Monday's notes: The Jets take off, eh

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 10, 2011 7:56 AM EDT in Nashville Predators News

Yesterday was all about the Winnipeg Jets playing the first game of their new era in Winnipeg, and even though we feel bad for hockey fans in Georgia who lost the Thrashers, you can't help but congratulate the hockey-mad city of Winnipeg for getting back in the NHL game.

Our morning notes touch on that big party, as well a look back the Predators' opening weekend, an ugly brawl in the KHL, and a whole lot more...

Nashville Predators News

The Preds Give Me A Black Eye; Blues Fans Give One to Themselves (Part 1/2) | Predators AJenda
AJ took one for the team Saturday night...

Inside Smashville " Spaling takes on top-six forward role with Fisher out of lineup
It speaks volumes that Nick Spaling is centering guys like Martin Erat, Sergei Kostitsyn and Patric Hornqvist, while Cal O`Reilly doesn't.

Weekend Hindsight " Music City Mindset
Ryan looks back on his favorite elements from the two wins.

VIDEO: Preds fans featured on broadcast after taking to the road… | Section 303
In case you missed it during Saturday's Preds/Blues telecast, the team featured the 303 road trippers in a 1st intermission video segment.

Former Pred Going Overseas? | Fang Finger
Rumors of J.P. Dumont heading over to Europe...

Paul McCann - Off and Running... and Some Randoms
Paul points out that the skaters have been pretty sloppy in the opening wins, with Pekka Rinne getting the job done.

Smashville 24/7: Getting to know Blogger's Row: Patten Fuqua
It's nice to know that someone on Blogger's Row has at least some training in journalism.

Nashville Predators make statement with two wins to start season - The Tennessean
And that statement is... "wow, our goalie's good."

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Jets on a Deadline: Canadiens v. Jets–Oct 9, 2011 | Illegal Curve Hockey
Even though they got hammered by Montreal 5-1, it was a delirious party in Winnipeg as the Jets made their home debut.

Gary Bettman gets warm Winnipeg welcome - The Globe and Mail
The giddiness in Winnipeg even spilled over in the Commissioner's favor.

Canadiens F Cammalleri leaves game against Jets - TSN
A tough break for Mike Cammalleri, suffering a cut above his knee from a teammate's skate blade. The weird thing is that they had to stop play so that he could be taken to the dressing room, because the rink in Winnipeg doesn't have the tunnel running right to the bench.

Oilers Open Season with 2-1 Win; Eberle's Was Nicer - The Copper & Blue
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the 1st overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft, scored his first goal to help the Oilers pull this one out.

Betts Fails Physical, Returned To Flyers - KuklasKorner
Well, so much for that trip through the waiver wire.

Blue Jackets vs. Predators Scoring Chances, 10.7.2011 - The Cannon
For those who like tracking scoring chances, here's a review of Friday's win at Columbus.

Brodeur is a Fraud: Goalie Effects on the Jack Adams Award
An interesting way to look at the pre-season favorites for the award which goes to the NHL's top coach.

Line Combo Look - Saad, Landeskog, Brassard, RHN, Langebrunner... - Fantasy Hockey Scouts
For you fantasy hockey managers, Jay looks at recent develops among line combinations, and how that could affect your strategy.

Fight Video: Another line brawl for KHL goons Vityaz Chekhov - Puck Daddy
More evidence that the KHL is still a few decades behind the NHL on hockey's evolutionary scale. This clip happens to include former Predator Jamie Lundmark, who is now with Riga.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard suspended two games - Hockey Wilderness
Did Bouchard's stick get lifted up by the victim here, Matt Calvert, or did Bouchard take a swipe at Calvert's face?

Tweet Comment 30 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Cool video

of the road trip! Too bad about the beer shower.

Beer... Now there's a temporary solution.-Homer Simpson

by Josiah2729 on Oct 10, 2011 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

off topic

I know I shouldn’t be shocked by this, but why does NHLShop hardly have any Hockey Fights Cancer gear for the Preds? To make it worse, the stuff they do have for THIS year has LAST year’s logo on it. Really?! Is it that difficult to get stuff correct and updated?! They ought to at least discount the shirts if they’re out dated as soon as I purchase them.

TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....

by Evanbio on Oct 10, 2011 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

That is weird

It’s not like the new logo came out of nowhere, they’ve had months to integrate that into the Hockey Fights Cancer line.

Follow @Forechecker

Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of HockeyGearHQ, a site devoted to hockey equipment and accessories.

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 10, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed

I mean, the league/Reebok had to know before we did, right? Either way, the response I got back from the inquiry was predictable. Something along the lines of “We’re not responsible for what merchandise we have….No idea when new logo will be available….Will let you know when it is”.

At least for a change the Jets don’t have more available than we do. But then, they do have the correct logo on their merchandise……

TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....

by Evanbio on Oct 10, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Dumont

I really thought some team would want him. It makes me kinda sad that he would have to go to Europe to play hockey…

by dnorm4 on Oct 10, 2011 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

Me too, I thought maybe Ottawa or some bad team would pick him up just to help be competitive.

by DonBorvio on Oct 10, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Early injuries to forwards may give JP an opportunity to earn a contract.

Puck And Punk blog: The only music with enough heart for hockey.
Follow me on twitter:@3DLink

by 3DLink on Oct 10, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

The great thing about hockey in Atlanta/Georgia… Thanks to the NHL blackout restrictions, we can’t watch clubs play competitive hockey but we can watch out former team stink up the ice. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by SilverRubicon on Oct 10, 2011 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

Ridiculous. The Predators—and, oh OK, the Canes—should be seen in Atlanta and environs and surely Nashville’s front office is on the horn with the league right now to see that it happens. Meantime, thanks to those Thrashers fans who came up to Bridgestone Arena for the Winnipeg pre-season game. They showed a lot of character.

by Hockey Hillbilly on Oct 10, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought the Jets more crashed and burned yesterday

60% of the time it works every time

by Creeping Death on Oct 10, 2011 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

I thought the Atlanta bashing was pretty awful, too.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 10, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

ya I feel bad for Atlanta hockey fans

60% of the time it works every time

by Creeping Death on Oct 10, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Don’t feel bad for us, we don’t really know what’s going on anyways.

by SilverRubicon on Oct 10, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Ouch. That’s alright, I’m sure we’ll organize plenty of plans to get y’all up here in masse for some games.

by DonBorvio on Oct 10, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

According to the announcers we didn’t know anything about the game in Atlanta, nor did we know the first name of Carey Price. Only Canadiens understand hockey, everyone else is a johnny come lately.

by SilverRubicon on Oct 10, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know if you’re on Twitter or not, but I assure you that there was a hyuuuge outcry over that little morsel of idiocy. Tons of folks from all over are aware that Atlanta fans know what’s what and weren’t shy about saying so.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Even bears must face this fact: we're nothing without Rinne.--Grizzledbear, 10/9/2011
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Oct 10, 2011 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

and what do Canadians know about hockey? One of their teams hasn’t won since…. 93. bahahahaha

60% of the time it works every time

by Creeping Death on Oct 10, 2011 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Some good news today for ex-Thrashers fans. The Preds organization pulled strings and fixed the Center Ice blackout problem in Atlanta. (Even the game replays were blacked out!) We can now see every Predators game either on Center Ice or Sports South.

by Yard on Oct 10, 2011 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Wow

It’s sad that was a problem to begin with. The NHL is a league in need of fans, especially in the south.

by musamonster on Oct 10, 2011 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice!

World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on Oct 11, 2011 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions

spaling vs Oreilly

why is Spaling getting the better offensive chance? It is not like he has done anything with it, and O’reilly is by far the better offensive player.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Oct 10, 2011 11:33 AM EDT reply actions

Great question...

You should go with me on Tuesday and yell that at caoch Trotz…I’ll back you up..;)

by HardCorePredFan316 on Oct 10, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

tuesday :(

I actually had a chance to go to that. A big deal to me since I’ve never been to one. Then my instructor goes and schedules a flight to Memphis for that afternoon/evening. So unfortunately my streak of not being at the meet the team party continues.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Oct 10, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

You on jets yet?

World Wide Weber.
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on Oct 10, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah, im just now getting my commercial.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Oct 10, 2011 3:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Agreed

Dirk writes it “speaks volumes” that Spaling is centering are top skill guys, but I can’t decide if it says most about Trotz, Spaling or O’Reilly.

by Lil cutie on Oct 10, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Im sure trotz has his reason(s). I just cant figure it out.

Keys to the game: GA<GF

by flyalder on Oct 10, 2011 3:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The Jets may have played thier first game, but they did not take off. It wasn’t good hockey.

The announcers were correct in pointing out " Big Buffs" lack of hustle in getting back on defense. His display of hustle….well there wasn’t any display.

by Predator Don on Oct 10, 2011 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

Don't look now..but we're 3rd in PP%!

42.9% Maybe that’ll hold up! :P

by DonBorvio on Oct 10, 2011 5:54 PM EDT reply actions

I thought that was a big deal this weekend, as big as Pekka and the Legwand line. Actually, I think the PP’s been decent since April, including the playoffs. But that was a great start for the extra man. Pete’s still running that show, isn’t he? Or is that Lambert?

by el pucko on Oct 10, 2011 8:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions