Thursday's news: Putting the bad games behind us

Anybody ready for a fun home game tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks? Instead of retching over the last two (awful) games, let's look ahead to the opportunity to razz a division rival (TAXI.... TAXI... TAXI... chants for Patrick Kane, perhaps?). There will also be a pre-game ceremony recognizing Steve Sullivan's Masterton Trophy.

And don't forget to bring baby supplies to benefit the Martha O'Bryan Center this evening.

Now, onto your morning news & notes...

Predators News

Preds On The Glass: Predators See Stars in Dallas
Buddy looks for a few positives heading into tonight's Chicago game.

Yep, It Really Was That Bad - Brandon Felder
Analyzing last night's game is like having a case of the dry heaves. Things were so nasty Monday night, that there's just nothing left in the tank this morning.

The NHL In The Social Media World: Buddy Oakes - Hockey From the Cheap Seats
The man behind Preds On The Glass is the latest guest in this social media series...

Jevon Kearse Jumps in the Benz Instead of Staying to Support His Teammates - Music City Miracles
In a bit of NFL/NHL crossover, we had Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse leave the stadium on Sunday after being told he wouldn't play hours before the game. Coach Jeff Fisher is downplaying the incident, Kearse is entirely unapologetic about it, and a good part of the local media is giving him a free pass. But remember a couple years ago when Jeremy Roenick was scratched in Phoenix, and did the same thing? He got roasted for it, and rightfully so. As bad as the Preds have been the last two games, the Titans are in a far worse situation, if you ask me.

Sporting News' NHL Top 50: Nos. 31-50
Cheer up, Preds fans, we've got the #32 best player in the league to pull for!

Around the NHL

Ryder riding shotgun on the first line - Stanley Cup of Chowder
Fantasy hockey fans, sit up and take notice; Michael Ryder's getting a shot alongside Marc Savard on Boston's top line, which could provide a nice short-term boost for him.

Tactic or tragedy? Report claims Isles arena project abandoned - Puck Daddy
Is Islanders owner Charles Wang pulling the plug on his Lighthouse Project, due to the long delay in obtaining local approval to move forward?

Gretzky’s Imitators - KuklasKorner: Mike Chen's Hockey Blog
Mike Chen shows that when it comes to filling the shoes of The Great One, coaches may have just as big a challenge as the NHL's players have.

Front Line: A leap of faith - ESPN
Sean Allen provides a good overview of teams which have seen some early changes to their top forward lines, which is of critical importance to fantasy hockey managers.

How is Coach Anderson Using His Roster? - Bird Watchers Anonymous
One way a coach can get the most out of his role players is to place them in the appropriate situations, and by looking at who's on the ice for offensive- vs. defensive-zone faceoffs, we get a clue as to what they're thinking.