To help tide us all over now that the Preds’ season is complete, let’s take a look back at some of the highlights from the season gone by, working our way up to #1 on a daily basis. – Dirk
Jordin Tootoo had a tumultuous 2010-11 season, one which saw him battle personal struggles away from the rink yet return to the team playing some of his best hockey (he was voted 1st-round team MVP here for his performance against Anaheim). Along the way, however, the legend of the Tootoo Train grew ever greater during a 3-0 triumph over the Florida Panthers, a game in which Anders Lindback earned his 1st career NHL shutout.
Tootoo, already known as a heavy hitter, caught Panthers forward Michael Frolik along the boards with a hard, clean check which brought together the perfect storm of location, velocity, balance and strength. Frolik tumbled head-over-heels and earned himself lasting fame as the victim of a highlight-reel play hockey fans will see for a long, long time.
Don’t believe me? Even the NHL named it the #1 Hit of the Year: