Weekend Round-Up in Predator Nation

Programming Note: There will not be a POTG Radio tonight since we will be at the Sommet Center for the game. We will return to our regular schedule next Monday at 7 p.m. CST.
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The Nashville Predator's torrid pace of the last three and a half months has finally slowed a bit with the Preds only having three games in a ten day period. For the first time this season, the Preds did not have a Saturday game leading to a fairly slow news weekend.

Tonight's rare visit from the Toronto Maple Leafs looks to be a trap game as the Leafs are rarely seen by the Preds and have not played very well this season. This is much the same situation as the Carolina game a couple of weeks ago. The game stands by itself in the middle of two tough Western Conference streaks.

The quick trip to Phoenix and Colorado on the annual father's trip on Wednesday will be a true test for the Preds. The Preds are currently in fourth with 61 points and the Avs are in third (division leader) with 60 points and Phoenix has played an extra game to get to 61 points. It doesn't get more competitive than that.

Predators Meeting with the Sports Council...

The biggest news of the weekend was related to the meeting between Predator officials and the representatives of the sports authority.

Dirk has a compelling piece at On The Forecheck on the whole situation from Friday and spotlights the fact that Rusty Lawrence, who is the chairman of the Finance Committee doesn't have a clue about much of anything based on questions he has asked.

It is totally baffling to me that a person that has not been pulling his weight at the Sports Council can cause as much confusion and mis-information in the media by being a "trusted" source. As Hannibal Lecter says in "Hannibal", "If you can't keep up with the conversation, it's best not to participate." Rusty, either shape up or be quiet!

J. R. Lind has a story on the meeting at The Nashville Post. Brandon Gee has his slant at the Nashville Business Journal. Nate Rau has a short piece on the meeting at the Tennessean.

In Pred Nation...

John Glennon checked out practice on Sunday and It looks like Dan Ellis' shut out may not have earned him another start as Barry Trotz seems to like the rotation. Also Jason Arnott will return tonight and Jerred Smithson is a maybe which would mean the Preds may send a player back to Milwaukee later today. John also has a look at five key turning points in the season so far.

John has a story this morning on David Poile and the opportunities that he had to be the GM in Toronto, a notes column and the game at a glance.

Preds101 has their Anatomy Of A Goal on Patric Hornqvist's game winner from Friday night. It is a great example of how he has blossomed into one of the better players in the league at this time.

David Boclair has an extensive look at the Preds offensive improvement this season and the reasons behind it.

Jim Diamond has his weekly prospects round-up at the Examiner.

With only two games on Friday, Dan Ellis and Patric Hornqvist made up the second and third star of the night at Puck Daddy's.

Admiral's Short Shifts has the story of the Ad's 6-2 win over Manitoba on Saturday and Colin Wilson's break out game wher he got a goal and three assists. They also have the story of the release of three players from their PTO contracts opening the door for a couple of players coming down from Nashville as the injured players return.

Chris Burton catches up with Pension Plan Puppets from Toronto to get the scoop on what the folks from the Mecca of hockey think about the Predators.

The Toronto Star has a look at tonight's Preds-Leafs game from the other side of the fence. Slam Sports talks of the Leaf's recent troubles.

Adrian Dater has an article about all the foster kids that Ryan O'Reilly (and Cal) grew up with in their household. It is an interesting story that I have not heard.

Life is great in the world of David Freeman's friend and potential Pred owner @WBrettWilson: Looking fwd to my time with the Olympic Torch tomorrow - we each run 300m - I start at Tom's House of Pizza - so am training eating pizza!

Finally, The Calgary Herald has a look at the future of airline travel. I'm looking forward to the free prostate exam that goes with the body cavity search.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass