you come up with that make sense here?

5 Questions with a New York Islanders blogger

2010-02-08T18:36:56Z

More photos » Chris O'Meara - AP

5 days ago: New York Islanders left winger John Tavares (91) get hit with a first-period slap shot in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Antero Nittymaki (30), of Finland, during an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Before tomorrow night's game against the New York Islanders, Lighthouse Hockey's managing editor Dominik was kind enough to talk to me about the Islanders, John Tavares, Rick DiPietro, and more.

The Islanders are in the middle of a playoff chase, but have recently gone on quite a skid.

Continue below for the interview...

1. The Islanders are only five points out of playoff position. What has been the biggest improvement this year, and what will it take to grab one of those final playoff spots?

Better forwards, better goaltending. Dwayne Roloson really stabilized the position and stole some games, particularly in the first half of this year. Last year the Islanders weren't getting that from their goalies, both of whom were career AHLers. But also: the top two goal scorers, John Tavares (17 goals) and Matt Moulson (21 goals), are new to the roster this year. No one is "lighting it up" -- and the Islanders are in a horrible offensive slump right now (10 goals in eight games), but those two have scored some important goals this year, Moulson doing it largely at 5-on-5.

2. Rick DiPietro tends to be the butt of some NHL jokes, but recently returned from injury. How has he played since then, and do you still see him being the goalie of the future?

He's been solid, not spectacular. I'll never bet on a butterfly goalie's long-term health after hip and knee surgeries, but he's shown signs that he might be able to capture the #1 form he had before the injury bug swept the rug out from under him beginning with the 2008 All-Star skills competition. His puck handling alone appears to reduce the load on the defense, short-circuiting a handful of opposition forechecks each game.

Part of the brilliance in signing Roloson was getting a very capable starter who also doesn't have much of a horizon beyond next year, when he'll be 41. So the Islanders can use this second half and next season to see what they have in DiPietro.

3. What has number 1 draft pick John Tavares brought to the team in his rookie campaign?

He handled first-line minutes and first powerplay unit right off the bat, which was somewhat of a surprise. He was scoring more in the first half -- there are questions whether his current slump is injury- or fatigue-related -- but throughout the season he's been a guy who's drawn the attention of the opposition. It's clear he has great hands that translate at this level; he probably needs to work on lower body strength to realize his potential. And of course off the ice, though the Islanders have been very careful in not over-marketing him, he's brought the pizazz of a future star who has a great head on his shoulders.

4. Former Predator Brendan Witt was recently put on waivers. Why the fallout?

Witt has been very ineffective this year, and ineffective in Scott Gordon's system overall.
[a little about that in this link: http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2010/2/3/1290249/fun-with-sentence-construction-the ]

Gordon's system emphasizes a mobile defense, and Witt lacks that mobility. So he's not very good pinching in, yet when he's expected to it's also a challenge for him to get back. One caveat: Witt suffered a knee injury in October of Gordon's first year (2008-09). It was quickly becoming a rough season for the Isles. Witt rushed back from that injury and it's possible he's not been the same since. He's played through many injuries in his career, including right before his recent demotion. It's possible those have caught up to him.

5. The trade deadline approaches. Islanders - buyers or sellers?

Sellers, without question. However: They don't have much of value they'd like to sell, and their most enticing rental, Andy Sutton, may be the physical defender they need to retain for an otherwise undersized blueline corps. One more caveat: If a team is looking to dump a good player in the name of creating cap space, Garth Snow will definitely listen.

Thanks are in order to Dominik, and we certainly are looking forward to watching guys like Tavares and Okposo take on the likes of Weber and Suter tomorrow night.

Monday's news: Is an "investment" in Jordin Tootoo a wise choice?

2010-02-08T15:42:05Z

More photos » Charles Cherney - AP

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The Nashville Predators head out for New York City where they'll take on the Islanders, Rangers and Devils this week; hey, if they can make it there, they can make it anywhere, right?

NASHVILLE RADIO UPDATE: Congratulations go out to the Thom Abraham Show, which is moving up to the "drive time" slot of 3:00-6:00 p.m. weekdays on 560-AM WNSR as of today.

After the jump, we've got your hockey news and notes to start your week - Barry Trotz says that the Jordin Tootoo contract extension is an "investment" in player he expects will improve, we have a review of Nashville's development system that includes surprising speculation about which rookie might make the Predators next season, and another trade that went through yesterday, even though almost a month remains until the Trade Deadline.

Predators News

Toots, Trotz talk new contract - Predators Insider
One last thought about the Tootoo contract - this talk about it being an "investment", and that the organization expects Tootoo to develop further is a bit odd to me. The guy is 27 years old now; a decent NHLer who is very popular with the fans, and capable of perhaps 10 goals or so. A light switch is not about to flip which makes him suddenly able to score 20. Just as with the expectation that Legwand and Erat were going to rise to new heights in their latest contracts, that just doesn't happen at that age. The vast majority of the time with forwards, you know what you've got by 23 or 24 years of age.

Preds On The Glass: Weekend Wrap-Up and POTG Radio Tonight
Buddy's morning post includes the lineup for tonight's podcast, which will preview the Preds' New York road trip this week.

Coming Down the Pipe!: Predators Prospect Snap Shot
It's always good to get an outsider's view of Nashville's prospects, and this piece includes an interesting tidbit on defenseman Roman Josi, currently playing in Switzerland: "there was some talk that Josi might be headed to North America next year and may potentially be able to bypass the AHL and step right in with the Predators."

Around the NHL

On Frozen Blog › A Statement Win with the Nation Watching
Yesterday NBC aired a dramatic game between Pittsburgh and Washington as its national Game of the Week, which has had some good ones lately.

Day 5: Watching the Super Bowl at Gretzky’s — and how everything is about hockey in Canada | Working the Corners
You can't escape a Super Bowl reference on a day like this, but David Pollak's experience yesterday was pretty amusing.

Thrashers Travel Travails, Team Townhall,Triumph Over FLA - Bird Watchers Anonymous
The Atlanta Thrashers held a town hall meeting with season ticket holders following the Ilya Kovalchuk trade, and the discussion was alarmingly frank. The Falconer provides all the details.

Paging Oilers' brain trust -- anybody home? - The Copper & Blue
Meanwhile in Edmonton, fans are left wondering if anything is going on in the front office as the team sputters down the stretch.

Blackhawks: Dialing for D-Men? | Hockey Independent
Taking a look at possible defensemen on the market, from a Chicago perspective.

Kessel quiet on stick swap after ending slump - The Globe and Mail
The Maple Leafs winger recently switched away from using the stick he endorses... and is now scoring in bunches. Awkward!

Some Canucks Stats To Chew On - Nucks Misconduct
A bushel of interesting tidbits about the Northwest Division leaders.

Multiple threats " LA Kings Insider
The Kings have been red-hot of late, and Rich Hammond says that balanced scoring has been a big factor for them.

It's Official: Niclas Wallin Gets Traded to Sharks - Canes Country
The on-again, off-again trade finally took place over the weekend, as San Jose added some depth on the blueline.

Trotz on future captain | Predators Insider

2010-02-07T22:08:23Z

Trotz on future captain | Predators Insider

An interesting topic for you to think over before the Super Bowl. Preds beat writer John Glennon asked Barry Trotz when we would see a lifetime Predator become team captain. Follow the link for his thoughts on the subject.

Spend Super Bowl Sunday with SB Nation

2010-02-07T15:54:56Z

No, this ain't hockey-related, but it is Super Bowl Sunday, and I, like zillions of others around the world, plan on loading up the snacks and hitting the couch for what we expect to be an epic game.

This one is especially fascinating to me because I lived in the Indianapolis area for 8 years and saw the first 7 seasons of Peyton Manning's career first-hand. Since my in-laws are all Purdue people, and my father-in-law has had season tickets for something like 40 years, I also had the pleasure of tagging along to see a good chunk of Drew Brees' college career up close as well.

Manning is easily the greatest NFL quarterback I've ever seen, and you could tell Brees was destined to be an NFL star as he led Purdue to a resurgence in the Big Ten.

Anyways, SB Nation's fine collection of NFL blogs has oodles of coverage for you. Stampede Blue (Colts) and Canal Street Chronicles (Saints) have both been credentialed for the big event, and Joel Thorman from Arrowhead Pride (Kansas City) has been covering it from the overall SB Nation perspective.

SB Nation also has a hub set up to aggregate all of the Super Bowl posts from across the network, and I'm told there will be a mega-Game Thread for live discussion once the game starts.

UPDATE: Here's the link to the Game Thread for the Super Bowl... have at it! Take note, there is an "auto-refresh" checkbox at the top of the comments, so you can decide whether you want the comments to pop in automatically (which could get pretty busy), or just when you refresh the page.

Enjoy!

Predators can't recover from costly penalties, lose to San Jose 4-3

2010-02-07T05:44:18Z

More photos » Frederick Breedon - AP

2 days ago: Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter, right, and Nashville Jr. Predators squirt '99 travel team's Clay Lamb stand at center ice as players are recognized for playing in the Winter Olympics prior to an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)

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The Nashville Predators put in a great effort at times tonight against San Jose, but sensational work by Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and two power play goals from Dany Heatley sent the Predators to defeat, 4-3.

Check the right sidebar for video highlights from the NHL widget, and further reaction below.

The first two periods were evenly played, with the score tied at 2-2 and the shots on goal at 22 for each side. The two Nashville goals came from J.P. Dumont, who has been publicly called out by Barry Trotz in recent days, and seen a drastic reduction in ice time. Will this be enough to get him back on a top line?

Using the phrase that Trotz mentioned in his post-game press conference, however, there was no margin for error available for the Preds as they hung even with San Jose. All it took was a bad penalty from Dan Hamhuis midway through the 3rd to break things open. With the rest of his teammates going off for a change, Hammer dumped the puck into the right corner and pursued it aggressively, boarding Kent Huskins as a result. The Sharks converted quickly on the power play (they clicked on 2-of-4 chances tonight), and from there it was a matter of hanging on.

Nashville did a fine job of generating pressure in the final minutes, but Nabokov was spectacular in turning them aside. The top line of Jason Arnott with Steve Sullivan and Patric Hornqvist put 13 shots on goal (9 alone by the captain), but rebound chances were few and far between.

Pekka Rinne had a good, but not great night in the Nashville net, stopping 25 of 29 San Jose shots. He wasn't the reason Nashville lost the game, but he did struggle with some puckhandling decisions that led to extra pressure in the Preds' end of the ice.

The Predators resume their home schedule after the Olympic break with 10 home games in the month of March. For a great deal on tickets to any Nashville Predators home game, follow this link and use the special offer code "PREDS".

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

J.P. Dumont, 2 goals

27 votes

Cal O'Reilly, 3 assists

25 votes

Joel Ward, goal

1 votes

53 votes | Poll has closed

Predators Game Thread #57 : San Jose@ Nashville

2010-02-07T00:00:22Z

Weekend Notes: Wings unload Leino, Kovalchuk not a supreme talent?

2010-02-06T18:00:44Z

More photos » Mark Humphrey - AP

The Sharks skate into Music City tonight for an important Western Conference battle. The Predators won the last meeting 4-3 in November.

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So these aren't exactly Breakfast Links, but I've got an assorted, if somewhat abbreviated, offering of hockey news for you this morning/afternoon. We've got a good profile of Blake Geoffrion, some blogging by Tom Callahan, the top ten African American players in the NHL, a strange, strange take on the Ilya Kovalchuk trade, and a trade from this morning that could have more importance than at first glance.

So, continue below to get caught up on some interesting stuff in the hockey world...

Around Pred Nation

Future is bright for Predators prospect Blake Geoffrion | The Tennessean
John Glennon profiles one of the Predators' top prospects.

Predators Coach Barry Trotz calls out J.P. Dumont - The Tennessean
As noted yesterday, Predators Coach Barry Trotz sent a message to veteran forward J.P. Dumont. Also looks as if Pekka Rinne will get a 4th consecutive start.

Tootoo is richer, but Trotz still awaiting a payoff | Nashville City Paper
David Boclair reports that Coach Trotz said he views the two-year contract extension as an investment and not a reward...

Adressing fighting after a clean check - Predators Prowl
Predators radio play-by-play man Tom Callahan tackles an interesting subject in a new blog post.

Preds 101: If you like KYLE VANDEN BOSCH, you'll love JORDIN TOOTOO
Preds 101 makes an interesting comparison, but accurately notes that the likenesses stop when it comes to wanting to remain in Nashville.

Around the NHL

Red Wings ship enigmatic Leino to Philadelphia - Puck Daddy
Interesting news out of Detroit, where the Wings ship the talented but underachieving Leino to Philly for Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and a pick.

Kovalchuk To Jersey Might Be The Stupidest Hockey Trade Ever - Habs Eyes On The Prize
The Canadiens' SB Nation affiliate is apparently either a fan of hyperbole or quite sore that they didn't acquire Kovy. This post includes the gems "Statistics and one good look will always bring on the assessment that Kovalchuk is a franchise player and supreme talent, but is he really?", and "If there is any excitement in hockey today, after the trade, it should be in Quebec City. They have just moved one step closer to retreiving a lost hockey franchise," in reference to the Thrashers. Yikes. Pretty sure I disagree with everything in that post.

Brian Burke's son Brendan passes away after auto accident
Brendan Burke, the youngest son of Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke, died Friday as a result of injuries suffered in a car accident in Indiana. Thoughts and prayers go out to the Burke family during this incredibly difficult time.

Top Ten Black NHL Players - Die By The Blade
A look at the elite black hockey players in the game today. Joel Ward checks in at number 7, and considering the other players on the list I'd consider it a pretty fair assessment.

Exclusive: Chatting with Ilya Kovalchuk about blockbuster trade - Puck Daddy - NHL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Finally, PD has a good conversation with Ilya Kovalchuk regarding his trade and why the ATL didn't work out.

Predators Game Day Preview: San Jose @ Nashville

2010-02-06T13:57:56Z

More photos » Frederick Breedon - AP

The San Jose Sharks tangle with the Nashville Predators for the third time this season tonight at the Sommet Center. The teams have split their previous meetings.

Browse more photos »

The big, bad San Jose Sharks come into Nashville tonight for the Predators' last home game before the Olympic break.

Folks attending tonight's game can pick up the following Olympic tribute poster on their way in (which makes me wonder if I should wear my Swedish national jersey rather than my Preds 3rd tonight):

via cdn.nhl.com

REMEMBER: The parking situation is impacted severely but the Music City Center construction, which began earlier this week. Check for all the details on which lots have closed before you head downtown!

As an added bonus tonight, it sounds like there will be a special guest singing the national anthem. Earlier this week, the Preds Chief Marketing Officer, Derek Perez, was a guest on the Thom Abraham Show (audio here - Derek Perez on Thom Abraham Show 20100204), and said that they had a surprise anthem signer lined up, with a CD coming out next week. I'm going to hazard a guess that it's the guy who filmed a music video at a Preds game recently, Josh Turner. His new CD, Haywire, debuts Tuesday.

After the jump, let's break down the matchup...

Meet the Bad Guys

As expected, the Sharks are rampaging through the Pacific Division once again, and their 37-11-9 record trails on Washington in the overall league standings. Tonight marks the second stop on a 6-game road trip that started Thursday in St. Louis, where the Sharks beat the Blues 4-2.

Of course, a visit by the Sharks also means a return for two former Predators, Jed Ortmeyer and Scott Nichol, who are enjoying successful seasons with their new team. Jed in particular is scoring goals at an unprecedented pace.

Jed Ortmeyer

#41 / Right Wing / San Jose Sharks

Height: 6-0

Weight: 188

Born: Sep 03, 1978

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jed Ortmeyer	56	7	10	17	5	33	0	0	1	0	106	6.6

Scott Nichol

#21 / Center / San Jose Sharks

Height: 5-9

Weight: 178

Born: Dec 31, 1974

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Scott Nichol	57	3	11	14	1	51	0	1	0	0	81	3.7

Meet the Good Guys

Might the Preds be in the process of turning things around? They've gone 2-0-1 in the current home stand, and sit solidly in 7th place in the West at 31-21-4, with Calgary and Detroit nipping at their heels and Colorado just ahead of them in 6th.

The most recent lines (with J.P. Dumont down there in the dog house) look as follows:

Forwards

Sullivan - Arnott - Hornqvist

Ward - Legwand - Smithson

Tootoo - Goc - Erat

Jones - O'Reilly - Dumont

Defense

Suter - Weber

Hamhuis - Klein

Bouillon - Sulzer

Even Strength Play

	GP	GF	GA	GF/60	SF/60	SPCT	GA/60	SA/60	SPCT	+/- per 60
San Jose	57	126	89	2.9	30.7	9.4	2.0	30.4	.933	+0.8
Nashville	56	109	101	2.4	29.3	8.3	2.3	28.8	.922	+0.2

The Sharks are the #2 team in the league in 5-on-5 play, but the Predators are no slouches themselves.

Special Teams

	San Jose	Nashville
PP %	22.7 (3rd)	76.5 (26th)	PK %
# of PP's	220 (12th)	183 (28th)	# of PK's
	Advantage: San Jose
PK %	86.6 (2nd)	16.3 (28th)	PP %
# of PK's	231 (7th)	203 (23rd)	# of PP's
	Advantage: San Jose

Um, let's move on, shall we?

Goaltending

Evgeni Nabokov has often been criticized (by myself, among others) as being just a decent goalie supported by a stellar team, but this year he's having perhaps his best season. It's well timed, too, since his contract is up.

Evgeni Nabokov

#20 / Goalie / San Jose Sharks

Height: 6-0

Weight: 200

Born: Jul 25, 1975

	GP	MIN	W	L	E	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Evgeni Nabokov	49	2920	31	8		109	2.24	1497	1388	.927	2

Pekka Rinne has won two out of his last three, and got a shutout in the one recent loss. Will he get the call again tonight?

Pekka Rinne

#35 / Goalie / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 206

Born: Nov 03, 1982

	GP	MIN	W	L		GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Pekka Rinne	37	2022	20	10		92	2.73	961	869	.904	3

Summary

The best hope for the Preds is simply that tonight's game means much more to them than it does the Sharks. According to Fear the Fin, the present concern in San Jose is finding a depth defenseman at the trading deadline to shore up their playoff chances.

This could, however, be a preview of a first-round playoff matchup, as the Sharks are slotted for a #1 or #2 seed in the West, and the Predators could conceivably land anywhere from 4th to 8th. The Preds are 1-1 against San Jose this season, and took a 4-3 decision in their last meeting in Nashville on November 17th.

Nashville Predators February Schedule Wallpaper

2010-02-05T22:48:38Z

Featuring USA Olympian Ryan Suter. Sorry for the delay.

1024 x 768 download

Bridgestone to assume naming rights to the Sommet Center in Nashville?

2010-02-05T19:29:31Z

Is Bridgestone going to be the new title sponsor of the Nashville Predators arena? This report from CoolSprings.com seems to indicate just that:

A little bird stopped by Cool Springs today and told us the Sommet Center naming rights are going to Bridgestone. We're not sure if it will be named exactly "Bridgestone Center" but it will be "Bridgestone Something".

The new Bridgestone Center in Nashville is expected to be christened soon, ushering out the old Sommet Center name.

This could be a huge win for the Predators if true. Bridgestone is a large, well-known global corporation with its North American headquarters in Nashville, and already has an existing relationship with the NHL (they were the title sponsor of the NHL's Winter Classic this year).

More on this story as it develops (I have questions in with both the Preds and Bridgestone), and thanks to multiple folks on the @PredFans Twitter group for pointers.

Jordin Tootoo signs two-year, $2.5 million contract extension with the Nashville Predators

2010-02-05T18:40:13Z

More photos » David Zalubowski - AP

One of the most popular players in Nashville Predators history, Jordin Tootoo is now signed with the team through the 2011-12 season.

Browse more photos »

In the latest move to lock players into contracts beyond this season, the Nashville Predators have signed Jordin Tootoo to a two-year contract. John Glennon's report at the Tennessean has it at $2.5 million total, a reasonable figure for an agitator who is showing increased discipline over the years, and has the potential to contribute offensively as well.

He's certainly a fan favorite, and was voted the team's All-Time Greatest Fighter in a poll on this site last August.

Jordin Tootoo

#22 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-9

Weight: 200

Born: Feb 02, 1983

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jordin Tootoo	26	2	8	10	2	18	0	0	1	0	54	3.7

The trick going forward for Tootoo will be health. Last season he set a career high with 72 games played, and he's missed more than half of this season due to a variety of injury concerns.

Follow after the jump for the text of the team's press release...

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed forward Jordin Tootoo to a two-year, $2.5 million contract. The deal will pay him $1.15 million in 2010-11 and $1.35 million in 2011-12.

"We look forward to watching Jordin's continued development over the next two seasons," Poile said. "Since we drafted Jordin in 2001, we have not only seen him develop into a more complete player on the ice, but also an impactful member of the community on a year-round basis."

Tootoo, 27 (2/2/83), has appeared in 330 career games, all with Nashville, registering 71 points (28g-43a) and 550 penalty minutes - a franchise record. In 2009-10, the Rankin Inlet, Nunavut native has 10 points (2g-8a) in 26 games, the highest point-per-game average (.38) of his six-season NHL career. The 5-9, 198-pound right wing put together a career-high four-game point/assist streak from Nov. 23-28 - tied for the longest assist streak by a Predator this season - and his eight helpers are just four off his career high attained a season ago.

Nashville's sixth choice, 98th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft made his NHL debut on Oct. 9, 2003 vs. Anaheim, becoming the first player of Inuit decent to play in the National Hockey League.

Friday's news: Are J.P. Dumont and Dan Ellis in the dog house?

2010-02-05T15:52:07Z

More photos » Jeff McIntosh - AP

Browse more photos »

Before we get to the morning news, a follow-up on my recent musing about why J.P. Dumont has been demoted to the 4th line. Last night in the win over Colorado, J.P. played just 8:45, and got only three shifts in the 3rd period, not touching the ice after his line with Cal O'Reilly and Ryan Jones came off with over 15 minutes left. That's the least ice time he's had (while healthy) in his entire 4-season run in Nashville, and I'm puzzled by it. He's 3rd on the team in scoring and 2nd among forwards in Plus/Minus, so it's not like he's dropped off the scoresheet.

If it's a performance issue (J.P. has just 3 assists and 8 shots in the last 8 games), Dumont is getting a far different treatment than Martin Erat did when he struggled earlier this year. Erat was moved to the top line to help get his game going. Then again, this isn't the first example of incongruity we've seen from Barry Trotz in recent weeks.

During a season in which neither of his goaltenders has seized the reins as #1, Dan Ellis could have earned some extra starts last month, when he went on a 3-1 stretch with a .957 Save Percentage including a shutout on the road at Calgary on January 15.

While many expected that the shutout would be rewarded with the next start, Trotz declared that "this year" his tradition no longer applied. Pekka Rinne got the next start, against Toronto, but lasted only 9:00, giving up 3 goals. Ellis came in and kept Nashville in the game almost single-handedly. The rotation continued until Pekka finally won a game, beating Atlanta last Saturday, which has led to him getting the last two starts as well. Granted, some of that work can be attributed to the baby daughter the Ellis family welcomed a few days ago, but in Trotz's quest to have one of his goalies take over as a true #1 starter, it appears that he's really only looking at one guy for the job, the big Finn.

If I'm J.P. Dumont or Dan Ellis right now, I have to be scratching my head a bit as to what's going on, and at least in Ellis' case, whether he has a future here in Nashville.

UPDATE: John Glennon, in his afternoon update, asks Trotz directly about Dumont's ice time. It sounds like the coach isn't happy about J.P.'s commitment to two-way play right now, and when asked how J.P. is taking his direction to change his game somewhat, Trotz responded: "It really doesn't matter how he takes it. I really don't care how he takes it. It's more you're going to play a certain way to be successful or ... Ice time is the only thing a coach has, so that's where it starts."

After the jump, we've got your usual news and notes - lots of reaction to last night's win, the big Ilya Kovalchuk trade, and word that Jordin Tootoo might be close to signing a contract extension.

Predators News

Preds On The Glass: Game Recap: Preds Surprise Avs with Three Power Play Goals
Buddy's post-game has all the audio you can ask for, from both dressing rooms and Barry Trotz's press conference.

The View from 111: Predators Bury Avalanche 5-3
Mark likes the way the Preds played once they got the lead last night; there was no letup in the third.

See Puck City: The Snow Melted - So Did the Avalanche: Preds Win 5-2
SPC is one happy camper after last night's win...

Game 56 Recap: Avs Dominated, Fall in Nashville 5-3 - Mile High Hockey
It's always interesting to get the opposition viewpoint on the game.

Jordin Tootoo contract talks heat up - The Tennessean
After having locked up Kevin Klein and Marcel Goc in recent weeks, it looks like Toots is getting close to an extension.

Around the NHL

Kovalchuk to New Jersey Devils - Bird Watchers Anonymous
You might have heard, but Atlanta made a deal with the Devil(s) yesterday. The Falconer offers the perspective of the Thrashers fan on what they landed.

OFFICIAL: Ilya Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela to New Jersey Devils for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier and a 1st Round Pick - In Lou We Trust
And in New Jersey, they're pretty much freaking out like a bunch of 12-year-old girls who just landed front row Miley Cyrus tickets.

The House that Lou built - The Globe and Mail
Maybe the "swanky" digs in Newark will convince Kovy to sign a long-term contract with the Devils.

Kovalchuk the star of trade talks, but others face deadline intrigue - USATODAY.com
Kevin Allen neatly summarizes the dilemma facing David Poile over Dan Hamhuis. Given the probability that Hammer's next contract won't fit within Nashville's budget, do you trade him now rather than let him walk for nothing over the summer? If so, can anything obtained in trade help the team succeed in the playoffs better than Hamhuis would? I'd suggest a 3rd option as well - keep Hamhuis, then trade his rights just before July 1 as happened with Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell when they went to Philadelphia in June 2007. The return wouldn't be as large as a trade right now, but this year's playoffs are important.

Niclas Wallin Update - Canes Country
All indications are that the depth defenseman is on his way to San Jose...

Let’s End This Now - KuklasKorner
Last night in New York, someone in the stands pointed a laser at Washington goalie Jose Theodore. This is the 2nd such incident in the league this season, and fans in the stands need to take action to stop such nonsense ASAP.

Paul Kelly's Chat with USCHO - Western College Hockey Blog
The former NHLPA head (now with College Hockey, Inc.) chats with SBN's college hockey blog.

TSN: Souray's Trade List at Six - The Copper & Blue
Edmonton's Sheldon Souray, a premier power play defenseman, has submitted a list of team's he'd be willing to be traded to. Don't worry, Nashville's not on it.

Hockey in Afghanistan, where it's 'game on' after warning sirens - Puck Daddy
A great look at how street hockey gives our soldiers overseas a respite from their daily duties.

The Dark Blue Jacket: An Irish Wake for Hitch's Coaching Tenure
Now this is a sentiment I can get down with; celebrating the good times that Ken Hitchcock brought to Columbus, rather than get stuck on the ending.

THN.com Blog: Good GMs know when to wave goodbye
Edward Fraser notes that while hard to do, sometimes it's best to let a good player walk away, rather than lock them up in a new, costly contract.

This is a thing of beauty. I doubt many teams in the NHL can boast this. Such incredible balance...

2010-02-05T15:01:10Z

This is a thing of beauty. I doubt many teams in the NHL can boast this. Such incredible balance has been key to Nashville's success all year.

Jason Arnott's 4-point night leads Nashville past Colorado 5-3

2010-02-05T04:04:55Z

More photos » Frederick Breedon - AP

Nashville right wing Patric Hornqvist scored his 22nd and 23rd goals of the season in tonight's win.

Browse more photos »

Nashville Predators captain Jason Arnott broke out of a long scoring slump with a goal and three assists tonight, as the Preds beat Colorado 5-3 before a sellout crowd of 17,113 at the Sommet Center. Both of his 2nd-period assists came as long slapshots were tipped by Patric Hornqvist for the score, giving Hornqvist a team-leading 23 goals on the season.

Check the NHL widget down there in the right sidebar for the video highlights, and follow after the jump for reaction and the advanced even-strength stats...

The first period in this one appeared eerily like Tuesday's shootout loss to Phoenix; the Preds played solid defensively and created a few chances, but couldn't beat Craig Anderson in the Colorado net. The Avalanche got on the board first as Chris Stewart chipped a puck past Francis Bouillon at the blueline and finished off a 2-on-1 by feeding Cody McLeod for the score.

Alexander Sulzer, in his first game back with the Preds after Cody Franson's injury, got beat on that 2-on-1, and was involved in another unfortunate episode in the 1st period when he collided with linesman Steve Barton, who slammed hard on the ice and had to leave the game.

In the 2nd, the Preds got a 5-on-3 power play opportunity, and Barry Trotz called a timeout, sensing a big opportunity to finally get the offense rolling. While the 5-on-3 went horribly, just a few seconds after it expired Arnott cut loose with a long slapper that Hornqvist tipped in to tie the game.

Just a minute later, Joel Ward put Nashville ahead, batting a rebound out of mid-air, and the Preds were finally back in business. While Matt Duchene tied it up for Colorado on the power play (next job for Nashville is to fix that awful PK), the offensive pressure and the goals kept coming for the Preds. Steve Sullivan had a phenomenal shift where he held onto the puck for an extended period and set up a few different shots on net, and later on he fed Arnott for a slam-dunk goal from just outside the goal crease. In the final minute, Hornqvist tipped another Arnott slapshot home, and the Predators had some breathing room heading into the 3rd.

Sully got rewarded for his hard work with a power play goal midway through the final period, giving Nashville a much-needed successful night with the man advantage (3 goals on 5 opportunities). Pekka Rinne was generally solid in net, you couldn't really pin any of the Colorado goals on him.

All in all, it was a good performance by the Predators; they outshot the Avs 36-26 overall, got some momentum going on the power play, and the goaltending was good. On the other hand, there were some bad defensive lapses which led to the Avalanche goals, which need to get patched up pretty quickly.

Oh, and the "Brothers O'Reilly" battle? They did get to face off against each other one time, which Ryan won. Neither played a role in the scoring, and each finished a -1 with no shots on net.

The Predators conclude the pre-Olympic portion of the home schedule Saturday night vs. the San Jose Sharks. For a great deal on tickets to this, or any Nashville Predators home game, you can follow this link and use the special offer code "PREDS".

Looking at the even-strength advanced stats, the real standout line was Erat-Goc-Tootoo, which seemed to get pressure consistently. Jordin Tootoo seems to be making some good, quick decisions with the puck these days, either firing it on net or making crisp passes that lead to shots. As he rounds back into game shape, I really like what I'm seeing out him.

Francis Bouillon got caught flat-footed on a couple occasions and couldn't catch up with the play, that's going to happen sometimes.

Even Strength		Individual Totals					Team Totals While Player Is On Ice
Player	Pos	EV TOI	Shots	Shts Blkd	Missed Shts	Blocks	SOG For	SOG Ag	SOG +/-	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
Martin Erat	R	16:58	2	1	0	0	15	9	6	21	16	5
Marcel Goc	C	16:28	2	1	0	0	13	7	6	19	14	5
Jordin Tootoo	R	15:37	3	1	1	0	14	5	9	21	12	9
David Legwand	C	14:12	1	0	1	1	10	9	1	13	10	3
Joel Ward	R	14:01	3	1	0	0	8	10	-2	11	11	0
Jerred Smithson	R	13:38	2	0	0	0	8	9	-1	9	10	-1
Jason Arnott	C	13:03	3	0	1	0	7	4	3	10	9	1
Patric Hornqvist	R	12:57	2	0	0	0	6	4	2	8	9	-1
Steve Sullivan	L	12:56	2	0	0	0	7	5	2	10	10	0
Cal O'Reilly	C	6:32	0	0	0	0	0	1	-1	1	4	-3
J P Dumont	R	6:06	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	3	4	-1
Ryan Jones	L	5:30	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	2	4	-2
Kevin Klein	D	20:15	0	2	0	2	11	8	3	19	12	7
Dan Hamhuis	D	19:35	3	0	1	3	14	10	4	22	14	8
Ryan Suter	D	18:55	2	0	0	0	14	10	4	18	15	3
Shea Weber	D	18:28	3	0	1	0	11	8	3	15	12	3
Francis Bouillon	D	13:39	1	0	0	2	6	5	1	7	14	-7
Alexander Sulzer	D	8:56	0	1	0	1	4	3	1	5	9	-4

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Jason Arnott, 1 goal & 3 assists

65 votes

Patric Hornqvist, 2 goals & 1 assist

36 votes

Steve Sullivan, 1 goal & 1 assist

3 votes

104 votes | Poll has closed

Date:	February 9, 2010	Location:	Nashville, TN
Time:	7:00 PM	Arena:	Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Local TV:	FS-TN	SBN Affiliate:	Lighthouse Hockey
Radio:	97.1 FM	Season Series	0-0-0

Date:	February 6, 2010	Location:	Nashville, TN
Time:	7:00 PM	Arena:	*Smashville (Bridgestone?) Arena*
Local TV:	None	SBN Affiliate:	Fear The Fin
Radio:	97.1 FM	Season Series	1-1-0