Before we get ready for tonight's game in Washington, start your morning off right with a heapin' helpin' of Predators and NHL news.

After the jump, we've got reaction to the Preds recent woes (ugh), a look at how the Anaheim Ducks have changed considerably heading into the new season, and a good story up in Ontario, where the memory of Dan Snyder, the young Atlanta Thrasher who died in a car crash several years ago, has been honored with a new hockey arena in his name.

Predators News

The Skid Continues | Hockey Independent
Mark finds some good and some bad in Thursday's 3-1 loss to Chicago. The Preds better build on that "good" pretty quickly!

Confessions of a Predators Fanatic: There are no words for this...
The mood in Preds-land is dark indeed!

Four... and counting... - Paul McCann
The Preds' PA announcer points out that a long road trip might actually be a very good thing for the team right now.

Stunning Numbers: The NHL's worst special teams - Puck Daddy
The Predators made a big statistical impact over at Puck Daddy, but not in a good way.

By the numbers - The Globe and Mail
Tim Wharnsby tosses out a few numbers, but gets one wrong; while the NHL standings say the Preds have scored 8 goals this season, they've really only scored 7. Confusingly, they add 1 in the Goals For column when a team wins in the shootout, as the Preds did in Dallas on October 3rd.

Admirals Drop Wild Affair in Abbotsford - Admirals Short Shifts
Chet Pickard made his professional debut last night for Milwaukee, but the Ads dropped a 7-5 decision to the Abbotsford Heat.

Quick Hit: Nashville cannot score - IllegalCurve.com
Breaking news from Richard at Illegal Curve!

Around the NHL

Where was Fleury when Kennedy blew the whistle? - Montreal Gazette
Pat Hickey writes one of the most cynical, uninformed pieces of criticism I've seen since Adrian Dater's anti-Nashville rant.

The Numbers and Pat Quinn : Tom Benjamin's NHL Blog
The curmudgeon Canuck fan grapples with hockey stats maven Andy Grabia over whether a "physical non-scoring winger" can make a positive impact on a team's top line. Good stuff here.

Friday's Three Stars: Peverley's the man for Atlanta - Puck Daddy
Man, if only the Preds could land an offensive dynamo like Rich Peverley.

The new Anaheim Ducks: now without defense - Behind The Net
An interesting look at how one Western Conference rival's roster has turned over, and what it means going forward.

Six years after his tragic death, Dan Snyder's dream to come true in Elmira, Ontario - ESPN
Pierre LeBrun brings us the story of how the Atlanta Thrashers have maintained a strong connection to Dan Snyder's family following his tragic death in a car accident, and that a new hockey arena has been built in his memory. Tomorrow, the Thrashers will practice at the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena, to honor their teammate.

If the feds cough up tens of millions for a Quebec arena, what does that mean for Katz's plans? - Cult of Hockey
Up in Edmonton, Oilers owner Daryl Katz would like to build a new arena, too. But there's great resistance to tax-supported funding for sports arenas.

Have The Blackhawks Become The Red Wings? | Hockey Independent
Al Cimaglia wonders if Chicago is the new Detroit. Talented forwards? check. Offensive production from the blueline? check. Lousy goaltending? check. Sounds good to me...

Avs survive final minute flurry against seven Montreal skaters - Puck Daddy
The refs missed a Too Many Men situation late in the Colorado/Montreal game Thursday night, as the Habs had seven(!) skaters on the ice at one time. Puck Daddys got the visual evidence...