Considering the way last night's 3rd-period collapse has become all-too-familiar this season, I almost expected to be woken up this morning by the strains of "I Got You Babe", as in the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day
Up until the shootout ending, this one was eerily similar to the recent game in Edmonton. Carry a 1-0 lead into the third, cough it up early, get the lead back, cough it up again, then drag things to the shootout. Normally one might shrug this off as an inevitable bump along the long 82-game road of the regular season, but given the monumental collapse in Game 5 of the playoffs last spring, 3rd period meltdowns are particularly galling this year. I don't think we can say with any confidence that the Preds have learned their lesson, can we?
The good news, of course, is that at least Nashville earned the Loser Point to keep their hold on 4th place in the Western Conference standings. With a road game at Philadelphia coming up tomorrow, you bank whatever points you can these days.
Now follow after the jump for your (late) morning hockey news!
The Red Wings are coming, the Red Wings are coming! Detroit visits Smashville for the first time this season on Saturday, so save some cash and get yourself some discount Predators tickets for this, or any other home game.
Nashville Predators News
For reaction to last night's mess see Fang Finger Fever, Preds On The Glass, Predlines, The View From 111, Hockey Night in Nashville, The City Paper, Josh Cooper's Postgame Ponderings, and from the victorious side, Matchsticks & Gasoline.
Lindbäck chockade alla - Expressen.se
Run this Swedish article through Google Translate to read a profile on Anders Lindback's surprising success so far.
Preds On The Glass: Jackson Takes the Place of the Groundhog and Wednesday Round-Up
Who needs Punxatawnaiusgu (however you spell it) Phil?
Strange night for Nick Spaling in Predators loss to Flames - Nashville Predators Examiner
Jim Diamond focuses on Nick $paling's night in the penalty box.
Fox Sports Tennessee Debuts 2 New Preds Shows - Nashville Predators
Besides a monthly "Nashville Predators Snapshot", a new special program will air profiling the Top 10 Moments in Nashville Predators History.
Around the NHL
Corporate manoeuvres complicate NHL’s U.S. broadcast picture - The Globe and Mail
With Comcast (owner of Versus) taking over NBC, and executive changes underway, the negotiations for the NHL's next US TV deal are probably going to take a while to sort out.
2011 NHL All-Star Game Ratings Vindicate Format Change - SBNation.com
The NHL's positive TV trends continued with strong numbers from All-Star weekend.
McKenzie: Trade winds blowing in the West? - TSN
Bob McKenzie sums up the trade possibilities for the Western Canada teams.
Video: Jordan Staal Gets Match Penalty for Sucker Punch, Suspendable Offense? | The Hockey Writers
A dumb move from the Pittsburgh center, but wow did Brandon Prust flop to the ice on this one.
Wilson plays the numbers in shootout - The Globe and Mail
Hmm... I wonder if Ron Wilson's been poking around through my archives.
Kryptonite? Flyers return from break with 4-0 loss to Lightning - Broad Street Hockey
Nashville's next opponent had a rough night in Tampa.
Ten Players to Watch During Stretch Run - Versus
Adrian Dater includes a Predator who we all hope comes through.
The Value of the Outsider Perspective - Houses of the Hockey
More juicy goodness from Kent Wilson about the some of the factors which make arms-length analysis a useful complement to being inside the machine of an NHL team.
The unknown all-star, plus 30 thoughts - Elliotte Friedman
Among other items, Elliotte thanks the folks in Raleigh for being great hosts during All-Star weekend.
Vanderbeek doesn’t plan to sell his share of the Devils and will maintain controlling interest - Fire & Ice
In New Jersey, rumors of a franchise sale were quickly clarified. A minority owner is looking to bail out of his share.
And lastly, HockeyGods.com is at it again (are these the folks Barry Trotz respects so much?):