Monday's notes: Preds enjoy the view from the top

The view from the top of the NHL looks pretty good to the Nashville Predators right now. They're #1 in the league standings (5-0-3), stand 4th in Goals Against/Game (2.12), and boast two goalies who are both off to hot starts. Pekka Rinne is 3rd among Save Percentage leaders at .955, and Anders the Giant isn't far behind at .925. Bask in that glow for a while - sure, it's only October, but this sure beats the mood around these partsduring last season's start!

Follow after the jump for links to game recaps from yesterday's big win at Tampa, word that Patric Hornqvist can finally get rid of a house guest, and an announcement that the team is establishing a new relationship with one of the local skating facilities, a welcome move that should help develop the hockey community.

The Mississippi River Scum St. Louis Blues come to town Thursday to take on the Preds. Use this special offer for OtF readers to save money on Nashville Predators tickets for this, or any other home game.

Nashville Predators News

For game recaps from yesterday, you can head to What the Puck, Preds On The Glass, The View From 111, Nashville Predators Examiner, Predlines, Hockey Night in Nashville, PredsBlog, and from the Tampa side, Raw Charge.

Lindbäck ended the Tampa - Aftonbladet
This recap of yesterday's game from a Swedish news site indicates that Anders Lindback has been told to go ahead and get his own place here in Nashville, a good sign that he's in the NHL to stay.

Nashville Predators Visit A-Game Sportsplex on Tuesday! - NashvillePredators.com
The Preds are hosting an open practice in Cool Springs Tuesday afternoon, while announcing a new partnership between the team and A-Game Sportsplex. Awesome news for the hockey-playing community here in Middle Tennessee.

Preds On The Glass: The Present Is So Bright That The Preds Have to Wear Shades and Monday Musings
There's no podcast tonight, but Buddy's still got his morning links for you.

Postgame ponderings - Predators Insider
Yes, the Preds may have gone 2-0-1 without Ryan Suter, but make no mistake, they missed him terribly.

Predators still working on delayed paperwork - The Tennessean
Not much news here - the Preds are preparing a net worth certification for the Sports Authority, and are working on refinancing their debt.

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Around the NHL

Getting His Life Back, One Stride at a Time | INSIDE HOCKEY
A great story about a hockey player fighting the biggest of battles, and how some help getting back on the ice, even synthetic ice, helped make a difference.

MacLean: "It was my decision" to scratch Kovalchuk - Fire & Ice
You know that $100 million winger that New Jersey went to such lengths to sign this summer, Ilya Kovalchuk? Well rookie head coach John MacLean made him a healthy scratch Saturday night, and the Devils got rolled by Buffalo 6-1. Yikes...

Inside Hockey: Oct 23 - CBC.ca Video
Elliotte Friedman talks to a doctor who helped define the NHL's baseline test for concussions, about the state of the game and the alarming regularity with which players are getting hurt.

Nylander breaks neck in AHL; coach wonders if his career is done - Puck Daddy
Horrible news out of Rochester, where Michael Nylander will require surgery on an injured verterba.

Taylor Hall isn't yet ready for the NHL, argues Peter Adler - Cult of Hockey
Should he stay or should he go? Taylor Hall can still go back to junior and not burn up a year of his pro contract, but indications are that he'll stay in Edmonton, even if he is pretty raw.

The five annoying fans Rick Rypien SHOULD have attacked - From The Rink
The guy could have done a public service, and at least taken out my personal pet peeve - the guy who moans and complains loudly over every bouncing puck, missed pass, or shot that doesn't result in a goal.

Should Zenon Konopka stay out of the penalty box? - Lighthouse Hockey
I have a problem with Dominik's analysis here - hardly any enforcers run around trying to rough up star players to begin with, so there's little need for having someone around the "flash the badge".