Smashville Sets the Standard During All Star Weekend

The 2016 NHL All Star game is in the books, and it was an overwhelming success. From the play on the ice to the activities surrounding the game, Smashville set the bar higher than ever for this event.

Over the course of the weekend, fans of the game were treated to outstanding entertainment at the Winter Park and at the Fan Fest. They enjoyed interactions with the players, coaches, and the media that cover the game.

And how about the weather. Just a week ago, Nashville was hit with a major snowstorm. All Star weekend saw sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 60's.

I knew the organizing committee had a lot of clout, but that was amazing1

Here are some thoughts and observations about the event:

• Kudos to all who worked to put this together. It was obvious that lots of planning and forethought had been put into the event to make the fan experience exceptional. The event was laid out with everything in walking distance. This helped ease traffic problems and allowed the fans to mingle and interact easily with each other. People all across the country- fans of every team- got to visit and experience the warmth and hospitality of Smashville. And many discovered what the residents here already knew- Nashville is a gem.
• There was an abundance of volunteers to make sure that everything went smoothly and that fans knew where to go and had assistance when they needed it. This speaks to the organization of this event and to the people that worked behind the scenes to make it an exceptional experience for those in attendance. The work that went into this effort was massive and everyone, from Predators ownership and staff, the League, and the organizing committee are to be commended.
• Don't underestimate the proximity of all the venues. I had a chance to talk to some people that had been to other All Star games and to a person they said that having everything in walking distance was a huge plus for this event. Being able to move easily from the Winter Park to the Convention Center to concert venues to the entertainment district downtown was a huge, HUGE, plus. I heard many say this made their experience much more enjoyable.
• Nashville really had a chance to shine and showcase the talent of the entertainers that call this great city home. And the music community didn't disappoint. One of the consistent comments that I heard from so many visitors was the musical talent that was on display was so impressive. And believe me, they were impressive. The response from visitors at some of the shows was almost giddy. I had a chance to catch Chip Esten's show on the Honda stage at Fan Fest on Saturday and it was impressive. And our guests were impressed. Really impressed.
• The game itself was better than any All Star game I have seen. There was intensity and competitiveness and an opportunity for the players to shine. It was actually compelling to watch, and that sentiment was echoed to me by friends that watched the game on TV. I think the League has found a format that will work going forward as not only the fans but the players seemed to enjoy the 3 on 2 game.
• A great crowd for both the skills competition and the game. Enthusiastic, responsive, and loud. And good on the fans for their response to and support of John Scott. A great story that only served to take the event to another level.

Here are some images from the weekend:

Saturday's activities started with a Prayer breakfast at the Renaissance Hotel. Stu Grimson served as Master of Ceremonies and several speakers shared their faith. Mike "Doc" Emrick spoke and was a humble and engaging speaker. I had a chance to visit with Doc after the program and he is a genuine and personable individual.

Former Predators head Coach and current Washington Capitals Head Coach Barry Trotz spoke and gave a powerful testimony and of course was a crowd favorite.

Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene spoke and is quite an impressive young man. Afterwards, he stayed around to visit with those in attendance. Here he is with my son, Matt, and myself.

Chip Esten performs on the Honda stage at the Fan Fest. He drew a large and enthusiastic crowd and was one of the many talented performers that appeared on the various music stages throughout the weekend.

A street scen looking at the Honda Winter Park outdoor stage. The crowds were huge for the many performances. I was about a block away from the stage, which was as close as I could get. Big ups to the sound technicians as the sound that far away was a good as it would be if I were up close.

There were lots of exhibits and interactive games at the Fan Fest. I will say, the Velveeta cheese fountain was the most unusual.

There were lots of opportunities to interact with the players and coaches. here, Pete Weber interviews Roman Josi at the Discover Theater. Fans had a chance to ask questions directly of the players and the interactions and condor from the players was exceptional.

The Western Conference players warm up before the skills competition.

Lee Brice warms up the crowd before the player introductions at the game

The All Stars on the ice for the game introductions

Jennifer Nettles performs at the intermission of the game. Notice a few players came out of the locker room and sat on the ice to take in her performance

The weekend was exceptional. Nashville has stepped up its game and has set the bar extremely high for future games. 

Once again, thanks to all who made this outstanding event happen.

Hutton Shines In 2-1 Win Over the Flames

The Nashville Predators wrapped up their 4 game Canadian road trip with a stop at the Scotia Bank Saddledome for a tilt with the Calgary Flames. The Predators were looking to make it a 4-0 road trip after capturing the first three contests and working themselves back into the playoff hunt.

Carter Hutton got the start for the Predators, and they staked him to a 2-0 lead through the end of 2 periods. Mike Ribeiro was the beneficiary of a great drive into the zone by Craig Smith and he buried a shot from the slot past Kari Ramo to give the Predators a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.

Shea Weber hammered home a blast from the face off circle with the Predators on the power play to send them into the locker room after two periods with a 2-0 lead.

Mark Giordano cut that lead to 2-1 with a perfectly placed shot to the top corner early in the third period.

For the second straight game, the Predators were going to have to kill a penalty to end regulation and preserve the win.

The Flames swarmed the offensive zone, skating 6 on 4, but the Predators penalty killers and especially Hutton came up big to lock down the win.



Some observations:

• Lines juggled again as Filip Forsberg moved up to the top line with Ryan Johansen and James Neal. Mike Ribeiro dropped down to a wing on a line with Craig Smith and Calle Jarnkrok.
• Eric Nystrom was injured in last night's game with Vancouver when he took a Shea Weber blast off his foot. According to a comment from Stu Grimson on the broadcast, Nystrom suffered a broken foot.
• Kevin Fiala drew back into the line up and was on a line with Mike Fisher and Austin Watson.
• Craig smith has been playing some very good hockey on this road trip. He is using his speed to open up the ice and the Predators first goal tonight was the result of smith driving the wing and spreading out the defense, leaving Ribeiro alone in the slot. Smith can be an impact player if he plays a simple hockey game, and that is something he has been doing consistently on this road trip.
• Lots of unnecessary penalties in the first period. Brain fart penalties. Fortunately for the Predators, the PK was up to the task, but they can't keep tempting fate.
• Strong defense by the Predators in the first period. Calgary was held to 4 shots on goal even with the power plays and didn't record their first shot on net until the game was 9 minutes old.
• Goodness, Weber just flat out blew the shot past Ramo on the power play. Weber got open in the face off circle and loaded up on the shot. Ramo got his glove up, but well after the puck had found the back of the net. When Weber steps into a shot cleanly it is deadly. Just ask Eric Nystrom.
• Carter Hutton played an excellent game. He made some huge saves, especially in the last minute of play to preserve the win. The only goal he gave up was a perfectly placed shot through traffic. Hutton has looked strong in his last two outing and secured critical wins for the team. Hutton is now 5-2-1 in his starts this season.
• The Predators were back on their heels for most of the third period. The Flames out shot the Predators 16-7, which only emphasizes the quality of play from Hutton tonight.
• The Predators PK was stellar, killing all 4 of the Flames man advantage opportunities. The Predators PK has killed 26 of the last 27 power plays from their opponents.

This was the type of game that in the recent past the Predators would have allowed to slip away. Now, they are playing with some confidence and starting to get their swagger back. The last two games have shown this team is refusing to buckle under pressure, and that is a great sign going forward.

The Predators win gives them 4 wins in a row for the first time since October.

Now they need to keep building on this momentum after the All Star break.

My three stars:

1. Carter Hutton

2. Shea Weber

3. Mike Ribeiro

Predators Rally Late to Defeat the Canucks 2-1

The Nashville Predators looked to build on the momentum of their first back to back wins in over a month as they traveled to Vancouver to take on a Canucks team that stood one point behind them in the Western Conference standings.

The Predators opened the scoring 59 seconds into the game as Craig Smith drove the net and flipped a perfect pass from Mike Fisher over the shoulder of Ryan Miller.

That opening burst by the Predators was all they could muster over the next 40 minutes as the Canucks out skated the Predators up and down the ice.

Brandon Sutter, in his first game after missing 33 games for sports hernia surgery, took a nice pass through the slot and beat Pekka Rinne to tie the game at 1 midway of the first period.

Rinne had to sharp as the Canucks unleashed a barrage of shots at the net and generated some quality scoring chances. Through 2 periods, the Canucks owned the shots on goal by a 24-11 margin.

The paint must have been peeled off the walls of the locker room by the coaching staff at the second intermission as the Predators opened the third period with more jump and urgency. Their efforts paid off with a goal by James Neal with 5 minutes to go in the third period to give the Predators a 2-1 lead.

The Predators had to end regulation on the penalty kill with Mattias Ekholm in the box for interference.

The Predators PK did their job and the kill allowed the the Predators to win their third game in a row with a 2-1 win.

Some observations:

• Predators first goal came from a simple hockey play. Craig Smith drove the net and was able to lift a perfect pass from Mike Fisher over the shoulder of Ryan Miller. When the Predators drive the net, they have a high degree of success. Simple hockey, but is the kind of game the Predators have to play every night. Smith's goal was his 11th of the season and his second in two games.
• Over the last 12 games, the Predators power play was ranked 3rd in the NHL. Tonight, there was not much movement with the man advantage and the first two power plays yielded only one shot. No urgency and being too casual is not a formula for success for this unit.
• Petter Granberg was back in the line up on the blue line, and it is obvious that he is still trying to find his way and get settled in. I think the big blueliner has a lot of upside, but it is going to take a while for him to get settled into a regular role.
• The Predators got outskated through the first 40 minutes, and that is disappointing as the Predators should have realized the import of this game. This team has played themselves out of the playoffs and they need wins desperately to get back into the race. This was not the type of game that allowed the Predators to build on the momentum of the last 2 games. Fortunately, the Predators were able to turn up the intensity and effort in the third period. Their response in the third period was excellent and will be a huge confidence booster for the team.
• Craig Smith had a solid effort tonight. He drove the net hard for the Predators first goal and had a nose for the net and and a desire to shot the puck. He created some good opportunities by moving his feet and using his speed. This is the kind of game that Smith has to play to be productive.
• I thought that Austin Watson played with a lot of grit and jump tonight. He is a big body that really needs to find his game, and if he does, the Predators will benefit.
• James Neal is just flat out a sniper. When he has some room to get off that quick release, he can be deadly.
• Pekka Rinne really looked like the Pekka Rinne of old. He had to make some very good stops to keep the Canucks off the board and you could tell the team was growing in confidence behind the way he was playing. This team will need more of that form Rinne as this season grinds on. In this 3 game winning streak, Rinne has stopped 80 of 83 shots.

After getting badly outplayed in the first 40 minutes, the Predators responded in a huge way. This is the kind of game that wasn't pretty, but the team never quit and elevated their game enough in the third period to capture a critical win.

That showed some character and an unwillingness to wilt under the pressure.

That is the kind of hockey this team is going to have to play down the stretch.

My three stars:

1. James Neal

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Craig Smith

Predators Get 2nd Win In A Row, Defeat the Oilers 4-1

The Nashville Predators visited Rexall Place to face the Edmonton Oilers and were looking for their first back to back wins since December 19th/21st.

The Predators accomplished that task by defeating the Oilers 4-1.

Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring for the Oilers, beating the Predators defense back and to the low slot before backhanding a puck past Pekka Rinne for a 1-0 lead.

Mattias Ekholm answered with a a shot through traffic that slid between the legs of Cam Talbot to tie the game at 1.

Ekholm scored a...strange goal to give the Predators a 2-1 lead when his shot hit Andre Sekera in the head and disappeared into the pads of Talbot. When Talbot dropped to the butterfly, the puck squirted out of his pads and dribbled across the goal line.

Mike Fisher scored on a drive to the net that was set up by a sweet pass from Shea Weber to give the Predators a 3-1 lead early in the third period.

Filip Forsberg finished the scoring with an empty net goal.

Some observations:

• Mike Ribeiro moved up to the first line on a wing with James Neal and Ryan Johansen. More line juggling by Peter Laviolette. Kevin Fiala was a healthy scratch. Mike Fisher centered Craig Smith and Filip Forsberg. Austin Watson drew back into the line up and was paired with Calle Jarnkrok and Miikka Salomaki.
• Petter Granberg was paired with Mattias Ekholm on the blue line. Anthony Bitetto was a healthy scratch for the D. corps.
• The Draisaitl goal was another example of an opposing forward skating through the Predators defense to get to a prime scoring area. This time, Draisaitl victimized Shea Weber with a strong cut to the low slot. Again, this is an area of the Predators play that has been uncharacteristically spotty and has to improve if this team is going to improve it's play.
• Mattias Ekholm has been quietly solid for the Predators. You can see that he is a steadying presence for the rookie Granberg and he has some offensive mojo as well. His goal was a result of good judgment to jump in on the play and his unwillingness to give up on the puck in a high traffic area. 
• Was that not the weirdest goal that Ekholm scored for his second of the night? Off the head of Sekera, disappeared into the pads of Talbot, and then reappeared to drift slowly over the goal line. A lot of puck luck on that goal, something the Predators have not had a lot of lately. Maybe, just maybe, the hockey gods are starting to smile on the Predators.
• Matty Ek recorded his 20th point with his 2 goals tonight. That is a career high, and it occurred in 48 games. His previous high was 18 points in 80 games.
• Exceptional vision and a sweet pass from Shea Weber to Mike Fisher during the 4 on 4 early in the third period for the Predators third goal. Weber put the pass from the corner right on to the tape of Fisher's stick. And credit Fisher for driving hard to the net, something the Predators have started to do recently and it has resulted in goals.
• Good on Austin Watson getting back in the line up and picking up an assist on Ekholm's first goal. Watson has been struggling to stick in the line up and he needs some good things to happen for his confidence. A big body and a hard worker, this young Predator can be a contributor if he finds his game.
• I liked the way the Predators skated tonight and controlled the neutral zone. The Oilers have some talented and explosive forwards, but the Predators skated well and negated their speed and and offensive cycle.
• Rinne had his second consecutive strong outing. I don't really fault him on the lone Oiler goal as Draisaitl worked Weber to get to the low slot. Foir the second game, Rinne made some quality saves, but more importantly, was calm in net and looked confident. The Predators will do very well with a calm and confident Rinne.
• The Predators won 33 of 59 faceoffs and blocked 14 shots tonight.
• Good to see the PK start to get its mojo back. They killed all 3 of the Oilers man advantages. The Predators power play was 1 of 2.
• Roman Josi led the team in TOI with 26:50. His partner, Shea Weber, had 26:00.

Goodness, it is nice to get back to back wins. This was a complete game by the team that was a full 60 minutes of sound, fundamental hockey. This team has struggled mightily to put these kinds of games together, and now having done that will hopefully build on that effort and establish some positive momentum.

Two more games before the All Star break to do just that.

My three stars:

1. Mattias Ekholm

2. Pekka Rinne

3. Mike Fisher

Predators Get Much Needed Win Against the Jets 4-1

The Predators ship has been taking on lots of water in January, recording just 2 victories for the month. To say they desperately needed a win is the understatement of the year.

The Predators got that win against Divisional for Winnipeg with a 4-1 win.

The game didn't start the way that the Predators wanted, as a defensive breakdown led to a breakaway goal by Nick Ehlers to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.

Pekka Rinne would shut down the Jets the rest of the way and the Predators attacked Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets goal for 4 goals.

Ryan Johansen tied the game in the first period with a power play goal. Craig Smith scored a beauty to give the Predators a 2-1 lead at the end of the second period.

James Neal added a third period goal to make it 3-1. Calle Jarnkrok ended the scoring with an empty net goal for the final margin of 4-1.

Some observations:

• Roman Josi played in his 300th game tonight. Josi has by far and away been the Predators best and most consistent player this season.
• Lines and D combos in a blender again. First line of forwards remained the same (Fiala, Johansen, and Neal). Second line was Ribeiro centering Forsberg and Craig Smith. Third Line was Fisher centering Salomaki and Jarnkrok. Petter Granberg drew back in on the blue line and was paired with Mattias Ekholm. Barrett Jackman was paired with Ryan Ellis.
• Cody Bass chucked knuckles with Brad Stuart after Stuart's big hit on Mike Fisher. The scrap started slowly but Bass flattened Stuart with a big right to end the fight. 
• Has the Johansen for Jones trade paid off for the Predators or what? 8 points in 7 games for RyJo and he is showing he was absolutely worth the swap of an up and coming blueliner. Johansen's goal was a workmanlike goal, going to the net and not quitting on the puck before he jammed it past Hellebuyck.
• Welcome back to the score sheet, Craig Smith. A beautiful shot in a small space for his 10th goal of the season. The Predators need to get Smith untracked and finding the net consistently, and hopefully this will open the door for some more goals by the Honey Badger.
• Goodness, the Predators defense has been awfully leaky of late. The first period goal by Ehlers was the result of a forward jetting behind the Preds defense for a breakaway goal, the second in consecutive games allowed by the Predators D corp. Rinne had to be sharp on several occasions as the Jets forwards were roaming almost uncontested through the low slot. The Predators are going to have to tighten up this aspect of their game if they are going to start winning games consistently.
• Petter Granberg picked up his first NHL point with an assist on Craig Smith's goal.
• James Neal has to have one of the most wicked releases in the game. His goal off the face off was a rocket that hit the post and then bounced off the back of Hellebuyck for breathing room for the Predators. Neal's goal was his team leading 17th of the season.
• How good was it to see Pekka get this win. There is no doubt that he has struggled over the past 2 months. Tonight, Pekka looked relaxed in net and was less frenetic than he has been in recent games. He stopped 26 of 27 shots tonight and several of them were very high quality chances.
• The difference in the game tonight? The Predators got the puck deep and attacked the net with traffic in front. That is the simple formula for success for this team, and if they play the way they did tonight, they will have a good opportunity to start consistently winning games. 
• The PK was solid tonight. They killed off all 4 of the Jets power plays. The Preds power play was 1 for 3 tonight, getting their first power play goal in their last 12 attempts on their first power play.

This was a must have, solid game by the Predators. They were strong in all phases and got traffic to the net to challenge Hellebuyck.

Now they have to string together some games just like they played tonight.

My three stars:

1. Pekka Rinne

2. Craig Smith

3. James Neal

Predators Fail to Show Up Again, Drop Another Game to the Hawks 4-1

The Nashville Predators played a measuring stick game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena.

They failed miserably.

The Predators never really threatened Chicago netminder Corey Crawford as they were generally loath to go to the front of the net. Content to shoot from outside, Crawford had a fairly easy night, stopping 38 of 39 shots on the way to backstopping a Hawks 4-1 win.

Ryan Ellis got the only goal of the night for the Predators on a shot, imagine this, from the point.

Artem Anisimov, Richard Panik. and Patgrick Kane all scored at even strength. Andrew Desjardin added an empty net goal for the final margin.

Some observations:

• Winning hockey is (generally speaking) equal parts skill, will, and playing a sound system. The Predators have improved their skill, although the skill on this roster id frustratingly inconsistent. The system is breaking down as the Predators have had too many defensive breakdowns in this funk, and tonight defensive breakdowns cost the Predators (more on that in a moment). The area that is glaringly lacking in my opinion is the will. This team lacks snarl and an attitude that they will not be denied the prime scoring areas of the ice. Instead, the Preds are content to look pretty and shoot from the point. The results of that style of play has been the 2 month downturn that this team is experiencing. They have played themselves out of the playoff picture because they are not playing hard, determined hockey.
• It is up to the coaching staff and the leadership of this team to change the direction. Continuing to play the style of hockey that they are currently playing will continue to frustrate the team and their fans and they will not improve. This team is going to have to commit to play hard hockey, and if they don't, the remainder of the season will be on that is incredibly frustrating.
• Head Coach Peter Laviolette is prone to mixing up his lines. This throwing players in a blender approach has been, again in  my opinion, counterproductive. Chemistry is not where it should be, and that is manifesting itself in the lack of production from the forwards. Passes are not connecting and the inability to pressure the net is in part due to this constant changing of line combinations.
• The Hawks first goal came because the Predators were too loose and casual with the puck. Failing to clear the zone, they turned it over and hung Pekka Rinne out to dry. Kane's goal came on a defensive breakdown when he got behind the defense for a breakaway. These are the kinds of errors that good teams make rarely. The Predators are making these kinds of mistakes consitently and it is resulting in the puck winding up in the back of our net.
• I really like Pekka Rinne. For years, this team has relied on him to make amazing saves and clean up their mistakes. Rinne has been pedestrian at best this season and has not made the saves that he has in the past. I don't know the reason, but unless he can elevate his game, the Predators are in really big trouble.
• The inability of the forwards to generate any kind of consistent pressure on Crawford is troubling. Sometimes, it is necessary to simplify the game and drive the net, and this is something that the Predators forwards have not shown a willingness to do. Again, this aspect of their game has to change or this season will continue to spiral down the drain.

This was a troubling loss in my estimation. Troubling because the Predators failed to adjust their game to attack the net. Troubling because there was no elevation of their game.

Troubling because the Predators are fast seeing their season slip away.

My three stars:

1. Patrick Kane

2. Artemi Panarin

3. Ryan Ellis

Predators Get Back In the Win Column, Defeat the Wild 3-0

to say the Nashville Predators needed a win is a gross understatement. Playing against the Minnesota Wild, who commit to the horribly boring trap game, meant that the Predators were going to have to play with energy and get to the net.

They did just that as they shut out the Wild 3-0 at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators scored on their first shot of the game as Eric Nystrom re-directed a point shot from Shea Weber past Devan Dubnyk to give the good guys a 1-0 lead.

Carter Hutton got the start in net and he had to be sharp as the Wild at one point in the first period out shot the Predators 9-1. The Predators rallied back, getting out shot 12-11 at the end of the first period and leading 1-0 going into the intermission.

After a scoreless second period, the Predators did a good job of getting traffic to the net and it paid off on the power play as Roman Josi cashed in on a rebound of a Ryan Johansen shot to give the Predators a 2-0 lead.

Filip Forsberg iced the game with an empty net goal to give the Predators their final margin of 3-0.

Some observations:

• Carter Hutton was outstanding tonight. He made some very good saves and was positionally sound all night. Hutton is often scrambling around in the crease, and although he had a few frenetic moments, was solid in his positioning and appeared to be calm and in control of the play around his crease. Big ups to Hutton for his play tonight. Hutton recorded his third career shut out.
• The much maligned penalty kill of the Predators was very good tonight. They killed off all 3 man advantage chances by the Wild and gave them very few good looks. This is the kind of effort the Predators needed and they definitely need to build on their play tonight.
• I questioned Eric Nystrom moving to the third line, but two goals in two nights shows that he can contribute and be effective. Nystrom is not shy about going to the net and his efforts have been rewarded. His re-direct of Shea Weber's shot was perfectly placed to the far post where Dubnyk had no chance.
• This was the last game of the regular season with the Wild. The Predators captured the season series by a 3-1 margin.
• Anthony Bitetto got the start again on the third pairing with Barrett Jackman and played a solid game. Bitetto is looking more comfortable and brings a solid physical presence on the ice.
• The Predators power play got back on track, going 1 for 2 tonight. The addition of Ryan Johansen has been a big plus to this unit. He is dangerous with his passes and his shot, and Roman Josi was the beneficiary of Johansen's ability to find the shooting lanes. Having an elite center has been a plus for this unit and for the team. Johansen has 7 points in 4 games with the team. Johansen also recorded his 200th career point.
• Calle Jarnkrok was very good in the face off circle. He led the the team, winning 6 of 9 faceoffs, good for 67%.
• I like the hustle and effort of Craig Smith. Now if he could just bury some shots.
• Paul Gaustad played in his 700th NHL game tonight.

No doubt this was a much needed win for the Predators, and it was a solid team effort. After a slow start, the Predators got their feet moving and played a complete game.

Now the Preds need to build on this win and start stringing together some victories.

My three stars:

1. Carter Hutton

2. Roman Josi

3. Eric Nystrom