Preds Need to Regroup Quickly and Friday Findings

All good things must come to an end and the Predators six game win streak did just that last night with the Preds losing 3-2 to the Florida Panthers,

Now the big question is whether the Preds will rebound on Saturday against the Hawks or head into another losing streak which is what has been the rule this season.

The Preds have only one regulation loss that has not been included in a pair of five game losing streaks and a four gamer, so it is critical to bounce back and not fall into the same routine again.

The Preds play the Blackhawks at the Bridgestone Arena tomorrow night and then have the last long tough stretch of road games of the season that starts in Chicago on Sunday. The Preds travel to Phoenix, Colorado, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver before being off for the all-star break.

After this road swing, the Predators will play 21 of the last 32 games at home and have only one four game road trip remaining. Every other roadie is a one game out an back trip.

Last night's loss left the Predators with a 23-14-6 record and combined with Phoenix's 5-1 win over Toronto, dropped Nashville to fifth place in the Western Conference.

Preds-Panthers Wrap-Up...

Here is our sad 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, Chris Burton and Hockey Night in Nashville.

From South Florida comes much happier stories from The Sun Sentinel, The Rat Trick, The Miami Herald, On Frozen Pond, and Litter Box Cats.

In Pred Nation...

ESPN talked to Barry Trotz and has high praise. There's also a note that says Steve Sullivan is out until the All-Star break.

Good is the enemy of the great according to this story by Jay Levin about the Predators organization.

J.R. Lind takes a look at Southern hockey and the influence that the Preds have had in the area.

Section 303 has a look at this weekend's UAH - Merrimack College Hockey games at the Bridgestone tonight and Saturday afternoon. Amanda DiPaolo also reports on the pair of games.

Dirk Hoag has the mid-season review of the Predators forwards. He is a tough grader.

Pete Weber talked Western Conference on XM's Hockey this Morning. Listen here.

Matt Lombardi is feeling better but there is no date for a return since he can not exercise.

The Milwaukee Admirals' four game win streak came to an end in Winnipeg last night when they lost to the Manitoba Moose 3-0.

Ex-Pred Ryan Parent is featured in a story at the Winnipeg Sun.

The 6th Sens looks at the Preds' Paul Fenton as a GM candidate.

Around the NHL...

One of the more idiotic things that the NHL has done lately is fining the Leafs for Ron Wilson putting money on the wall to incentivise his team to beat his former employer. It sounds like they have taken a page out of the NCAA recruiting manual.

Ryan Porth looks at four teams in mid-season crossroads.

Here is an interesting flowchart explaining Alexander Ovechkin's season.

Dwayne Roloson is getting a new mask after donning a plane white one with a few lightning logos on it in his shut out of the Caps on Wednesday.

Here are 10 questions for the second half of the season from ESPN.

Mirtle has his list of the top 30 defensive forwards that includes a pare of Preds as you would imagine.

AOL FanHouse has made a deal to use content from The Sporting News. At this point, it is unclear how their specific original content providers will be affected.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Fabian Brunnstrom from Dallas in exchange for prospect Mikhail Stefanovich who is playing in the KHL. For a guy that has never panned out in a non-traditional market, I can't believe he'll do better in Toronto.

The guys at Kingscast are frustrated and looking for answers in Episode 86.

Will pork steaks lead Kyle Wellwood to St Louis? Possibly.

Odds and Ends...

This article discusses "teamwork" in the future. I have always hated the "team" concept in corporate America. Most times you end up with a compromise outcome which appeases everyone but is not necessarily the best way to proceed.

Here are ten games that started being called something other than what they are known as today.

It's not too late to attend Derby 101 to see if you have what it takes to be a RollerGirl.

If you are in to Astrology, everything has changed. You aren't what you think you are.

Wouldn't you know if your girlfriend was dead when you were having relations? Something doesn't add up here.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass