Here are some pictures from last night's action at Bridgestone Arena...
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The Nashville Predators knew going in that the Vancouver Canucks were going to be a tough team to beat in the second round. The Preds now know going out that they were good enough to win this series... but…
It’s amazing how huge a three letter word can be.
Without taking anything away from a very good Vancouver team, you can point to a few things that hurt the Preds in this series. An ineffective power play, an inexplicably flat first game and an inability to finish doomed this team. You can't help but feel that same sort of empty feeling this team knows from last season’s “woulda-coulda-shoulda” first round loss to Chicago. Injuries were a factor as well, but the biggest factor in this series was Ryan Kesler. Nashville just could not stop a player who was determined to put his team on his back. I said it in my blog yesterday, without Kesler, this series goes a different way.
In the warm sunny spring morning following a tough loss, it is a little easier to look at all the good things this team has accomplished this playoff season. There have been a lot of firsts for the Predators this playoff season that have been well documented in this blog. The positives to be drawn are many. This team had so many youngsters who got valuable playoff experience in this run. Blake Geoffrion, Matt Halischuk, Cody Franson, Jonathan Blum, Nick Spaling… all getting significant ice time in the playoffs… valuable experience that will pay off in the long term as this team continues to grow and develop. The play of David Legwand, finally living up to the massive expectations heaped on him at the beginning of his career. He simply had an excellent playoff season. Pekka Rinne, after a merely average first round, was spectacular in the second. Joel Ward, stepping up huge as the team’s leading goal scorer.
All the positives on the ice are good, but the most important accomplishments of this team may have occurred off the ice.
Nashville as a hockey town had been a punching bag for the traditional hockey media, they made sure that Nashville was always mentioned as a potential relocation candidate. Painting the situation in our fair city in the worst possible light, using outside influences with questionable agendas. That crap is finally put to rest as much of that same media finally came to Nashville and saw... They saw a passionate fan base that knows the game, they saw a city that was captivated by this hard working hockey team and they saw a rare, unique atmosphere that was part hockey, part college football and all Smashville.
Make no mistake about it, they now know... Nashville is a hockey town.
I would be remiss if I would not give full credit to the Vancouver Canucks. They executed a very smart defensive scheme and completely shut down the Predators “score by committee” approach. They got the timely play from key contributors and survived a very poor series from the Sedin twins. Good teams can do this... and Vancouver is a very good team.
I also credit the Vancouver fans, who exhibited mighty class, both at Bridgestone Arena and (with a few exceptions) in the comments on the threads of this blog. Thanks for making this a lot of fun… and good luck going forward. Besides, beating Nashville in the playoffs has been a good sign... ask Chicago and Detroit.
Another season finishes and through the disappointment, you can see the bright future this team has in store. An excellent, stable front office, great coaching, solid veterans, developing youth and a stud goaltender… now that is a recipe for future success.
One last thank you... thanks to Pred Nation... you guys brought it strong to every game this season. I am honored and proud to be a small part of the game day experience. So, allow me to say, what you guys say to me three times a game... THANKS FANS!
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Random Notes
- For the first time is quite a long time, the Nashville Tennessean mentioned the sellout crowd at Bridgestone Arena without using the word “announced.” It's about time.
- One of the many similarities to last year’s Chicago series include the power play. Nashville went 1-21 on the man advantage. Part of it was Vancouver’s excellent penalty kill… but 1-21 won’t cut it, I don't care who you are.
- Patric Hornqvist was quoted after the game “I was not playing good enough.” Hornqvist was held off the score sheet for the entire second round series.
- Now we will start to get the reports on injuries that happened inside the playoffs. I do expect to see a few surprising names on the list.
- Game six tonight at the Joe should be a good one. I would not be surprised to see this Sharks/Wings series go seven.
- Jeremy Roenick has taken a boatload of grief for his comments about Patrick Marleau. We’re going to talk about that on tomorrow’s SlapShot Radio as JR will be joining us at the top of the show, 6pm on SportsRadio 560 WNSR… listen online at www.wnsr.com.
- My lord… has it been two years since the mess first broke in the desert… really? The Phoenix situation appears no closer to resolution. It is way past time for everyone involved to get this thing fixed.
- Tonight’s playoff schedule – San Jose @ Detroit – Sharks lead 3-2, 7pm CDT (Versus, TSN)
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game!
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COMING UP ON THE NEXT SLAPSHOT RADIO…
On Wednesday's show we'll be talking to the always outspoken Jeremy Roenick from Versus and Hockey Night in Canada Radio's Jeff Marek... We'll be getting you ready for the conference finals... this week on SlapShot Radio, Wednesday night at 6 on SportsRadio 560 WNSR.
You can get check out our podcasts at
the SlapShot Radio podcast page.
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