Tuesday's notes: A Very Merry Month of May for Nashville Predators fans

by Dirk Hoag on May 3, 2011 9:46 AM EDT in Nashville Predators News

How cool is this, folks? We've flipped over the calendar to May and we're still enjoying Nashville Predators hockey. Tonight's Game 3 will be surrounded with an extra-special atmosphere, between the "Gold Out" (t-shirts to be handed out to all attendees), to the excitement of 2nd-round hockey at Bridgestone Arena, and the opportunity to take the series lead over the favored Vancouver Canucks.

And aside from the hockey, I can only imagine how energetic tonight's Military Salute will be. For those who may not have been to Bridgestone, during each game the Preds recognize an active duty soldier or veteran on the scoreboard, and the fans give them a standing ovation. Considering the news that the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment from nearby Fort Campbell played a big part in the recent operation to killOsama Bin Laden, I'm sure the residents of Smashville will want to give these heroes the thanks they deserve.

For now, just follow after the jump for your morning hockey news!

Nashville Predators News

Cox: Predators survive and soar in ‘Smashville’ - thestar.com
Can you believe this Toronto columnist had to get perspective on the Mike Fisher trade from some transplanted Detroiter? Yeesh.

Red Light District: Rinne ‘bailing out’ Nashville in second round
...well, let's be honest, this is basically his job description.

Music City Mindset: They Play Hockey in May?
Ryan notes that while the Preds are breaking new ground in the playoffs, the game of hockey is growing throughout Middle Tennessee, too.

WCSF Game 3 Preview: Nashville Plays Its First Ever Game In May - Predlines
Amanda wonders when the power plays will start clicking.

Moms continue to play a big part in the lives of the Nashville Predators - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond knows how to pile up the brownie points ahead of Mother's Day.

Hockey Night in Nashville: Battle Moves To Smashville
Robby's keeping his eye on Shane O`Brien tonight.

Preds Foundation Distributes Record Amount of Grants to Middle Tennessee Community
The team's charitable arm handed out over $325,000 this year, a boost of over $20,000 over last year's record total.

Predators a franchise many years in the making - The Province
If you want a glimpse of pre-NHL hockey, just ask Preds assistant coach Peter Horachek, who coached the ECHL's Nashville Knights.

Legwand’s skills don’t translate into great statistics - Montreal Gazette
Cue the David Legwand debate thread, this time in French...

Trotz, Poile build Predators’ success from ground up - Vancouver Sun
Celebrating the long-term results that the Preds' leadership has delivered over the years.

Defence duo in perfect harmony - Vancouver Sun
The Preds have star players, alright, they're just on the blueline and in goal.

Ward's points valuable for Predators now, likely worth something for him later | Nashville City Paper
Joel Ward is heading for free agency, and leading the team in playoff scoring is a sure way to a happy payday.

Predators keep Canucks' top scorers off the board | Nashville City Paper
How long can the Preds hold the Sedins down?

Nashville Predators adjust, creating goals - The Tennessean
The Preds don't really on a single star to light up the scoreboard, a strategy which has paid off so far.

Nashville Predators see young players step up - The Tennessean
The rise of USA Hockey within the ranks of elite NHL players continues with guys like Ryan Suter and Ryan Kesler.

Joe Biddle: Nashville Predators' past losses pay off - The Tennessean
Joe Biddle's going hockey-crazy these days...

Around the NHL

Alex Burrows given match to light fire under Sedins - The Globe and Mail
Vancouver's main task right now is to get Henrik & Daniel scoring again.

Coach mixes lines to jump-start offence - Vancouver Sun
Will Alain Vigneault shuffle his lineup tonight in order to get the offense rolling?

NHL should embrace Vancouver's 'Green Men' - The Globe and Mail
What's next, putting @bigbenpreds on Weight Watchers?

Boucher is not worried about being outshot, just focusing on the task at hand - Raw Charge
With a 2-0 series lead over the Washington Capitals and two home games coming up, Guy Boucher's Lightning hold all the cards.

One-on-one with Wade Belak - thestar.com
Wade was probably never more popular than during his run in Toronto, so naturally the media there wanted to catch up with him.

Top-20 worst bang-for-the-buck NHL forwards in 2010-11 | Hockey Independent
It's no surprise to see J.P. Dumont end up on this list, after failing to earn his way out of Barry Trotz's doghouse.

First Round Playoff Penalty Rates - Behind The Net
Do referees really swallow their whistles during the playoffs?

Adam McQuaid Takes Header Into Boards After Missing Hit On Mike Richards - SBNation.com
Ouch! A similar play back in Gordie Howe's rookie season almost ended his career before it even got started.

Can You Put A Pricetag On Umby? - The Cannon
R.J. Umberger is about to enter the last year of his contract, so Columbus fans wonder what it will take to lock him up long-term.

Player evaluation: Brown " LA Kings Insider
Rich Hammond overlooks a key aspect of Dustin Brown's contribution to the Los Angeles Kings - his ability to draw penalties and put his team on the power play.

The Hockey News: Difficult contracts, difficult decisions
Could Scott Gomez become the next high-paid NHL player to get banished to the minors so that his team can avoid the salary cap hit? Quite possibly.

Atlanta Thrashers Will Likely Be Sold For $110 Million - SportsMoney - Forbes
It looks like former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine (a fine hockey player in his own right) could become one of the new owners of the Thrashers.

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Anthem notes

Now, certainly, I expect the 17,113 gathered faithful to sing the ever-living heck out of The Star Spangled Banner tonight and I expect the military salute will be something very special indeed.

But, of course, we get bonus anthem tonight (which typically means Dennis Morgan giving us one or both – absolutely nothing wrong with that). So while Whomever is singing O Canada, let’s join in there too (if you know the words – if not, it’s an easy one to learn and, frankly, quite a bit easier to sing than our anthem). Canada joined the War in Afghanistan early on. There are still about 2,500 Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan (in addition to officers and senior NCOs who are deployed with American units as a part of various exchange programs) and more than 150 Canadian fighting men and women have died since 2002.

Also – during what is now-called Operation Yellow Ribbon, Canadian airports took in American-bound flights when our airspace was closed on September 11. The most notable of these was in Gander, Newfoundland, which took in US-bound trans-Atlantic flights, but our buddies in Vancouver took in the trans-Pacific flights on that day.

There’ll be plenty of time for “You suck!” and general overall razzing of the Canucks, but honoring them during the anthem would be a nice gesture.

Known by George Plaster since 4/13/2011
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by JRTheByLineGrinder on May 3, 2011 10:08 AM EDT reply actions 10 recs

+1

Nice commentary JR. You are truly one classy guy. Nice to remind us of Canada’s help in Afghanistan. If I’m not mistaken, for quite a while there were more Canadian troops than US troops in that garden spot.

by XVIII on May 3, 2011 10:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Well Said

Wikipedia has the lyrics to O Canada including French and Inuktitut for all those Tootoo fans out there.

Go Preds!

by WINB on May 3, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

At Canadian barns, the singer typically switches into French after three lines or so (except in Montreal, where he starts in French and finishes in English – of course). I’m not that ambitious. But maybe I’ll learn the Inuktitut version for fun.

Known by George Plaster since 4/13/2011
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by JRTheByLineGrinder on May 3, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Dennis Morgan is singing the Canadian anthem… Jenny Gill is singing the US

You're welcome...

by SlapShot Radio on May 3, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, Paul

Couldn’t ask for a better good luck duo, if you ask me.

Known by George Plaster since 4/13/2011
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by JRTheByLineGrinder on May 3, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

100% agreed

the Canadian Anthem is a great one,
and Canada supported the efforts in Afghanistan from the getgo.

Fair and balanced article by Cox. Nice to see OTF get some mainstream acknowledgment, on top of the constant shoutouts from Puck Daddy.

Free the green men, already. Fans love them. Look fwd to seeing them tonight.

by DontfeedtheBelak on May 3, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Just be sure the Gnome makes his appearance.

by Only Fan In J.C. ? on May 3, 2011 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Very classy. Nicely done. Fully rec’d.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

by Jevant on May 3, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

It would be nice if they could announce this and the fact that over half of the Preds are Canadian to limit the booing. Be funny to start a chant after the anthems: “We love Canadians… but not Canucks”

by Predmonton on May 3, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, that is a good thing to remember. We have 14(?) Canadians on our roster.

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on May 3, 2011 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we have more Canadians on both our active rosters and game rosters than the Canucks do! I find it a little ironic how much love foreigners such as Kesler and the Sedin twins get from the Canadian media, especially after all of the trash Kesler talked during the Olympics.

by Predmonton on May 3, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Now, that’s interesting. Makes me want to look at the number of Canadians on all the teams and compare.

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on May 3, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

JR is spot on and we need to do this! I have to admit, I had a dream Sunday evening. I went to sleep thinking about the game tonight, and how the anthems would play out and how we as a crowd would respond. I dreamt that I was the anthem singer and that I was able to get everyone to sing with me on both anthems. I even bowed out during the Star Spangled Banner much like the singer in Vancouver did during O Canada. Hearing how the sound reverberated was just incredible.

I remember waking up remembering it, and how I still kind of got chills. Even now thinking about it…. Well, I’ll definitely be singing along for both. It’s good that Dennis and Jenny are singing them. They do the anthems at the right pace and with minimal embellishments so that the crowd can join them without wondering where they’re going with the notes.

by OddManRush on May 3, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Jenny is an average singer, IMO, but she gets bonus points for mostly singing the song how it was written, which, like you said, allows us to sing along.
How many of you know that it was written during the War of 1812?
How many of you know that the melody is an old English drinking song?
How many of you know that the song is written in 3/4 or ‘waltz’ time? (1,2,3,1,2,3…)

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on May 3, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I know all of those things

So there!

Known by George Plaster since 4/13/2011
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by JRTheByLineGrinder on May 3, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Uh, yeah, I figured.

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on May 3, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

It wasn’t meant as a challenge, but as an education.

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on May 3, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

And Key wrote it after watching the flag still flying from Fort McHenry after a full night of British shelling. He was being held on a British ship in Baltimore Harbor and expected, like everyone else, that the Americans would cave as they had done shortly before. The British had sailed up from Washington where they had sacked and burned the White House. It’s not easy to sing but, if you really listen, the words are stirring regardless of how awkwardly they’re placed.

by Hockey Hillbilly on May 3, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

It surprises me that they don’t have a game where the crowd sings the anthem, especially here in Music City.

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on May 3, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

And the whole song is actually a question?

Writer at OnTheForecheck.com. On twitter at @OTFMarc (NHL) and @MarcTorrence (everything else).

by Marc Torrence on May 3, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

love this idea...

and hope to see it play out on VS tonight while watching here in IN.

TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....

by Evanbio on May 3, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome JR

Ya got me a little choked up there man.

by TitanPredBearFan on May 3, 2011 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Well said sir.

by Thejefe37 on May 3, 2011 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

I'll be singing loud and clear...

At my house, 4 hours east of the tire barn :(. Wish I could be there

"Bartender! Something on ice!" - Neil Everett

by EastTNPredsFan on May 3, 2011 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

At some point we need to get a Mountain viewing party going

by Only Fan In J.C. ? on May 3, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Very good idea and great gesture. I have always revered our anthem, but after my son served in Iraq my appreciation, understanding and gratitude has swelled to heights I’ve never imagined. I still get a tear at every rendition (well, except for the guitar).

We are the United States of America.

by Predator Don on May 3, 2011 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

I’ve been thinking about the anthem all day and am getting choked up. Faaaangy may have a handful of lanky, poorly-bearded, GOC-sweater-wearing J.R. on his hands before face-off.

Known by George Plaster since 4/13/2011
Your favorite member of the mainstream media
OtF Resident Rascal

by JRTheByLineGrinder on May 3, 2011 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I always sing along with ‘O, Canada’ to respect the players, teams, and our friends to the north.
The first time I sang the Star Spangled Banner after 9/11 was extremely emotional. I have the highest respect for our country, our anthem and those who fight and have fought and died for America.
Tonight’s anthem won’t mean any more to me than the last one.
This ‘war’ is BS.
I will not be chanting USA! USA! because we killed some bastard.
I will be thinking about my friends who are dead or injured, physically and emotionally.
You want to truly respect our country and our friends and family in the military?
Bring the boys back home. Give them the care they need. Give them the help they need deal with what they have had to see and do. Let’s make a promise to the wives, husbands and children of those who have fought, that we will stand by them in the years ahead.

Then, let us all stand together and sing.
Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on May 3, 2011 4:19 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Well I’m hoping our boys will come home soon from Afghanistan now, since being there is almost moot at this point.

"My, my, here's one for the (no) neck. Don't relax, 'cause you're next for the check!"

by DonBorvio on May 3, 2011 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Tootoo tweeted that his family is down tonight...

So guess who’s going to have an awesome game? :D

"My, my, here's one for the (no) neck. Don't relax, 'cause you're next for the check!"

by DonBorvio on May 3, 2011 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

A special welcome for his mom, then, and not just for Mothers Day. She had a lot to do with putting that boy on a path that is taking him, and his team, to a new level.

by Hockey Hillbilly on May 3, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Hugs all around!!
I’m pulling for the Toots-trick tonight!

So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live.
~Steve Irwin
There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
~Joe Strummer

by cisar on May 3, 2011 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

awesome

I must say I feel really privileged to be able to root for such a stand-up team with such a stand-up group of people. It makes me proud to be a fan of the Predators, the NHL and of sports when I see things like what we’re talking about here.

I live in the OC.
The one in OH.

by MattBen on May 3, 2011 7:56 PM EDT reply actions