Before we get to today’s notes, we have good news for hockey fans here in the Mid-South as Predneck Nation Radio will debut this weekend, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on 560-AM in Nashville (or listen live at WNSR.com), and simulcast into Drakesboro, KY, on 103.9 FM. Podcasts will also be available afterward.
Best of luck to Charlie Saunier and the gang at Predneck Nation as the hockey coverage here in Nashville continues to develop!
And now, on to your (very belated, sorry about that) morning hockey links…
Save money and come see the Preds this week by taking the OTF Discount!
Nashville Predators News
First off, Pete Weber joined Hockey This Morning to talk about the Preds are faring the Western Conference, so go ahead and take a listen while you’re reading:
Pete Weber on HTM 2012-03-06 (mp3)
Nashville Is Becoming A Hockey City @ Chuqui 3.0
One of the giants of the early hockey blogging scene (his archives stretch back more than a decade) looks at Nashville’s growth as a sign that despite all the vitriol hurled his way, Commissioner Bettman gets it right more often than not.
Paul McCann – Game Night in Smashville – LA, Again
Paul sets up the state high school hockey championship, which concludes this weekend.
303 QUICK HIT: Your rooting interests for March 6… | Section 303
Who to cheer for on the out-of-town scoreboard tonight.
Smashville 24/7: Wilson, Spaling, Tootoo an effective trio
Personally, I’m not a big fan of this line. When the playoffs approach and the bench gets shortened, I’d be interested to see Gaustad between Wilson & Tootoo instead.
Off-Day Banter: Top Five Villains for Predfans. – Predlines
A solid list here.
In The Clear | Admirals Roundtable
Can’t they get a zit cream company to sponsor the AHL’s Clear Day?
Soccer not the pregame sport of choice for a few Predators – Nashville Predators Examiner
It’s all about the ping-pong…
Nashville Predators’ home ice faces big tests | The Tennessean
As they look ahead to the playoffs, the Preds will want to continue their dominance at Bridgestone Arena.
New Predators forwards might not have the time to make a lasting impact | Nashville City Paper
And that’s OK.
Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey
Down Goes Brown: A brief history of Ron Wilson
June 29, 1993 – The expansion Mighty Ducks of Anaheim make Wilson the first coach in franchise history, leading to a four year stint that he’ll later describe as enjoyable once you can get past every single kid you meet walking away muttering “Wow, Gordon Bombay did not age well”.
Karlsson fined for slash on Bergenheim – Silver Seven
Now THIS is something I’d like to see the league crack down more on… two-bit slashes on the forearm & wrist that can take a guy out of the lineup for weeks, and have nothing to do with the play.
Bruins Sign Marty Turco to One-Year Deal – Stanley Cup of Chowder
One of the most entertaining guys in hockey is back in the NHL, thanks to an injury to Tuukka Rask.
Leafs, Grabovski agree on five year extension – The Globe and Mail
A well-deserved deal for a guy who has taken big steps forward over the last few seasons.
Identity Crisis – The Cannon
Sure, they can ship Rick Nash out of town, but what happens next?
The Shifts that Changed the Game: Butterfly Goaltending – Arctic Ice Hockey
It’s hard to hit the top part of the net when everything down low is taken away.
Ilya Kovalchuk Leads Devils by Example – NYTimes.com
Kovy’s making a good impression in New Jersey, buying into the team concept that rules the Devils.
Answering Your Questions | Bobby Holik – Holik on Hockey
It sounds like the retired pro is open to the notions which advanced stats analysis puts forth.
Strong road trip has Blues’ confidence rising – NHL.com
Ken Hitchcock’s record since joining St. Louis? A remarkable 35-11-7.
Death Numbers for Death March – Pension Plan Puppets
If you’re wondering how close various teams are to elimination from the playoffs, SkinnyFish has the answer for you.
Systems Analyst: Edmonton Oilers execute the worst line change in the history of line changes | Backhand Shelf
…and that’s saying something.
New York Ranger Sean Avery Is No Dennis Rodman – Grantland
If Sean Avery were actually more of a prominent hockey player rather than a sensationalist, he might have had more of an impact.
Can Sports Statistics Predict the Future? | The Hockey Writers
Predict? No, but forecasting is an entirely different matter, and at least with a good stats analysis, you can establish levels of confidence which can be refined over time as more data is acquired.