Friday's notes: Predators escape a trap, while Detroit suffers another big injury loss

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 8, 2010 10:20 AM EST

As the Nashville area struggles to cope with Snowpocalypse 2010, the Predators have managed to keep pace with the playoff pack in the Western Conference, where just 3 points separates positions 3-8. Anaheim comes in tomorrow night to finish off a week of home games, and then it's off to western Canada for a swing through Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary.

Until then, however, we've got your morning news and notes - we've got another big injury hitting the Detroit Red Wings, lots of reaction to last night's victory over Carolina (from both sides), and video of a nasty hit from the Phoenix-Vancouver game...

Predators News

Preds On The Glass: Game Recap: Preds Spring Trap, Beat Canes 4-2
Buddy's post-game article, as usual, has lots of audio from Barry Trotz and some of the players.

See Puck City: Blizzard Beats Hurricane: Preds Freeze Carolina 4-2
SBC brings us perhaps the cleverest weather-related headline from last night's game.

The View from 111: Predators Chop Down Canes 4-2
Mark likes the way young players have stepped up when called upon. The Preds will continue to need that help going forward.

Postgame ponderings - Predators Insider
John Glennon wonders if someone should have given Andrew Alberts some on-ice grief for boarding Sully, and why Jason Arnott left the bench with a minute to play.

Around the NHL

NHL Midseason Awards - SB Nation
The bloggers have voted; who deserves the NHL hardware at the halfway point?

Holmstrom out 3-4 weeks - Winging It In Motown
The guy they call "Detroit's Patric Hornqvist" is now down with a serious injury.

Canes Now - For Samson, it was a game of firsts
For rookie forward Jerome Samson, it was a big night against Nashville. First NHL game, first assist, first penalty, etc.

Carolina Power Play Flops: Predators 4, Hurricanes 2 - Canes Country
From the Hurricanes perspective, last night was an opportunity lost.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith big part of Hawks' success - ESPN
Duncan Keith is the new hot name in the Norris Trophy talk this season, as well he should be.

The Dark Blue Jacket: Let's Take a Different Approach to CBJ Blogging...
Taking a very different view of what needs to be fixed with the Blue Jackets.

100 Shootouts Milestone at NHL Midpoint : Maple Leafs Hot Stove
The number of shootout games has taken a big jump this season. Can I say once again how much I HATE 3-point games?

Turco the Terrible! | The Hockey Writers
Remember how Marty Turco vowed to have a big comeback season this year for Dallas? Well, it sounds like that's not working out too well.

Ribeiro out 4-6 weeks with throat injury - DallasNews.com
Mike Heika reports on a nasty injury to Dallas Stars winger Mike Ribeiro, who took a high-stick to the throat Wednesday night from Christopher Higgins.

More on hockey in the U.S. - The Globe and Mail
James Mirtle has the numbers that show the growth of American youth hockey, in light of the U.S. triumph at the World Juniors.

All Roads Lead to Gold for US - Western College Hockey Blog
An informed take on how the controversial US National Development Program contributed to the American gold medal at the World Juniors.

Sam Donnellon: Hockey should share wealth, like baseball | Philadelphia Daily News
An interesting piece shared by agent Allan Walsh on Twitter. It's funny how the big market teams claim that the salary cap prevents them from succeeding. If they can't assemble a winning team with $56 million, how can Nashville do it with ~$44 million?

Lastly, check out this huge hit from Taylor Pyatt on Vancouver defenseman Aaron Rome last night (courtesy of Kukla's Korner):

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Comments

[soapbox]

Somebody in the comments on Glennon’s blog implies that Arnott did not salute the fans with the other guys last night? Anyone know about the credibility of this? If our captain is leaving the ice while the clock is running and not saluting the fans, I’d like to know.

He should’ve been the first guy in Alberts’ face last night, and then Weber. Thats the leadership chain here but you rarely see Arnott defending guys getting pushed around. I didn’t agree with the choice for captaincy when it was made, and he’s just proven my points the past few years. While I do like Jason as a player and in general as a person, he doesn’t seem to be the captain type. What should’ve happened was something similar, if toned down a bit, to Burrows’ hit on Dumont last December. Now THAT was the fire we needed. He doesn’t even clear guys off of Horny when he’s getting crosschecked to heck in the crease. I don’t think taking the C from him is the answer, but something needs to give.

OK, I’m done.

[/soapbox]

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.
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by Chris Burton on Jan 8, 2010 10:50 AM EST reply actions

defending teammates and shootout option

First on the subject of Arnott. I think we need to give him a bit of a pass for a bad example tonight. To my knowledge, this is the first time he’s done this. Everyone should be given a chance to blow a bit of steam, as long as it doesn’t become the norm.

For defending teammates, this is tough as well. I’m actually becoming one of those who doesn’t want to see fighting in the NHL. However, it is the system that is in place now. I certainly HATE when players “defend” a clean hit, but a dirty/illegal hit should definately be defended. As someone else said in the TN article, at least getting in his face and talking to him shoulda been done.

Finally, on the shootout stuff. What if the league only awarded the losing point if they lost in the actual OT period, not the shootout period? I think it would create more teams taking chances in the OT to ensure they at least get a point out of the deal. I would hate to lose the point b/c of a shootout, but if there were fewer shootouts deciding games, that’s gotta be a good thing.

TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....

by Evanbio on Jan 8, 2010 11:32 AM EST reply actions

Probably the most sensible option would be to award 3 points for a win regulation, 2 for a win in OT/SO, and 1 for a OT/SO loss. You could even go for 3 points for a regulation or OT win, 2 for a SO win, and 1 for a SO loss.

I’d prefer simple wins and losses, but since the SO is basically a coin-flipping exercise, I can see a case for awarding something to teams that make it that far. At least under this scheme, all games would be worth the same in the standings.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 8, 2010 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t understand why we can’t have the existing system without the point for a loss in OT/SO. Teams would still work just as hard for the win. What is the point?

by Lil cutie on Jan 8, 2010 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

The OT/SO loser point was a compromise for bringing in the shootout. GM’s couldn’t fathom a whole night’s effort getting lost due to a crowd-pleasing gimmick that doesn’t equate to “real” hockey.

On a number of levels, I agree with that thinking. My biggest beef is the way some games are worth 50% more than others in the overall standings. That’s just plain wrong.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Jan 8, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions