Nashville Predators News: Pro Sports Daily

February 10

Ottawa Sun

"Chris Phillips couldn't have dreamed up a much better ending for his 1,000th game. Two goals. And, most importantly, the Senators brought a seven-game losing streak to a screeching halt, beating Mike Fisher and the Nashville Predators 4-3. It was Ottawa's first win at home since Jan. 8. Not only did Phillips end a 74-game goal-scoring drought, he did it in dramatic fashion by scoring the winner with a rare power-play goal in the third period for only the fourth two-goal game of his NHL career. "It's unbelievable. The whole hype around it was exciting," said Phillips. "To be in my 1,000th game and then to top it off with a couple of goals and it ends up being the game-winner. You can't"

Fans love Fisher, Melnyk hates 'drunken guys'

February 10

Ottawa Citizen

"On Thursday, the Scotiabank Place crowd greeted the returning Mike Fisher with a warm welcome 11 minutes into the game. As the Ottawa Senators paid tribute to Fisher's career with the Senators in a video highlight package on the scoreboard, he received a standing ovation. It marked quite the contrast from the mood in the building when the Toronto Maple Leafs visited last Saturday. According to Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, that atmosphere can't be tolerated. Melnyk, talking early Thursday afternoon in a fan chat with season ticket holders, vowed to make changes."

Lineman's signing helps Titans' depth

February 10

Tennessean

"The Titans headed into the offseason with free-agency concerns at a numbers of positions, but with starters Michael Roos and David Stewart signed through 2014, offensive tackle wasn't one of them. After agreeing to terms on a contract with versatile offensive lineman Mike Otto on Thursday, they're now set on a backup plan at the position for several years to come as well. Otto's deal is for two years, through 2013. Otto became the second player to reach a deal with the team this offseason — he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 13. Last month, the Titans agreed to terms on a new four-year deal with tight end Craig Stevens. Otto, 28, has played in 41 games during"

Mike Fisher returns to Ottawa

February 10

Tennessean

"Mike Fisher's visor is clear. You can see his eyes, and pretty much his entire face through the half shield. That meant you could view his entire emotional spectrum on the ice during his return to Ottawa. But there were times when Fisher, who spent 13 years with the Senators organization before a trade last February, wanted to shield his face. "I almost wish I wore a tinted visor tonight because it was a bit emotional," Fisher said. Fisher signed several autographs for children in the stands at the Predators morning skate as he walked to Nashville's locker room. He took so long that several Predators players walked past Fisher as he signed almost every jersey, stick and puck. During the"

Predators lose to Ottawa Senators

February 10

Tennessean

"Nashville's post All-Star break defensive woes are starting to reach a boiling point with Coach Barry Trotz. Following Nashville's 4-3 loss on Thursday to Ottawa, in which Trotz saw odd-man rushes and giveaways lead to Senators scores, he'd had enough. "I thought right before the break we had it locked down," Trotz said. "I look at all four goals, they for the most part were gifts." The Predators have lost three of their last four games, including one in a shootout. They are 2-2-1 since the All-Star break. Alarmingly, Nashville has given up three or more goals in four of the five games. Ottawa ended a seven-game losing streak. Pekka Rinne made 25 saves for Nashville. Alex Auld of the"

Nashville Predators see upside to shootout defeat

February 9

Tennessean

"Coach Barry Trotz doesn't believe the Predators suffered a setback by losing to Vancouver 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday, and he expects plenty of momentum to be carried into tonight's game at Ottawa. The Predators had won six of their previous seven games before falling to Vancouver. Trotz values the critical point Nashville earned by taking the Canucks into overtime more than he worries about the record, which slipped to 32-17-5. "You've got to get points every night," Trotz said. "I don't look at Tuesday as a loss. I look at it as a tie and someone got an extra point.""

Nashville Predators' Mike Fisher prepares to face former team

February 9

Tennessean

"When Mike Fisher walks into Scotiabank Place in Ottawa this morning for Nashville's pre-game skate, he doesn't expect to get lost. Fisher has been in the opposing team's locker room before at the home of the Ottawa Senators. "I've been there for training camps and stuff like that," he said, then paused. "But it'll be strange knowing I'm playing against lots of good friends and an organization I was with for so long." Tonight will provide a moment for Fisher that many professional athletes face — a chance to play his former team for the first time. But for Fisher, it's slightly different, and somewhat more special."

Fisher returns to his roots

February 9

Ottawa Citizen

"Mike Fisher stepped off the plane from Nashville, Tennessee, late Wednesday afternoon and into his old world. Back to see old friends. Renewing ties with his former teammates. And come tonight, he'll be on the ice at Scotiabank Place, playing in front of the fan base that embraced him as one of their favourites for more than a decade. "When the schedule came out, it was the first thing I looked at," said Fisher. "It's good to be back." Friday marks the one-year anniversary of when Senators general manager Bryan Murray began the trade show here, dealing Fisher to the Nashville Predators for a first round selection in last June's NHL entry draft."

Shootout goes six rounds

February 8

Tennessean

"Predators Coach Barry Trotz doesn't enjoy watching shootouts. He always looks at the crowd instead. On Tuesday, he had to stare in the stands for quite a while. The shootout went to six rounds before the Canucks' Alex Edler ended it by scoring between the legs of goaltender Pekka Rinne for a 4-3 Vancouver victory. Rinne allowed two scores, the other coming to Alex Burrows on a backhand. Nashville scored once, on a backhand attempt by David Legwand. "It's goalie against a shooter, and we both have a chance," Rinne said. "I wasn't happy with those two goals I gave up.""

Nashville Predators fall to Vancouver Canucks in shootout

February 8

Tennessean

"Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne stared down the ice for most of Tuesday's game and saw Vancouver's Roberto Luongo make save after save. It forced Rinne to boost his own game in a personal match of "Can you top this?" Unfortunately for Rinne and the Predators, Luongo made just enough stops in Vancouver's 4-3 shootout win in front of an announced crowd of 16,232 at Bridgestone Arena. The loss snapped Rinne's 11-game winning streak and dropped the Predators (32-17-5) to 2-1-1 since the All-Star break. Nashville still picked up a point, though, and now has 69 total on the season."

Canucks beat Nashville in yet another shootout

February 8

Vancouver Province

"The last time the Sedin twins were split for any length of time was March 2008. They were on a monster of a slump. Their fourth game apart was the beginning of a remarkable collapse which would see the Canucks lose seven of eight, miss the playoffs and, as a result, forever change the direction of the team by ushering in the Mike Gillis era. Alain Vigneault has since suffered from Sedin separation anxiety, always saying he believes they are better together. But the the coach got over it long enough Tuesday to tear down his lineup and rebuild it with a flair for the odd, including his decision to split the Sedins to try to ignite them."

Luongo shows his good, bad and lucky sides in game-winning performance

February 8

Vancouver Province

"Henrik Sedin was getting treatment post-game for his ankle after he took a slapshot off it in the first period. He was unavailable for an update. But before the game, he said the Canucks were looking to win one without needing their goalie to stand on his head. He got his wish. Roberto Luongo did about everything but in a save that kept the Canucks afloat. It was Tuesday's signature wow moment, and during it, Luongo was riveting."

Predators' Mike Fisher sits out practice

February 7

Tennessean

"Predators forward Mike Fisher, who has scored seven goals over the past seven games, missed Monday's practice but hopes to play when Vancouver visits Bridgestone Arena tonight. Fisher said he did not feel well Sunday, the day after the Predators claimed a 3-1 victory over St. Louis, and skipped Monday's practice as a precaution. "I'm definitely feeling better than I was Sunday," Fisher said. "I just needed a rest. I'm getting old." Fisher is tied with Patric Hornqvist as the Predators' leading scorer."

Nashville Predators look for playoffs payback vs. Vancouver Canucks

February 7

Tennessean

"With all the good that has happened for the Predators lately, it wouldn't seem that anything that happened last season would matter much at this point. The Predators are rolling, having won six of their past seven games and 14 of their past 17 as they continue to build steam with hopes of skating into the playoffs. But a reminder of the manner in which last year's playoff run ended, with Nashville unable to protect its home ice against Vancouver, is still a painful and humbling memory. The Canucks return to Bridgestone Arena today for the first time since closing out the Predators with a 2-1 victory in the second round of the 2010-11 playoffs."

Pekka Rinne calls 43 shots 'a party' at the net

February 5

Tennessean

"The St. Louis Blues managed to get two more shots on goal than Nashville (16-14) in the first period Saturday, but the Predators led 2-0. At one point the Blues had 11 shots to the Predators' 3. St. Louis finished the game 43 shots and Nashville had 37. "There was a lot of scoring chances during this game and not too many goals," said Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, who stopped 42 shots. "(Blues goalie Jaroslav) Halak played really well. We just have to be happy to win a game like this." Rinne said he enjoys having a lot of shots come his way. "It was a party," Rinne said. "It's always fun. It keeps you in the game. Who knows, though? The next game I might get 15 to 20 shots, and you have to"

Predators defeat St. Louis Blues

February 5

Tennessean

"The Predators took a big step Saturday toward regaining the momentum they had prior to the All-Star break by holding off Central Division foe St. Louis 3-1. Nashville headed into the break on a five-game win streak, but had to stage a furious rally in order to win its first game after that and then lost Thursday to Philadelphia. "Coming back from the break, we just didn't have a flow," said Martin Erat, who scored the Predators' first goal Saturday on the power play and assisted Mike Fisher on the second in the first period. "We won at Minnesota but weren't playing like we were before the break. And then in Philly, it was a better game, but we lost. Today was a much better game. We played"

Predators 'party' their way to critical victory over the Blues

February 5

Nashville City Paper

"Pekka Rinne has said numerous times throughout the years that he prefers games in which he faces plenty of shots over those when his workload is minimal. His impression of the Nashville Predators' 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday was somewhat predictable, therefore. "It was a party," Rinne said with a wide smile after he made a season-high 42 saves. "It's always fun. It keeps you in the game and you kind of get that flow going. … It gets easier. "… You just have to be ready each night. It doesn't matter what kind of game." It was clear from the start what type of game the sellout crowd at Bridgestone Arena was going to see. The teams came in separated by a point in the"

Predators' defense struggling after All-Star break

February 4

Tennessean

"If the Predators are to begin a new winning streak today, it probably will require defensive results similar to what they got just prior to the NHL All-Star break. Nashville has given up seven non-empty net goals in its two games since the break. The Predators had given up that same total in the five games leading up to the break, relying on solid defense to pick up some key wins. Nashville plays host to St. Louis today in a key Central Division game. "We've got to play better defensively," Predators captain Shea Weber said. "We've got to be stronger in our system and more disciplined. Our (penalty kill) hasn't been very good the last couple games. We made a few mistakes, and opponents"

Predators squander momentum to Philadelphia Flyers

February 3

Tennessean

"The Predators thought they had the momentum. In fact, they knew it. Midway through the second period Thursday, the Predators killed off a five-on-three and went on a power play of their own. Then, after that power play was over, one mistake gave the Flyers the game-winning goal. Matt Read's goal with 5:28 left in the second period proved to be the difference in the Flyers' 4-1 win over the Predators. The loss was Nashville's first in five games and just its third in 16 games, and it came on the heels of a comeback win at the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. "Those guys made a huge kill on the five-on-three," Predators defenseman Ryan Suter said. "I thought we had the momentum. We would like to"

Smith reaches rookie milestone in Predators' loss to Flyers

February 3

Nashville City Paper

"Craig Smith became the second rookie in Nashville Predators history to record 20 assists in a season, but the Nashville Predators lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday at Philadelphia. Smith had the primary assist on Ryan Suter's goal with 11:23 to play as Nashville attempted to overcome a third-period deficit for the second time in three days. Suter's sixth goal of the season got the Predators within one, 2-1, but they got no closer. "It was a great play by [Smith]," Suter said. "He passed it over and it was good. ... We finished up pretty solid there. We've got to carry it over to the next game and build off that." Philadelphia scored twice in the final five minutes — the"

Rinaldo sparks Flyers in home win over Preds

February 3

CSN Philly

"When Zac Rinaldo doesn't play for a couple of game, it shows on the ice. The energy, the hits, the timing to make something happen aren't there. Truth is, the Flyers languish when he's not around. Rinaldo returned to the lineup Thursday night after missing three games and re-ignited the Flyers' flame with a couple of great hits, an assist and a screen for a goal during a 4-1 win over the sizzling Nashville Predators, who had lost only twice in their previous 15 games."

Nashville Predators' Shea Weber rips play before rally

February 2

Tennessean

"Sometimes, Predators defenseman Shea Weber sounds like a coach. The even-keeled captain always finds a spot where his team can improve. That's why he decided to dwell on the 2½ periods the Predators didn't play well, rather than their comeback in the final 10 minutes to beat the Wild 5-4 on Tuesday. "If we always play like that, we're not going to be able to pull that off," Weber said Wednesday. "It's good that we know that we can come from behind and we have the confidence we're never out of a game, but we need to do a lot better in the little areas.""

Nashville Predators' Brandon Yip, ice time beats beach

February 2

Tennessean

"Earlier this season, when he was a member of the Colorado Avalanche, Brandon Yip booked an All-Star break trip to Cabo with some teammates. Yip figured the warm sun and picturesque Mexican beaches would regenerate him. But just six days before the break, the Predators claimed Yip off waivers. Instead of taking a vacation, he needed to find a place to live in Nashville, go back to Denver to pack his stuff and then move it to Music City. Most people would complain about giving up a trip to the Baja Peninsula to deal with a job "transfer," but in this case, it was a sacrifice Yip gladly made. With Colorado, Yip had fallen out of favor. With Nashville, at least through three games, he has"

Predators GM David Poile meets with Ryan Suter's agent

February 1

Tennessean

"General Manager David Poile said contract negotiations with defenseman Ryan Suter are ongoing and he hoped to re-sign his star defenseman at some point. He just didn't know when. Last week at the All-Star Game, Suter said he didn't believe he would re-sign with Nashville before the Feb. 27 trading deadline. Poile said he met with Suter's agent, Neil Sheehy, before Tuesday's game at Minnesota. Sheehy is based in the Twin Cities area. If the Predators and Suter don't come to terms before July 1, the defenseman will be an unrestricted free agent. "It's just ongoing, it's the same situation," Poile said. "Everything is being said the way you want a player to say it and the way you want a"

Four-goal third period lifts Nashville Predators

February 1

Tennessean

"Mike Fisher stood in the locker room at the Xcel Energy Center with his hockey pants, skates and shin pads on, and took questions from reporters about yet another miraculous comeback win by the Nashville Predators. There wasn't much of a smile or level of enthusiasm from Fisher. Just stone-cold confidence. No matter the deficit, Fisher, and the Predators, know they're never out of a game. And they proved it again, coming back from a three-goal, third-period deficit to win 5-4 over the Minnesota Wild in their first game since the All-Star break."

Jordin Tootoo lands sailfish during all-star break

January 31

Tennessean

"Predators goalie Pekka Rinne has been the player making the big saves this season, but over the NHL All-Star break it was teammate Jordin Tootoo who made the big catch. Rinne and Tootoo relaxed and fished in Florida along with one of Rinne's friends from the goalie's native Finland. Rinne and his friend watched inside the boat as Tootoo landed a large sailfish, the highlight of the trip. "All of a sudden, one of the rods, you see something (pulling it), and Toots grabs the rod and was like, 'That's mine, buddy,' " Rinne said. "And I'm like, 'Go for it.' " It was the sort of relaxation the players said they needed, to wind down and rest their minds and bodies. But the time away from the"

Ryan Suter's contract not yet an issue

January 31

Tennessean

"The Predators displayed little worry Monday about defenseman Ryan Suter's comments during NHL All-Star weekend. Speaking at Friday's media session in Ottawa, Suter said he did not think he would sign a contract extension with the Predators before the Feb. 27 trade deadline. If the Predators and Suter don't come to terms before July 1, one of Nashville's three best players would be an unrestricted free agent. The statement caused a hockey-media firestorm, prompting Suter to explain his choice of words a day later. "We deal with it day by day and do not worry about it. We're worried about winning this year," Coach Barry Trotz said. "From our standpoint, and probably his standpoint, it's a"

Nashville Predators must make deal or deal with consequences

January 30

Tennessean

columnist David Climer

"The Predators skate out of the All-Star break with one burning question: Are they buyers, sellers or status quo-ers? This is a tough one. Four weeks remain before the NHL trade deadline, and Predators management is on the clock. Based on where they sit in the standings, you can make a case that the Predators have a roster that could get them not only into the playoffs but also with a good seed, too. They might have the third-best record in the Central Division but only three teams in all of the NHL have won more games. So why mortgage the future?"

Back to the real NHL games

January 30

Ottawa Sun

columnist Chris Stevenson

"The days at the beach, as tweeted by Capitals defenceman Mike Green from the Cayman Islands, are over. The neon tans from Las Vegas will now start to fade. The NHL's feel-good weekend here — a resounding success which revolved around the emotional outpouring between Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and Senators fans — now becomes a fond memory. Ahead is a 30-game sausage grinder that is the rest of the NHL season. "You need the break whether you're here or somewhere else doing something different. This is a part of the season the guys really look forward to, just to recharge the battery," said Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul. "When you get back from this break, you're re-energized and you"

Chara's stars beat hometown hero Alfredsson

January 30

Ottawa Sun

"On his big day, Daniel Alfredsson surrounded himself with Swedes. But it was a bunch of Slovak buddies, led by New York Rangers winger Marian Gaborik, who drove Team Chara to a 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson in front of 20,510 in the 57th NHL all-star game Sunday at Scotiabank Place. While former Senators defenceman Zdeno Chara scored the third-period winner, it was Gaborik, voted the game MVP, who led his club to victory with a hat trick and four-point effort as Team Chara walked away with the bragging rights. "You could see the guys wanted to win," said Chara when asked if he gave his team any instructions with the score tied 6-6 going into the third period. "I didn't have to say a"

Suter counters perception he will test free agency

January 29

NHL.com

"Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter's comments Friday regarding his ongoing contract negotiations and his pending status as an unrestricted free agent created a bit of unintended controversy at the NHL's All-Star weekend. As a result, the Nashville defenseman felt the need to clarify exact comments he made at 2012 NHL All-Star Media Day presented by Allstate. Suter told reporters he didn't want to sign a new contract prior to the Feb. 27 trade deadline. Suter said he felt the media portrayed his comments to mean that he will test the open market when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Prior to Sunday's 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, Suter told NHL.com that portrayal is"

Shea Weber, Ryan Suter bond started at Nashville Predators' first NHL draft

January 29

Tennessean

"During interviews about Predators defensemen Shea Weber or Ryan Suter, the word "complement" seems to find its way into most sentences. "We thought they would be a very good complement to one another," Coach Barry Trotz said. "Our games complement each other," Weber said. "I think we complement each other well," Suter said. Weber is a big, powerful defenseman who hits hard and blasts howitzers on opposing nets. Suter is the skilled blueline partner who makes plays with his head and skating ability. With their skills combined, many observers around the NHL believe they create the perfect defenseman. Through scouting, foresight, strategy and draft luck, Nashville united the pair that has led"

Suter doesn't plan to talk contract

January 28

Ottawa Sun

"The Predators are going to have to make a decision on Ryan Suter at the NHL trade deadline. The blue-chip defenceman, one of the best potential free agents this summer, told reporters during Friday's NHL all-star weekend media day that he doesn't have any interest in having contract talks until the season is over. The decision by the 27-year-old Suter is significant because it means Nashville GM David Poile risks losing Suter for nothing if he doesn't deal him by Feb. 27. "At this point, it's not worth going and trying to do something," said Suter. "Then it becomes a distraction not only to me, but to my teammates as well." The Predators could always move Suter's rights at the draft in"

Preds rookie puts NHL on notice

January 28

Tennessean

"This time a year ago, Predators rookie center Craig Smith was a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, mulling over whether to stay for his junior year or turn pro. Today he will be one of 12 first-year players in Ottawa for the NHL All-Star skills competition. Talk about fast validation. "You never know what (professional hockey) is going to be like when you're in college," Smith said when asked to reflect on his decision. "It's always going to be different than what you think." That's quite an understatement, particularly for the 22-year-old Smith. He is among the top NHL rookies in points (29), assists (18) and goals (11). "To be honest with you, the first couple of weeks of camp I"

Trade bait Suter won't re-sign before deadline

January 28

CSN Philly

"Ryan Suter's situation of potentially being dealt at the NHL trade deadline next month took an interesting turn on Friday when the Nashville Predators defenseman said he does not want to re-sign before the deadline. He is unrestricted while fellow coveted teammate Shea Weber is restricted. One of them could be dealt. The Flyers are among a handful of clubs interested in getting into the mix if that happens. "I feel it would be more of a distraction than anything," Suter said of signing in February. "We've never had a timeline or deadline. We're just focusing on winning. Everything else will take care of itself. "I don't see it being a benefit by hurrying up and trying to get something"

Shea Weber, Ryan Suter split up for NHL All-Star Game

January 27

Tennessean

"Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara split up the Nashville Predators' All-Star defensive pairing of Shea Weber and Ryan Suter on Thursday. In the draft of players to determine the rosters for Sunday's NHL All-Star Game, Alfredsson selected Weber, a two-time All-Star, with the eighth pick. Chara immediately grabbed Suter, making his first All-Star appearance, with the next pick. Alfredsson stuck close to home — both his native Sweden and his adopted home of Ottawa — in making his selections. His opposing team captain, defenseman Chara, took a more offensive approach as the two rosters — Team Alfredsson and Team Chara — were formed. They will face each other in the skills competition on"

Weber, Suter taken with back-to-back picks, broken up for All-Star Game

January 27

Nashville City Paper

"Ryan Suter and Shea Weber will not get to play together as All-Stars. The two pieces of the Nashville Predators' top defense pair were taken with consecutive picks Thursday in the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft, which meant they went to different sides for Sunday's NHL All-Star game. Weber was the second choice of the eighth round (16th overall) by Team Alfredsson. Suter went next to Team Chara. Nashville is the only team with two blue liners selected to play in the game. Weber is tied for third among all NHL defensemen in points (34) and goals (10) and is tied for second with five power play goals. Suter is tied for 10th in assists with 23. This is the second year the draft has been a part of"

Who will win? Breaking down All-Star teams

January 27

NHL.com

"The draft is over, the rosters set for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game. We now know who will be wearing the white jerseys for Team Alfredsson and the blue jerseys to represent Team Chara. Now it's time to take a look at the rosters and break them down by position. Look for our prediction at the end. FORWARDS Datsyuk and Malkin on the same team is a scary proposition for the opposition. They may be the two most skilled players in the NHL right now. As Chara said, you can put them on the same line and they can be unstoppable, or you can put them on separate lines and they'll still be dominant and "make the line." Team Alfredsson has a lot of talent, but it doesn't have two"

Nashville Predators have look of playoff contender

January 26

Tennessean

"Every NHL season is a process — a long, drawn-out process that goes from October to April if you're unlucky, or June if you're lucky. That being said, 50 games into this season, Nashville Coach Barry Trotz finally felt comfortable using a particular word to describe his current group of Predators. Following Tuesday's win over Chicago, which gave Nashville 64 points in 50 games, Trotz called his team "special." "There's a lot of good things happening with our team," Trotz said. "There's something special developing. Goaltending is not an issue with our team, and we have two of the best young defensemen on the planet right now and some developing forwards that give us a lot of depth.""

Nashville Predators' Patric Hornqvist uses foot to help Mike Fisher score

January 25

Tennessean

"When he was 15 years old, Predators forward Patric Hornqvist made the decision to play hockey over soccer. The choice has certainly paid off with a career as an NHL player. On Tuesday, Hornqvist remembered days as a teenager with a kick pass from behind the net to forward Mike Fisher in front. Fisher buried the shot past Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford for the eventual game-winner with 2:26 left in the first period. "He tied up my stick and the puck was right in front of me," Hornqvist said. "Luckily it was my good foot too — my left. I got some heat on it to Fish and he put it top cheese.""

Nashville Predators catch Chicago Blackhawks in Central Division standings

January 25

Tennessean

"Tuesday morning, before the Predators game in Chicago, Nashville Coach Barry Trotz said his team had set a midseason goal of catching the Blackhawks in the standings. After Tuesday night's 3-1 win over Chicago in front of an announced crowd of 21,279 at the United Center, consider that objective officially realized. Playing in the second game of a back-to-back, the Preds jumped on the Blackhawks early with two first-period goals and held on the rest of the way for the victory."

Predators 3, Blackhawks 1: A tough break for the Hawks

January 25

Chicago Sun-Times

"Somewhere in the United Center, star forwards Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews watched and eagerly waited for their wrist/hand injuries to heal. What happened on the ice had to be as tough on them as it was for their fans to stomach. The Blackhawks fell behind by two goals in the first period, failed to get anything going in the second, then saw their rally fall short in the third as the Nashville Predators passed them in the standings with a 3-1 victory Tuesday."

Hawks can't get going in 3-1 setback

January 25

Chicago Tribune

"By the time Corey Crawford was done smashing his stick over the cross bar and breaking it into pieces, it was evident the Blackhawks were in trouble. Whether the goaltender was upset over two defensive breakdowns in front of him or his inability to bail out his teammates with a big save, the fit of rage after the Predators had scored twice during the first period of Tuesday night's Central Division showdown exemplified the Hawks' night. When the clock ran out in the Hawks' last home game until Feb. 19, the Predators had ridden the momentum from the lapses to a 3-1 victory before a crowd of 21,279 at the United Center. The defeat was the Hawks' second to the Predators in four nights and"

Nashville Predators plan for All-Star break

January 24

Tennessean

"With the exception of Shea Weber, Ryan Suter and Craig Smith, who will participate in the NHL All-Star Game festivities this weekend, the Predators will get a much-needed break, according to Coach Barry Trotz. "I think every player in the league at this point wants that break," Trotz said. "Not only is it good from a physical standpoint, but from a mental standpoint it's probably more important." Trotz told the Predators that after today's game at Chicago he doesn't want to see them for a few days. The Predators will return to practice Jan. 30 in preparation for their game the following day at Minnesota."

Predators 4, Blue Jackets 1: Not ready to go, again

January 24

Columbus Dispatch

"If there was little margin for error before, there is none now. The Blue Jackets, downtrodden by their perpetual last-place standing, damaged by injuries and done in by penalties, were no match for a red-hot division rival last night. Nashville's Mike Fisher scored twice, the Predators scored on two of five power plays, and the Blue Jackets lost 4-1 in Bridgestone Arena. It was the final game of the season series. Nashville won five of six. "We are a last-place team," defenseman Marc Methot said. "We can't take five minor penalties and expect to win a game. It's not going to happen.""

Preds' victory is 11th in 13 games as All-Star break nears

January 24

Tennessean

"The Predators are one game away from heading into the NHL All-Star break with loads of momentum. Monday's 4-1 win over Columbus in front of an announced crowed of 14,310 at Bridgestone Arena was Nashville's 11th in their last 13 games. The Predators visit the Chicago Blackhawks today and will then take six days off before returning to action on Jan. 31. Nashville ended the season series against Columbus with a 5-0-1 record."

Brandon Yip goes scoreless in his debut

January 22

Tennessean

"Forward Brandon Yip made his Predators debut in a 5-2 victory over the Blackhawks on Saturday. Yip played 10:22 on the fourth line with Jerred Smithson and Craig Smith but didn't have a shot on goal. To give Yip a spot in the lineup, the Predators took Matt Halischuk out. "As we go along, we'll get to learn what Brandon Yip is all about, and he'll figure out what we're all about and we'll try to find a role for him," Coach Barry Trotz said. Wilson's drought: Predators forward Colin Wilson saw 17:22 of ice time and ended his scoring drought Saturday. He hadn't scored a goal since Dec. 13 against Calgary."

Nashville Predators beat Chicago Blackhawks

January 22

Tennessean

"For 60 minutes Saturday, Predators Coach Barry Trotz looked up in his own arena and saw the sellout crowd of 17,113 littered with red Blackhawks jerseys. After Nashville's 5-2 win, he decided to poke some fun at the visitors "I want to thank all the Chicago fans for coming today … " he joked. "Nashville is a great destination to come to. We'll take the Chicago people's money from the chamber of commerce (perspective)." More important for the Predators, they gained two points in the standings on a tired Blackhawks team. The victory was Nashville's 10th in 12 games and seventh in eight games, giving the Predators 60 points to the Blackhawks' 64. The Predators rode the momentum of a curious"

Unlikely goal sparks Predators to victory over Chicago

January 22

Nashville City Paper

"One lucky bounce and suddenly the Nashville Predators are little more than a hop, skip and a jump from the top of the National Hockey League standings. Kevin Klein's seemingly harmless shot from the center ice red line bounced once and got past goalie Corey Crawford for one of the most unlikely goals of the season. Regardless, it was the first of three that Nashville scored in the second period as it pulled away for a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday before a sellout crowd, which included a significant percentage of Blackhawks fans, at Bridgestone Arena. With two games remaining before the All-Star break the Predators are five points behind Detroit, which has the"