Western Conference scoreboard watch - March 16, 2011

The Nashville Predators didn't exactly help themselves last night, so we're left looking around the league to see how the playoff picture continues to develop:

Washington Capitals vs Detroit Red Wings (6:30 p.m. Central on VERSUS)
The Red Wings have pretty much locked up another Central Division title, and are coming to Nashville on Saturday.

Colorado Avalanche vs Vancouver Canucks (9:00 p.m. Central)
This one doesn't have much to do with the playoff chase, as these two teams are playing out the string - one looking forward to the playoffs, the other to the golf course.

St. Louis Blues vs Anaheim Ducks (9:00 p.m. Central)
The Ducks are one point behind the Preds with one game in hand, so this one's a biggie. St. Louis is circling the toilet bowl (despite a recent 3-game winning streak they're 4-8-0 in their last 12), so dare we hope for some help from the Preds' division rival?

A Big Day for Hockey on Nashville Radio

While you're waiting for all of that action, there is a ton of hockey talk scheduled for this afternoon and evening on Nashville's airwaves:

• At 3:25, analyst Darren Elliot from Versus will join the Thom Abraham Show (listen at 560-AM or WNSR.com)
• At 5:25, Martin Erat will also call into the Thom Abraham Show, setting up tomorrow's battle against the Boston Bruins.
• 6:00 is time for SlapShot Radio live from Flying Saucer, also on WNSR, followed at 7:00 by the WNSR Player Show, featuring Blake Geoffrion and his father Danny.

And lastly, I wanted to pass along a couple of interesting hockey articles as well:

The Rorschach: Discipline and Operant Conditioning - Houses of the Hockey
More wonderful stuff from Kent Wilson on how the NHL can change on-ice behavior if it really wants to. How about giving guys 5 minutes in a Skinner Box?

The 68 reasons why NHL Playoffs are better than March Madness - Puck Daddy
Put this up at the office next to your coworker's bracket.