Untitled Page

Martin Erat News & Rumors

Martin Erat draws crowd, makes winning pass for Nashville Predators
April 18
Tennessean
 
"The subtleties of Martin Erat's game sometimes make him unnoticeable on the ice. So it was somewhat odd when the Predators forward drew a Red Wings quartet of Nicklas Lidstrom, Ian White, Jiri Hudler and goaltender Jimmy Howard on a rush in the third period. Erat saw the crowd — as well as an open player in a white jersey in front of the Detroit net. "I was just reading the goalie more than the players," Erat said. "I just saw that he went to the right, so I made the pass." Erat found Kevin Klein in front for the game-winning goal — a typical Erat pass and maybe the biggest play by a skater in Tuesday's 3-1 Nashville victory."
Nashville Predators' Martin Erat having breakout season
April 5
Tennessean
 
"At the morning skate before the Predators played Ottawa on Feb. 9, a reporter asked Senators Coach Paul MacLean about the scoring balance up and down Nashville's lineup. He did not hesitate. "Martin Erat is an exceptional player for them," MacLean said. "He doesn't get an awful lot of credit, but every line he plays on seems to be the best line on their team." The words weren't revelatory. They came from experience. As an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings for six years, MacLean had seen Erat's skating ability, nifty hands, passing vision and hockey sense up close six times per season in the Central Division. "I consider whatever line Martin Erat is on a top line in the league," MacLean"
Predators to welcome back Martin Erat, Jordan Tootoo and Roman Josi Friday night
March 29
Tennessean
 
"The Predators will be at full strength when they visit Detroit on Friday for an important game in the Western Conference playoff standings. Forwards Martin Erat and Jordin Tootoo, and defenseman Roman Josi — who had all been out with upper-body injuries — practiced with the team today and Coach Barry Trotz said he expects them to play against the Red Wings (6:30 p.m., Fox TN, 102.5-FM). A win for the Predators would move them into fourth place in the conference with only four games left to play in the regular season."
Predators 3, Blue Jackets 0: Erat, Rinne are too much
January 20
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Nashville Predators winger Martin Erat usually looks like an All-Star against the Blue Jackets. Goaltender Pekka Rinne is one of the NHL's best, but he looks even bigger, more rubbery, against the Jackets. So it was last night at Nationwide Arena. Erat had a goal and an assist against his favorite opponent, Rinne made 38 saves and the Blue Jackets lost 3-0 before 17,233. This might be a surprise: The Blue Jackets, ranked 26th in the NHL in goals, became the last club in the league to be shut out this season. "There are no holes (with Rinne)," Blue Jackets center Derick Brassard said. "And he's really big. It's so hard to get scoring chances against them, and when you do, you'd better not"
Erat continues scoring surge as Predators top Columbus again
January 20
Nashville City Paper
 
"Martin Erat had a goal and an assist as the Nashville Predators continued their mastery of the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 3-0 victory Thursday at Columbus. The teams conclude their six-game season series Monday at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville has earned nine of a possible 10 points in the five games thus far and has won 30 of the last 38 meetings, a stretch that dates back to the 2006-07 season. Erat gave the Predators a 1-0 lead when he scored at 11:08 of the second period, He found Mike Fisher at the far post for an easy power play goal 2:03 later. Fisher's goal was his ninth of the season, his third on the power play. It was Erat's 10th multi-point game and his fourth in the last"
Failed breakaway shot helps Martin Erat score winner
December 31
Tennessean
 
"Martin Erat's shootout move didn't come from a scouting tape. The coaching staff also didn't tell Erat to shoot high on Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak's glove side. Instead, Erat's choice to fire the puck over Halak's mitt came from a gut feeling. "I've been in this league a long time and I know the goalies," Erat said. "It's better to go with your instincts. You see what's going on on the ice, you see how the goalie plays and, I just tried to go with my instincts." Earlier in the game, Halak stopped Erat on a breakaway. On that play, Erat tried to slip the puck under Halak with his backhand. "On the breakaway, the puck kind of stood up on me and I couldn't do what I wanted to do and in"
Predators turn to Erat for offense in victory
November 18
Tennessean
 
"Forward Martin Erat has a pretty simple reason for why he has been able to bury most of his scoring chances the past two games. "That's what we get paid for," Erat said with an aw-shucks demeanor. The Predators forward was again a catalyst for Nashville, with two goals in a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in front of an announced crowd of 16,135 at Bridgestone Arenaon Thursday. The Predators (10-5-3) have picked up points in 10 of their past 12 games. Nashville has five points in three games on this homestand. In Nashville's last two games — both victories — Erat has four points. "He's a determined player. He cares, he doesn't take games off," Nashville Coach Barry Trotz said."
Erat equals offense as Predators cruise past Toronto
November 18
Nashville City Paper
 
"Martin Erat's surname qualifies as an anagram. Rearrange the four letters, for example, to spell the word 'tear.' Often that sort of thing is a novelty. In this case, it seems appropriate. The 30-year-old forward recorded his second straight multi-point game and continued what qualifies — by any standard — as an offensive tear Thursday as the Nashville Predators beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 before 16,135 at Bridgestone Arena. Erat gave the Predators an early 1-0 lead at 5:48 of the opening period when he fired a loose puck from a difficult angle past goalie Ben Scrivens. He made it 3-1 in a more classic fashion — he finished off a 2-on-1 with center Mike Fisher — just 2:05 into the"
Predators turn to Erat for offense in victory over Toronto
November 18
Tennessean
 
"Forward Martin Erat has a pretty simple reason for why he has been able to bury most of his scoring chances the past two games. "That's what we get paid for," Erat said with an aw-shucks demeanor. The Predators forward was again a catalyst for Nashville, with two goals in a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in front of an announced crowd of 16,135 at Bridgestone Arenaon Thursday."
Martin Erat may miss home opener
October 12
Tennessean
 
"The Predators will decide today if forward Martin Erat can play in Thursday's home opener against Phoenix. Erat, the team co-leader in points last season, was not on the ice for the second consecutive day Tuesday after suffering an upper-body injury in last Friday's win at Columbus. "He was evaluated and he didn't skate," Coach Barry Trotz said. "And if he doesn't practice (today), then I would say that he will miss the home opener." Zack Stortini, who replaced Erat in the lineup against St. Louis last Saturday, was placed on waivers Tuesday when the Predators claimed Brian McGrattan, 30, from Anaheim. Trotz said the move was not related to Erat's injury. "We just felt that McGrattan is a"
Nashville Predators' Martin Erat sits out practice with injury
October 11
Tennessean
 
"The Predators returned to work Monday after a successful season-opening weekend, but forward Martin Erat was not with them. Erat, the team's co-leader in points last season, suffered an upper-body injury in Friday's victory at Columbus and did not play in Saturday's win at St. Louis. Coach Barry Trotz said Erat's status is day to day, and Erat would be re-evaluated today."
Martin Erat says pain in back is healing
August 10
Tennessean
 
"A constant grimace accompanied Martin Erat through most of the playoffs last year. Sometimes it was toothless. But this summer, looking healthy and healed at a Predators youth camp, Erat said he felt much better as he gets ready for the 2011-12 season. "I took a little bit more time off, just to get healed and on the right track," Erat said. "I'm feeling OK right now and feeling good. Excited for being healthy next season." Last season, despite missing 18 games with a recurring back injury, Erat finished tied with forward Sergei Kostitsyn for most points on the Predators with 50. He led the team in points per game with 0.78. The 2011-12 season will be important for Erat. According to"
Martin Erat returns to ice
April 27
Tennessean
 
"The news keeps getting better for the Predators. Martin Erat practiced with the team for the first time Tuesday since suffering an upper-body injury in Game 4 against the Ducks last Wednesday. The forward, who tied for the team lead in points (50) in the regular season, had one goal and two assists in the Western Conference quarterfinals before the injury. "It was nice to get back and skate with the guys on the ice," Erat said. "It's a great feeling to be able to play hockey." Erat was injured on a late hit from Anaheim's Jarkko Ruutu — who was suspended one game by the NHL — but he healed quickly. Coach Barry Trotz said if the series with the Ducks had gone to Game 7, Erat would have"
Erat feels healthy, thankful for opportunity to return to playoffs
April 27
Nashville City Paper
 
"For Martin Erat, the worst is behind him. He hopes that's not the case with the best as well. Erat watched the last two games of the Nashville Predators' Western Conference quarterfinal series — both victories — as Nashville made its way to the conference semifinals for the first time in franchise history. He was a key participant in the series until Game 4 when he sustained an upper body injury in a mid-ice collision with Anaheim's Jarkko Ruutu. "The guys did it — they moved to the second round," Erat said Tuesday. "That's the best part for me." Erat once again was one of the guys Tuesday when he took part in a full workout and was one of the last players to leave the ice. He skated in"
Ducks forward suspended one game for Erat hit
April 22
Tennessean
 
"Ducks forward Jarkko Ruutu was suspended one game by the NHL today for a late hit against Predators forward Martin Erat in Game 4 of Western Conference quarterfinals at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday. The disciplinary hearing between the NHL and Ruutu took place Thursday afternoon. Ruutu, a role player who averages about 5 minutes of ice time per game, will miss Game 5 in Anaheim on Friday. The hit came in the second period and Erat had to be attended to by team trainers as play was stopped. Ruutu was called for interference. Erat did not return to the game and is being listed with an upper-body injury. Predators Coach Barry Trotz said today that Erat would not make the trip to Anaheim for"
Predators' injured Erat to sit out Game 5 against Anaheim
April 21
Nashville City Paper
 
"Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz said Thursday injured forward Martin Erat will not make the trip to California for Game 5 Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Erat is suffering from an upper body injury, the result of a neutral zone collision with Anaheim's Jarkko Ruutu four minutes into the second period of Wednesday night's game. The Preds lost 6-3."
Ducks injure Martin Erat
April 21
Tennessean
 
"Martin Erat had been battered and beaten this series. The Ducks turned several of his front teeth into Chiclets in Game 2, but the forward came back and played. In Game 4, the Ducks may have given Erat one punch too many. At around the 16-minute mark of the second period, Anaheim's Jarkko Ruutu came across the ice and hit Erat high with his shoulder. Erat immediately fell and appeared dazed by the time a Predators trainer came to his aid. Ruutu was given an interference penalty. Erat skated off slowly but did not return with what was deemed an upper-body injury. After the game, Coach Barry Trotz couldn't give an update on Erat, who tied for the team lead in points this season. "He has been"
Erat looks forward, not back
April 12
Tennessean
 
"It has been almost a year since Game 5 of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs ended for Predators forward Martin Erat. It's still unclear whether memories linger of his giveaway in Chicago's zone that led to Patrick Kane's game-tying goal with 13.6 seconds left. "I don't want to talk about that anymore," Erat said Monday as the Predators began preparing for Wednesday's playoff opener against the Ducks. "It's done. It happened. "We have a new series this year, and I want to focus on that." Before the giveaway, Erat was near the end of his best game of the Predators-Blackhawks series. He had scored two third-period goals to help give the Predators a 4-3 lead. With a victory, Nashville would have"
Erat becomes top scorer, helps Predators top Avalanche
April 1
Nashville City Paper
 
"Martin Erat took sole possession of the team scoring lead with a goal and an assist as the Nashville Predators promptly got back to their winning ways with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday at Denver. The Predators had their six-game win streak snapped Tuesday against Vancouver but scored the first three goals in this one and outshot Colorado 34-29. They moved back into sixth place in the Western Conference standings, one point ahead of Anaheim. With the victory, they also swept the season series — a first in their history with the Avalanche, who have lost 14 of their last 16. Nashville outscored Colorado 17-9 in this season's four meetings. Erat's goal, his 16th of the"
Predators get more scoring from Martin Erat
February 3
Tennessean
 
"The Predators couldn't be happier with Martin Erat's recent production. After an injury-riddled first half of the season, the veteran forward is fully healthy and on a hot streak going into today's game at Philadelphia. "The last couple of games, I got my legs back," said Erat, who has five points in his last eight games. "The timing is also back so I'm hoping it's only going to get better." Despite playing in only 35 of Nashville's first 51 games, Erat is still tied for fifth on the team in points (22). He sat out a nine-game stretch after suffering an upper-body injury against Ottawa on Dec. 23. He had accumulated 11 points in the 11 games before the injury. When he returned on Jan. 15"
Martin Erat's injury slows down Nashville Predators offense
December 30
Tennessean
 
"How much do the Predators miss Martin Erat? A lot, according to Coach Barry Trotz. Erat was sidelined with an upper-body injury on Dec. 23 after crashing back-first into the boards against Ottawa. Before this injury, Erat had missed seven games with back issues. "He was probably our best forward at that time (of the injury)," Trotz said. "Marty was playing the way I expect Marty to play. He was a top-level player." This is not the first time Erat suffered an injury while at the top of his game. Last season, he set a Predators franchise record for goals in a month with 10 in December, before a knee injury derailed him. He had 11 points in the 11 games before this injury. "He's had a few"
Predators still without injured Steve Sullivan, Martin Erat
December 27
Tennessean
 
"During Sunday's morning skate, Nashville Coach Barry Trotz expressed "concern" for Predators forward Steve Sullivan. Nashville's leading scorer made the trip to St. Louis, but not to play. He was in town to see a doctor in regards to his lower-body injury, suffered in the third period of Nashville's loss to Ottawa last Thursday. "You're always concerned because a lot of our team speed is out right now and he has been a factor for us the last couple of years," Trotz said. "So I'm a little bit concerned." Trotz said that Sullivan saw the doctor during the Predators' loss to St. Louis, but did not have an update on his status following the game. Forward Martin Erat (upper-body) did not make"
Predators get top players back
December 3
Tennessean
 
"For several games early in the season, the Predators were the walking-wounded. Defenseman Ryan Suter missed 11 games with a knee injury. Forward Martin Erat missed seven with a back injury. And while the Predators aren't completely at full strength, both Suter and Erat appear to be rounding into shape after some struggles. Erat had two assists against Columbus. Suter had a minus-three rating, but he played a game-high 27:12. It was the third straight game in which Suter played more than 27 minutes. "Our belief (in ourselves) is coming back," Coach Barry Trotz said. "We fought through a lot of injuries, and our players who have been injured are starting to perform better — being a Ryan"
Martin Erat sets bar 'pretty high' for goals
October 10
Tennessean
 
"In some ways, Martin Erat's line combination is a goal scorer's dream. Predators Coach Barry Trotz has put the sniping forward in a group with playmaker Colin Wilson and pass-first center Matthew Lombardi. If the trio stays together, what's the prediction for Erat - 40, 50 goals? "I have my personal goals for me. That's my thing and I'm not going to say I'm going to score this, I'm going to score this," Erat said. "I have my expectations for myself and I think it's pretty high, and that's how I want to go." The Predators hope Erat hits some lofty numbers. According to the website NHLnumbers.com, Erat is Nashville's highest paid player ($5.25 million) and is tied for Nashville's highest"
Martin Erat sets bar 'pretty high' for goals
October 8
Tennessean
 
"In some ways, Martin Erat's line combination is a goal scorer's dream. Predators Coach Barry Trotz has put the sniping forward in a group with playmaker Colin Wilson and pass-first center Matthew Lombardi. If the trio stays together, what's the prediction for Erat — 40, 50 goals? "I have my personal goals for me. That's my thing and I'm not going to say I'm going to score this, I'm going to score this," Erat said. "I have my expectations for myself and I think it's pretty high, and that's how I want to go." The Predators hope Erat hits some lofty numbers. According to the website NHLnumbers.com, Erat is Nashville's highest paid player ($5.25 million) and is tied for Nashville's highest"
Recently injured Predators pay dividends in victory over Atlanta
January 31
Nashville City Paper
 
"Jason Arnott scored seven seconds into the third period and lifted the Nashville Predators to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday at the Sommet Center. The victory snapped the Predators' five-game overall losing streak and their two-game skid at home. Arnott's goal, his 13th of the season, was just his second since Dec. 10. Each of his last two, though, have been game-winners. Joel Ward and Martin Erat had a goal and an assist, and Pekka Rinne made 23 saves for his 19th win of the season. Both Ward and Erat had the primary assist on the other's goal."
Recall likely for Guite; Erat practices
January 7
111112222233
 
"Pre­da­tors for­ward Joel Ward mis­sed prac­tice on Wed­nes­day with a lower-body strain and the team is likely to recall for­ward Ben Guite from Mil­wau­kee later today. Nash­vi­lle coach Barry Trotz said there's still a good chance Ward will play Thurs­day, but since he's not a cer­tainty – and with win­ter weather pos­sibly ham­pe­ring tra­vel on Thurs­day -- the team will pro­bably bring in Guite today as a pre­cau­tio­nary measure. Guite began the sea­son with the Preds and pla­yed in four of the team's first five games before being sent to Mil­wau­kee. He's been one of the Admi­rals' top pla­yers of late, notching eight points (three goals, five assists) in his last six games."
Martin Erat skates, plans return
January 6
Tennessean
 
"Despite the 3-1 loss to Calgary on Tuesday night, the Predators did receive some positive news earlier in the day. Martin Erat, Nashville's leading scorer, participated in the morning skate for the first time since suffering a strained knee last Tuesday at St. Louis. "It's always nice to be back on the ice and skate with the guys and get that flow back," Erat said. "I was biking for the past two or three days and it felt good. You have to go out and see how it feels on the ice. It's still a little stiff and there's a little pain in there, but I think I'm getting closer to getting back into the game." Erat, who has missed three games, said he has been frustrated by just sitting and"
Predators' latest victory lifts them to top of Western Conference
December 20
Nashville City Paper
 
"Martin Erat and Marcel Goc each had a goal and two assists as the Nashville Predators defeated the Calgary Flames 5-3 on Saturday at Calgary. With the victory – their fourth straight and sixth in the last seven – the Predators tied three other teams for the most points in the Western Conference. Chicago, Los Angeles and San Jose all started the day with 47 points and none played on Saturday. Nashville's 22 victories also are tied for most in the conference. The Blackhawks, which have played three fewer games than the Predators, will play Sunday against Detroit. The Sharks, who have one game in hand, will play Monday at Dallas. Nashville concludes its current three-game road trip Tuesday at"
Erat has a tough act to follow — his own
December 10
Nashville City Paper
 
"Martin Erat had been one of the Nashville Predators' best players in recent weeks. It made sense, therefore, that given the opportunity to skate with some of the team's other top forwards, he got even better. Erat was put on the top line with Jason Arnott and Steve Sullivan on Tuesday against Vancouver and scored three times — the 17th hat trick in franchise history and the first this season — as Nashville snapped its two-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory. "It's always nice to play with those two guys," Erat said. "It's so easy to play with Arnie and Sully. You always know where they are on the ice, and it's easier for me." The difficult part will be for Erat to continue to score when"
Martin Erat's hat trick leads Predators
December 9
Tennessean
 
"Predators fans had one thing to say to Martin Erat: Hat's off. The Nashville forward scored a hat trick in leading Nashville to a 4-2 victory against Vancouver in front of an announced crowd of 12,565 on Tuesday at Sommet Center. The Predators (17-11-2) improved their home record to 10-6-0 with the win against the Canucks (16-14-0). "It's always nice to get a hat trick, but we got the (win) and two points and that's the most important thing right now," said Erat, who has nine goals this season. It was the 17th hat trick in Predators history and the second of Erat's career. His other came on March 4, 2008, at Edmonton. "When you put pucks on the net, good things can happen," Nashville Coach"
Erat moves up on power-play unit
December 6
Tennessean
 
"In search of a little spark for the power play, Preds Coach Barry Trotz replaced Steve Sullivan with Martin Erat in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Minnesota. The move paid immediate dividends when Erat scored the game's first goal, ripping a power-play slapshot from the faceoff circle over Josh Harding's shoulder. But the power play still struggled overall, failing to score on Nashville's four other man-advantage attempts — three of which occurred in the first period, when the Preds could have opened a two-goal lead. "We kept getting power plays and we should have gotten another (goal),'' captain Jason Arnott said. "It would have given us a little more life. As of late, we haven't had a whole lot"
A Friday night horror show
December 5
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The magic of United Center ice wasn't a factor Friday night as the Nashville Predators seized momentum late in the first period and never looked back. The Hawks scored first but didn't light the lamp again and were defeated 4-1 before 20,887, the 65th consecutive capacity crowd at the United Center. It's a streak that started in 2007. The loss snapped an eight-game home winning streak for the Hawks (17-7-3). It was the 10th-best streak in franchise history during a single season, going back to a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 21. Despite a 15-6 advantage for the Hawks in first-period shots on goal, it was 1-1 heading into the second period. ''We got a lot of pucks,'' Hawks"
Devils fall in shootout
November 20
New York Post
 
"After coming within one game of setting an NHL record for road wins to start the season, the Devils have dropped two consecutive games away from Newark. Mike Santorelli and Martin Erat scored shootout goals, and Jason Arnott had two goals in regulation in the Predators' 3-2 shootout victory over the Devils last night. The loss came on the heels of New Jersey's first road defeat Monday night at the hands of the Flyers. The Devils came within one win of tying Buffalo's NHL record of 10 straight road wins to start a season. Pekka Rinne stopped two of the Devils' three shooters in the tiebreaker for his fourth consecutive victory and eighth in nine decisions. Devils goalie Martin Brodeur took"
Erat out to erase doubts about taking his game to a new level
October 2
Nashville City Paper
 
"Coach Barry Trotz didn't wait to hear the entire question, which had to do with Martin Erat's offensive statistics over the past five seasons. "The same," the Nashville Predators' coach interrupted. Well, not exactly the same but pretty close to it. Beginning with 2003-04, the season before NHL owners locked out the players and adopted new rules or adapted old ones to create more offense, Erat has delivered five consecutive seasons in which he has scored between 49 and 57 points. Using basic statistical analysis, the mean (or middle ground) of those numbers is 53 and the standard deviation is 3.68. Thus there is nothing to suggest that Erat will produce any more than 56.68 points or any"