Preds look to build on second half of Game One: Sunday's notes

There were plenty of positives to take out of Friday's 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1 for the Nashville Predators, so as the team prepares for tonight's Game 2 (7:00 p.m. on NBC Sports), they're simply going about their business. Might Colin Wilson finally get some playoff action? We'll have to wait & see, so stay tuned for updates later today.

Follow after the jump for strong words from the top of the Predators organization, updates from the desert, a fresh-faced kid making an impact in the Eastern Conference, and a whole lot more...

Make sure to check TiqIQ for Preds playoff tickets!

Nashville Predators News

The View from 111: First Round Review and Second Round Predictions
Mark nailed his pick for the Preds in Round One... will his prescience continue?

Nashville Predators will pay to keep top players, chairman says | The Tennessean
Tom Cigarran repeats his commitment that the resources are there to keep the core intact as free agency looms this summer.

Nashville Predators' Kevin Klein admits break affected Game 1 effort | The Tennessean
The rust is all gone now, right?

Status quo for Preds - Predators Insider
There's no lineup shuffle... so far, at least.

Nashville Predators hope to avoid 0-2 start against Phoenix Coyotes | The Tennessean
While not a "must win", the pressure will begin to build tonight.

Season Ends for Milwaukee, Preds Prospects | The Hockey Writers
Pointing out some of the positives for the just-completed season.

Looking Ahead — Watson, Shalla, Bitetto | Admirals Roundtable
Ryan looks ahead to some future Admirals.

Here's Barry Trotz talking to the media after yesterday's practice:

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Blues drop Game 1 to Kings; what, me worry? - St. Louis Game Time
The L.A. Kings took the opener of the other Western Conference semifinal.

Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo leaves Game 1 after being boarded by Dwight King (VIDEO) | Puck Daddy
A bad combination of timing & distance here leads to a nasty fall into the boards.

2012 NHL Playoffs: Chris Kreider Propels Rangers Past Caps In Game One - Blueshirt Banter
Just a few weeks ago, Kreider was playing college hockey, and now he's scoring the game-winner in a Stanley Cup playoff game. Yowza.

Blue Jackets-turned-Coyotes want payback vs. Nashville Predators | The Tennessean
Five former Columbus Blue Jackets are playing for Phoenix right now.

Rostislav Klesla, of all people, is leading all defencemen in playoff scoring | Backhand Shelf
Maybe that ticket out of Columbus was the best thing that could have happened to him.

Coyotes succeed with scant resources - The Globe and Mail
Will their impressive efforts to punch above their weight be enough to save a long-term future in Phoenix?

Down Goes Brown: What went wrong? Excuses from the NHL's losers
I like this one... Minnesota Wild – According to the know-it-all stats nerds, we didn’t do well enough in their advanced metrics like "Corsi" and "QualComp" and "wins" and "having good players".

Around the rinks - The Globe and Mail
Might Patrick Kane become a regular center next season?

Larry Brooks: High salary cap numbers don’t translate to success in Stanley Cup playoffs - NYPOST.com
NHLPA shill Larry Brooks sees small-market success as something the players can use as an argument to stave off a potential salary-rollback request by the owners when the CBA gets negotiated.

Debunking the Roberto Luongo Myths | The Hockey Writers
Is somebody about to "buy low" in a big way?

First Round Shot Ratio, Goal Ratio and PDO Graphs - Arctic Ice Hockey
Perty pictures.

Brendan Shanahan meets his critic in the most surreal image of NHL postseason (PHOTO) | Puck Daddy
You've gotta love Shanny, even if you disagree with a few of his calls.

Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 Ottawa Senators | Puck Daddy
OK, this one's funny.

Hockey's New Battle Against Homophobia - The Atlantic
Too often, hockey's appearance in general media is due to on-ice violence, so this is a refreshing portrait.