Monday's notes: Predators starting the week off right

Even though they lost in the shootout Saturday night in Washington, the Nashville Predators can take some valuable lessons out that game, as they prepare for games this week at Boston (Wednesday), Ottawa (Thursday), and Chicago (Saturday). 

After the jump, you can start the week off well with a heapin' helpin' of Preds and NHL news, including a post-game interview with Shea Weber by a Capitals blogger...

Predators News

Something To Build Upon | Hockey Independent
Mark shares what many of us felt about Saturday's game; that looked like a Preds game, and it was especially good to see Weber and Dumont break their goal-scoring drought (even if J.P.'s was a cheapie).

Santorelli Raises the Level of His Game - Milwaukee Admirals
Upon his return to the Milwaukee Admirals, Mike Santorelli didn't sulk; he astounded.

Chatting with Ovechkin after the win against the Predators - Washington Capitals Examiner
The Russian blogger catches up with Alex Ovechkin after Saturday's game.

Shea Weber: I didn't quite stop Ovechkin - Washington Capitals Examiner
Dmitri's work wasn't done after talking to Ovechkin, as he got a few questions in with Nashville's #1 defenseman as well.

Why no Preds-Caps on FOX? Here's the reason - Inside Predators
John Glennon explains why Saturday night's game (and next Saturday's, too) wasn't covered by Fox Sports TN. The Center Ice free preview runs through October 24, however, so Pred fans should be able to pick up the Chicago coverage that night.

Around the NHL

Down Goes Brown: Thoughts on the Maple Leafs "90s Night"
Saturday night was "90's Night" at the Air Canada Centre; there's no word as to whether flannel shirts got fans a discount on the way in.

Wild Trade for Kobasew - Hockey Wilderness
Minnesota acquires a 3-time 20 goal scorer from Boston, Chuck Kobasew, as they attempt to rebound from a horrible start. What I haven't understood about the Wild is how a new coach is supposed to implement a new, up-tempo system without changing the makeup of the team.

Bruins place Lucic on LTIR; call up Sobotka and Marchand - Stanley Cup of Chowder
When the Predators head to Boston on Wednesday, the Bruins will be without their big lug, Milan Lucic. Combined with the Kobasew trade, there could be a couple AHL callups in the lineup vs. Nashville.

100 facts to know about first 100 NHL games - NHL.com
A host of interesting tidbits about the early part of this season.

Five Hole Fanatics: Reactions: Early season curiosities
Some interesting observations from Kent. I'm not buying the Avalanche, either, for the record.

Oilers' Souray None Too Pleased With Ex's 'Erotic Revue' - Deadspin
A nasty custody battle has ensued between Edmonton Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray and his ex-wife Angelica Bridges, who stars in a Las Vegas "Adult Revue".

What good are hockey stats if they don't even tell us who scores and causes goals? - Cult of Hockey
Dave Staples writes about a new effort to record which specific players have a positive or negative impact on goals that are scored, with the intent being something more legitimate than the traditional Plus/Minus stat. While an interesting idea, analysis like this is deeply flawed, as it only focuses on the 5 or so times a game that a goal is scored. What about players who make blunders but get bailed out by their goaltender, or a player who makes a great pass only to have his teammate whiff on the shot?

Lastly, I know we've seen some costly mistakes made by the Preds in the early going this season, but nothing tops this groaner of a goal given up by Chicago goalie Christobal Huet that killed off the hopes of a Blackhawks comeback against Dallas. That $5.6 million cap hit (for two more seasons, no less) has gotta hurt!

Hat tip on the video to Kukla's Korner