Mother Said…

Mother always said ‘if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.’

Well that does it for my recap of the Sabres and Preds match up…next up a trip to Dallas to face the new and improved Stars on Saturday.

No Deal Howie

While I have been a big fan of David Poile in the past and, truth be told, will continue to be in the future I felt yesterdays moves (if you want to use that strong of a word to describe them) were wasted and not even needed.

The Preds went into the day looking, like many other teams, for a top six forward. What they ended up with, in my opinion, are two role players. While some will say that these players were needed to fill the spots vacated due to injuries of Martin Gelinas and Jed Ortmyer I would argue that these two additions are no better than what we could have brought up from Milwaukee.

Instead of bringing up farmhands to help out in a time of need we spend a draft pick and future considerations on these guys. I would much rather see the passion of a young player like Peverly, Cal O’Reilly or Antti Pihlstrom who would be playing to try and impress the coaches at the next level. It would be their chance to shine.

Chances are that Brandon Bochenski and Jan Hlavac are not part of our long term plans. Yes I know we needed a left handed shot (Pihlstrom, Peverly and Cal all have that in Milwaukee) but I still think that yesterday was a waste.

I talked to a season ticket holder who yesterday told me that they were angry over the lack of dealing done by the Preds. I have to agree. There was no excitement. Nothing to get Pred fans or non traditional fans fired up.

Perhaps Poile and ownership don’t see this team as a real contender and didn’t want to get involved in the bidding wars for a true top six forward. I trust Poile to not to mortgage our future for the sake of taking a chance at making the playoffs. I have said in the past that I think it is vital for this organization to make the playoffs and to bring in a marquee player. We did not do anything that gets us closer to either of these goals yesterday.

We better have one heck of an off-season in the free agent market.

What’s That Smell

What you are smelling is the rotten egg that the Preds laid last night against a very good Dallas Stars team.

Where It Went Right: The first period for the most part was solid and the Preds played step for step with the Stars. It looked like this was going to be a game decided in OT or by a late goal. Both teams were skating hard and playing a physical game.

Where It Went Wrong: For me it all went wrong when the Preds failed to convert on an extended five on three power play…I think the Preds had like 1:20ish of 5 on 3 time. They kept looking for that perfect play. They kept looking for Steve Sullivan to be available back door or for Paul Kariya to make that perfect pass. We are not that team. We have to create the chances…throw the puck at the net. That kill coupled with the horrible clock management at the end of the first killed all Pred momentum and gave the Stars life. They took over the game from there.

Injuries: Yes we were without Gelinas and Radulov and Jed went down leaving Trotz to juggle lines but it’s no excuse to the way we played. That was pathetic hockey. Pathetic.

To Trade Or Not To Trade: Arnott called out David Poile after the game urging him to make a move to help the banged up team. What will Poile do? I have long maintained that this team needs a star…if one can be procured through this process as more than a rental (al la Brad Richards who has a few years left on his deal) then let’s make it happen. If it’s just a rental then we stay put and make a splash in the free agent market. It will be an exciting few days…if anyone can make something happen it’s David Poile.

David Legwand: So…it appears David Legwand was pulled over for a DUI. It’s a sad day for a franchise that, for the most part, has stayed remarkably clean in it’s ten years history. It sounds like he made a poor decision and now has to face the consequences. David is a bright guy and even bright people do stupid things. I just hope this is a one time thing for him and not the beginning of something worse. At least the Preds are still better than the Titans and their thugs…Pac Man anyone?

Playoff Preview?

When the Dallas Stars come calling tonight to Nashville it could very well be a preview of a potential first round match up. If the playoffs started today the Predators, as the number seven seed, would find themselves playing the number two Stars. What a series that would be.

While I don’t like the idea of going against a world class goalie like Turco for seven games the 2007-2008 Predators seem to match up well against these Stars. Leading the season series 2-0 (a 5-1 win at home in early October and a 1-0 shutout in Dallas on New Years Eve) the Preds, at least so far, seem to have shaken the bug that has been Dallas for so many years.

Tonight a red hot Dallas (8-2 over their last ten) comes in to face a Preds team that has found points in eight of their last ten games. Both of these teams are playing well and have taken their games up since the beginning of the year.

Things To Look For: The Sommet should be sold out tonight so it should be rocking. It is vital for the Preds to get on top early. We are one of the best first period teams and we’ll need that tonight. I expect Ellis to be in goal tonight. Not only is it his turn but he proved that he likes to play against Dallas posting that 1-0 win in Dallas in December. With Gelinas out with an ACL injury Jed Ortmeyer will get the start. I love Jed’s game and truly don’t get why he has been a healthy scratch so many times this year. This should be a good one…game is on FSN tonight so if you don’t have a ticket tune in and watch ol’ Eklund with Pete and Terry as well.

Whoo…That Was Close!

With the game in hand and the ice tilted in their direction the Predators let the Edmonton Oilers nearly steal two points in Nashvhille last night. The Oilers scored goals in bunches and scoring three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead. The Preds answered back seconds later knotting the game at four a piece. JP Dumont finally rescued the Preds in the final minutes and then the Preds held on and took the two points to move into fifth place in the West. Yes…FIFTH place people!

The line of Arnott, Dumont and Radulov continues to hit on all cylinders. Dumont jumped right back in after missing two games with the flu and looked fresh.

Tootoo’s goal was beautiful! That line was scrapping and fighting for that goal and the hard work paid off.

Ellis was solid in net and only the fourth goal was soft…he should have had that one. The others were crazy bounces or major breakdowns from the D.

Question to all Pred fans:Eklund (over at www.hockeybuzz.com) and I got into a bit of a debate over Hossa and Richards. Who would you like and why?

Out Of Pocket: I will be out of pocket until at least Sunday as I am out on business…tow huge home games coming up for the Preds. Get down to the Sommet and support the boys.

Preds Sticking Around

“These Preds just won’t go away.”

That has to be the thought going through many a player and GM in this league right now. The team that many had left for dead before the season started finds themselves sitting in 6th place right now with 21 games to go. Yes, I know that is a lot of hockey left but no one thought we’d be here.

Why Are We Here? For me it goes back to the play of one guy…Dan Ellis. Think back to early in the year…are you there yet? Mason started red hot and even won player of the week honors early in the year. All Pred fans were saying ‘Tomas who?’ Then all of a sudden Mason couldn’t stop a 12 mph wrister from Great Aunt Chris Chelios. It was bad. He was bad. All hope was lost. Enter Dan Ellis the $500k free agent signee that came in and pulled the fat out of the fire. His play inspired the team up front and helped snap out 6 game losing streak. his incredible play has not stopped there and he has become the unsung hero of this team. I think Radulov might be that player for us in the future and he has shown flashes of his game changing ability but he isn’t that guy game in and game out.

Why Are We Here #2? A potent top line. The guys on Versus called the Arnott, Dumont, Radulov line one of the most potent in the NHL. This is a line that can make things happen. These guys have built some incredible chemistry this year and it has paid off big time.

What We Need: While I am thrilled with where we are I am still not convinced that this is a team that can go too far in the playoffs. I am confident that our goaltending will keep us in most games but our lack of depth up front has me worried. I think that we are missing that one guy who can break a game open by himself. Watching Marion Gaborik last night I realized that we do not have that player. I understand that many teams don’t ahve that player but many of the top ones do. Look at Detroit with Datsyuk, Ottawa with Heatly, San Jose with Thornton , Calgary with Iginla, Pittsburgh with Crosby and Malkin and yes even St. Louis with PK. We have a ton of great role players but now dominant players that can take control of a game.

Three Out Of Four…Ain’t Bad: We got three out of four points this weekend which is pretty good if you ask me. Two points against a goalie that nearly robbed us of any points at all and a gutsy comeback last night to force OT against a very good Wild team at home.

If The Playoffs Started Today: We would be the six seed against Minnesota as the three seed. Now that would be one heck of a series.

Dan Ellis On The Block?

A source has told me that Dan Ellis fully expects to be traded and that the Preds would not be getting a goalie in return but would bring up prospect Pekka Rinne to back up Chris Mason.

Another source close to the team said that this idea did seem feasible because they’ve heard that the Preds are eager to get Pekka up to the show.

Not sure who the dance partner would be but you have to assume that it’s a team looking for a solid back and maybe even someone who can shoulder the load full time. I wonder if Atlanta or Tampa Bay could be interested…the goalie situations in both cities leave much to be desired.

If the Preds are confident in Pekka I can see why they would do this. Ellis has impressed this season posting a 13-5-2 record with a 2.31 GAA and .921 SV%…these numbers have not gone unnoticed to the rest of the league. The Preds only signed him to a one year deal and he will be expecting to get a nice raise over the 500k he is earning this year.

I, for one, would be terribly upset to see Ellis go. I think he has a bright future in this league and I wish we could see him develop into that night in and night out go to guy.

What are your thoughts? Do you like this move? Let me hear your opinions on this.

I will let you know if I hear any further developments on this front.

Cliches Abound

Man…I could think of a many headlines to describe last nights game. I could go for the obvious and make reference to a St. Valentines Day Massacre. Maybe the Preds had a Red Wing hangover following their emotional win on Tuesday. I could go subtle and talk about how the Preds ‘Do Little’ after a brilliant rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Melinda Doolittle but instead I think I’ll just say last nights game sucked.

Yup…it sucked. Let me also say right now that when the fifth goal went in I went out the door. I was done watching this pathetic attempt at hockey. I’m not usually that guy who leaves but I couldn’t watch anymore. My good buddy Jason put it best.

“I don’t mind watching the team lose. I just can’t stand when they don’t even show up.”

Brilliantly put Jason…I couldn’t have said it better myself. This team did not show up at all last night. Soft goals allowed by Mason. Little help from the D. Sloppy neutral zone play. The Preds did put on a nice tape to tape passing display last night…problem was it was going from the tape of their sticks to the tape of the Hawks sticks. Not only did I have put up with the pathetic play on the ice I had a winner sitting next to me drinking two fisted and taking the Lord’s name in vain at every Pred hiccup…and there were a ton of hiccups.

Honestly I don’t have much else to say because this game is one I want to forget. I give credit to the Blackhawks who, at the end of a seven game road trip put up 13 goals in the last two games…maybe I was wrong yesterday when I said they would be sellers. These guys are not going to go quietly.

The Preds need to make some quick adjustments and get back in top form because a hungry Blues team heads to the Sommet on Saturday to a sell out crowd…let’s make sure they all go home with a smile on their face!

Hawks In Town For V-Day Date

The high octane Chicago Blackhawks come calling tonight to the Sommet Center fresh off a 7-2 thrashing of the Bluejackets last night. One can only hope that they used up their allotment last night.

Led by a core of youngsters that will make this team dangerous for years to come the Blackhawks have fallen out of contention and appear to be destined to be a .500 hockey club this year. That is not meant to be a slam against them…this team is real close and on any given night can beat any team (just ask the Wings who have had their issues with the 07-08 version of the Hawks). The future is bright with Sharp, Toews, Kane and big D-man Byfuglien who had a hat trick in last nights massacre.

As usual I think we can expect a physical game when these two central foes match up tonight. The Preds did a great job physically against the Wings on Tuesday and will need to match that effort tonight. The Preds also have to treat the Hawks scorers the same way we treated Datsyuk (anyone else notice McCann’s pronunciation of his name the last few games against the Wings?) and Zetterberg…play the body and not the puck because these guys can dance around you in a heartbeat!

Will Trotz continue the rotation in goal tonight and start Ellis? The guys seem to be responded well to this. When two guys as talented as Mason and Ellis are battling the way they are now the team wins big time. Neither of these guys wants to lose any playing time and they are each shining when given the start.

Cool Promotion tonight: For a $20 donation to the Predators foundation you can pick an autographed puck. trick is they are all wrapped so you don’t know which player you have until you open it. Some lucky pucks will be autographed in gold…those get an additional prize. Cool idea.

A White Knuckled Win

You know when you ride that really scary roller coaster and you thought you had a great time…that is until you get off and realize that you were clinching your fists so tight the whole time that you cut off circulation. That’s how last nights game against Detroit felt to me…a bit too much of the white knuckles.

The Start We Needed: Wow! I don’t think anyone saw that start coming. I did think, prior to the game, that Osgood had been off his game of late and that might be a good think. I was even thinking that they might give him the night off (in hindsight I’m sure the coaching staff is thinking that they should have). Three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes proved to be all that the Preds would need as they would hang on to win 4-2.

While some in the Pred Nation might be jumping up and down for joy this morning I would urge cautious optimism. If it were not for a stellar performance from Chris Mason, who turned away 40 of Detroit’s 42 shots, we would be singing a different tune today. Mason played an unbelievable game and saved the bacon many times last night. I heard a ‘die hard Pred fan’ call in this morning on 560 AM and ask if Tomas Vokoun were to come available would the Preds try to get him back. This guy, who claimed to be a season ticket holder, must of fell asleep during last nights game…heck even the last month…because Mason is about as good as they come in net right now. That was idiotic.

Can I just say how bad we played for the first ten minutes of the second period. Yes…I give Detroit credit for coming out and taking control of the game but the fact is we were asleep at the wheel and were fortunate to not give up more than we did. That was pathetic hockey. We ended up showing some life in the second but not until the medics had to get the freakin paddles!

Other Random Observations: Radulov is becoming a better player each and every day…I hope we can watch him for many more years. Pretty goal by Erat and Peverley as Osgood had no clue what they were going to do. The Preds have got to lock up Shea Weber…he’s a man-beast! Was it me or did it seem that the refs made some really ticky-tack calls last night.