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By having eliminated the Detroit Red Wings in five games, the Nashville Predators have earned themselves a respite before the campaign for the 2012 Stanley Cup continues in the second round. For the weekend, then, fans can sit back and reflect on a landmark franchise win, and enjoy watching the rest of the teams battle for the right to move on.
Our morning hockey notes begin of course with last night's triumph, which has to be extra special for all those Day One season ticket holders out there...
Nashville Predators News
Especially this morning, I suggest browsing through the "More Predators Sites" box on the left side of the main page here at OTF, to check out recaps and post-game reaction from all over town.
Preds On The Glass: Predators and their fans win series over Red Wings
If anyone deserves a Standing O besides the Preds themselves, it's charter season-ticket holder Buddy Oakes, who made it to last night's game despite recently having major surgery.
Klein: Preds Finally Slay the Dragon in Series Win | PuckScene.com
Kleiner's getting to be an old hand around here, and has some perspective on the rivalry with Detroit.
Legwand’s goal and assist lead Predators to series win over Detroit - Nashville Predators Examiner
The lesson here? Whether you win or lose a faceoff at center ice has only the most marginal impact on the flow of a game. Deep in either zone, that's a different issue (which is why you see Paul Gaustad take so many defensive zone draws).
Predators, Red Wings headed in separate directions after series - Allan Muir - SI.com
For those wondering if the Red Wings are finally done, watch out. They have a ton of cap room available this summer, and much of their core is still either young & developing, or should still be effective for years to come.
Nashville Predators' Pekka Rinne lets his numbers do the talking | The Tennessean
The big guy was outstanding, no question about it.
Nashville Predators' Alexander Radulov finds goal ... and his groove | The Tennessean
...and the rest of the league needs to watch out.
Nashville Predators deliver clear message vs. Detroit Red Wings | The Tennessean
The Preds are fulfilling all that promise which has been built up over the years.
Postgame ponderings - Predators Insider
Josh gives credit to Barry Trotz for finding the right buttons to push to activate Playoff Legwand.
A Game 1 To Forget — Ads Sunk By Heat 6-2 | Admirals Roundtable
The Admirals got off to a rocky start, but Game Two is tonight.
For those of you without NHL Network, here's their analysis on last night's game:
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Marc-Andre Fleury shines in Pens 3-2 Game 5 win over Philly - PensBurgh
The Penguins keep hope alive with a home win to force Game 6 in Philadelphia.
Down Goes Brown: A brief history of playoff violence
June 19, 2006 - As the final seconds tick down on game seven of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, the Edmonton Oilers do something really terrible that earns the franchise a lifetime ban from the NHL playoffs, apparently.
Sports violence is within us all - The Globe and Mail
This ain't the NBA on ice...
False Narratives - PensBurgh
Folks can get awfully giddy with their analysis at playoff time.
Saturday Links: Back in the Lou Edition - St. Louis Game Time
The note & video at the end here are pretty funny.
Around the Rinks - The Globe and Mail
Take a trip around the league with Eric Duhatschek.
LOL OMG NHL: Hockey Goes After The BuzzFeed Generation - Deadspin
Give 'em credit, the NHL does its best to push its brand through every outlet possible.
Phrases I’m tired of hearing: "timely save" | Backhand Shelf
This one drives me nuts, too.