The Nashville Predators begin an important stretch of games here in December (with 6 of the next 7 at Bridgestone Arena) against the Buffalo Sabres tonight, a team which in many ways is an Eastern Conference doppelganger of the Preds. Traditionally a small-market team battling against the NHL's titans in Toronto & Montreal, they've enjoyed long-term stable leadership with a GM & head coach in Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff who have been around since, well, the Nashville Predators even started playing in the league.
I hope to have a preview up later this morning, but until then, our morning notes around the league start off with a terrifying injury to one of the Sabres forwards last night...
5 Gift Ideas for Nashville Predators Fans | Hockey Gear HQ
Searching for gift ideas for a Nashville Predators fan? Included in this list we have ways to save on a custom hockey jersey, or buy your gifts from local businesses which support the Preds.
Nashville Predators News
Four Goal Explosion In Third Helps Ads Sink Rivermen | Admirals Roundtable
Michael Latta scored twice to lead the Ads to victory.
Nashville Predators give minor-league coach his chance - The Tennessean
Josh Cooper profiles Ian Herbers, your new Milwaukee Admirals head coach.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Video: Nathan Gerbe gets a face full of Paul Gaustad’s skate blade - Puck Daddy
Scary, scary stuff here. Gerbe took a teammates skate right to the face, and skated right off to the bench for repairs. The Sabres come in to Smashville tonight after having lost in Detroit 4-1 yesterday.
John Garrett calls Nashville Predators "opportunistic". Is wrong. | The Province
Twas The Giant who should get credit for defeating Vancouver, writes Cam.
World Junior Championship Predictions - The Hockey Writers
The World Juniors are just a few weeks away, so get ready for a tsunami of articles on the big tournament in Buffalo.
Coyotes continue to haunt NHL governors - The Globe and Mail
Ideally, the league would know where the Coyotes will be long-term before settling the realignment question.
Am I A Blogger In the Basement In my Underwear? - Matchsticks and Gasoline
Calgary GM Jay Feaster misfires in his blast about all the Iginla trade speculation. It wasn't bloggers who started it, it was newspaper columnists.
Oilers Beat Jackets 6-3, Prove that One Period > Two Periods - The Copper & Blue
Ryan Jones nets the hat trick here for Edmonton.
Minnesota Wild vs New Jersey Devils: Game Recap - Hockey Wilderness
Who's going to break the news to the Wild that they're not supposed to be atop the league standings? They're still cruising along with a 4-2 victory over New Jersey.
It's Baby Steps To The Elevator, Not Bumbling To It: Isles 4 - Hawks 4 (Hawks Win Flip Cup 1-0) - Second City Hockey
The Blackhawks took down the Islanders in the shootout.
Blues at Avalanche Recap. Blueberries Squeak By Blues - Mile High Hockey
A rare home-ice victory for the Avalanche, pushing their home record to 6-9-0.
Flying V-ictory: Flyers 4, Ducks 3 - Broad Street Hockey
The writeup's not much, but check the comments for a nice tribute to a former Preds captain.