The Nashville Predators have done nothing outside of winning and losing streaks for the entire season to this point. The numerous streaks have had fans on a constant roller-coaster of emotions that have been virtually impossible to predict.
Fans do not mind the winning streaks, but they have all led to streaks in the other direction when they have ended. The loss in Toronto still stands as the lone regulation loss that was not included in two five game and one four game losing streaks.
The Predators are celebrating their current four game win streak that has moved them into fourth place in the Western Conference. Last night's win was typical of the unexpected nature of this year's team.
With many of the projected preseason scoring threats injured and not playing, a new group of scorers has emerged. Sergei Kostitsyn is on point per game streak over the last twenty games, Colin Wilson is becoming the scoring threat that he was projected to be, and Patric Hornqvist has picked up where he left off last season.
David Poile's most recent pick-up, Marek Svatos, even got into the act with his first goal as a Predator against the Kings after several near misses in his first three games.
The Predators will need these pieces of their puzzle as well as all the others clicking on all cylinders as they head to San Jose later today to play the Sharks on Saturday night.
The one negative from last night was the upper body injury to Nick Spaling. Barry Trotz told Josh Cooper that he may be back for the next game but based on passed projections from the coach, I would not expect that.
If the team is going to play in streaks, this one needs to be a long one to compensate for the ones that will go in the other direction in the future.
Preds-Kings Round-Up...
Here is our game story from last night.
Josh Cooper had his game story, notes column, and postgame ponderings.
From the blog world reports come from Amanda DiPaolo, Mark Willoughby, Dirk Hoag (with his advances stats), Fang Finger Fever, and Hockey Night in Nashville.
Here is the video of Frankie Bouillon getting mauled by Wayne Simmonds from Hockey Fights.com.
For the sad side of the story check out Mayors Manor, Jonathan Moncrief, Kingscast, KingsCourt, Jewels from the Crown, Kings Insider, J.P. Hoonstra, and the LA Times.
In Pred Nation...
From @BComptonNHL: Preds D Shea Weber on @NHLLive at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Josh Cooper has a few leftover quotes from the Anaheim game. I'd like to know how many times he had to rephrase his question to Sergei to get an answer.
Dan Bradley has his tribute to the ultimate Preds team player, Nick Spaling.
Ryan Flynn scored two goals to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 5-1 win over Grand Rapids last night at the Bradley Center.
Around the NHL...
The big news from yesterday was that Sidney Crosby had suffered the first concussion of his career and had been sent home for testing. Whether you are a Crosby fan or not, you don't want to see this.
Ryan Porth gives his impressions of the Winter Classic weekend. It's almost as if I was there. He also has teams and players to watch in the second half of the season.
Interesting stuff from Hockey Prospectus with a "Heavy Lifter Index" to see which players are carrying the load for their teams. Joel Ward from last season is the only Pred to crack the list.
The Russian Junior players held true to their stereotype by getting kicked off their plane for being too intoxicated. I guess they had some type of immunity from prosecution for underage drinking.
Bob McKenzie tries to explain the debacle on Wednesday at the World Juniors.
Birthday boy Adrian Dater debuts at Sports Illustrated with a niece on Anze Kopitar.
Erin Evans at Chicks Who Give A Puck takes a mid year look at the Central Division.
Hawgs38 declares that hockey is for everyone at View From My Seats. All the Winter Classic bashing is pointless. Anyone that was there will attest to it being a great event.
The Huffington Post has an interview with the NHL's John Collins about the marketing success of this year's Winter Classic.
Ex-Pred Mark Eaton will have hip surgery and be out indefinitely.
Odds and Ends...
Boston Herald writer Steve Buckley has a coming out party. As a "pastor's wife", it really pains me to see how "Christians" have treated gay people through the years. Jesus loves gay folks as much as anyone and for church people to "judge" them is a horrible sin.
Here is an interesting article from The New York Times on what happens to your social media self when you die. This is an interesting topic that will be more and more common as social media grows.
More Later...
Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass
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