Preds VS Ducks Playoff game 2

It's Duck Season

The Nashville Predators are set to take on the Anaheim Ducks again tonight for game 2 of the first round Stanley Cup Playoffs. The game is set for 9:30 CST making it extremely tough for the Predator fans to stay up and watch their beloved team, who is determined to move on past the first round of the Playoffs and make team history. If the game is anything like what we witnessed on Wednesday, though, there shouldn't be any issue with staying up to cheer them on.

Tonight's game should be filled with as much action a fan could hope for, the Ducks came out hard against the Preds in Game 1 held on Wednesday night in Anaheim, with veteran Teemu Selanne attempting to place the Ducks on his shoulders and carry them to a victory. It was not in the cards, and the Ducks only goal came during a breakdown of the Preds discipline which gave Anaheim a 5 on 3 powerplay for almost a minute and a half. That is what it took for Teemu to score against the Preds, a 5 on 3 powerplay. There were a good amount of scoring chances for the Ducks, but Pekka Rinne showed them again why he was the second best goaltender in the league for the regular season. This is why I could not understand how hockey fans/media could be "shocked" or "surprised" at the Predators huge road win against the Ducks. The Preds went 3-1 versus Anaheim in the regular season and Pekka Rinne finished the regular season only trailing Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins in stats.

The Ducks are looking for revenge after the Preds handily stole the home-ice advantage from them on Wednesday. The 4-1 win boosted the Predator's confidence, and should give them enough fortitude to win again tonight. The Ducks will be challenging the Preds discipline, just as they did during Game 1, with Corey Perry leading the charge. Jordin Tootoo and Shane OBrien of the Preds will have to keep their composure and resist the temptation thrown at them constantly. Peks will have to stand on his head again, and Mike Fisher (our most experienced post-season player) will have to lead by example just as he did on Wednesday scoring 2 goals to seal the victory. If the Preds can keep their level heads and focus along with discipline and poise, they are sure to bring home another solid victory, bringing a series lead 2-0 back to their building and their fans on Sunday.

There may even be a surprise or two awaiting the Ducks before, during, and after the game....
Here is a little something to get Predator fans motivated provided by @racheladdison on Twitter:

Predator fans should feel free to download this and change their avatar in support!

Flames at Predators 1.5.10

The Hockey Gods are cruel....
When good things happen before a game for me, the Preds are left in my karmic wake.

Why?, You ask....

Well: I arrived in the front of the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Nashville around 3:30 PM to find that the Calgary Flames bus was waiting out front, this was a GREAT sign, as I was hoping to autograph hound them before they made their way to the Sommet Center for their pre-game warm-ups......
The freezing temps would not discourage me from my endeavour. As an autograph hound, the team as a whole is not my goal, no greed in my vocabulary, there are a few players on each team that catch my attention and that is who gets to put paint on puck. In this case, it was Jarome Iginla, Mikka Kiprusoff, Jay Bouwmeester, and Olli Jokinen.....one more was on that list, but because of recent issues, there was no holding of breath for him to have traveled much less be willing to sign for me. Seeing the team begin to filter from the lobby to the bus and placing their belongings on it, my stomach lurched realizing that this day was gonna be a great one for me. All of the aforementioned players signed, and my mystery player (Dion Phaneuf) came striding along more than willing to sign and even THANKED ME for asking for his auto!!!! Admittedly, some may have labeled me as "Fan Girl" when I realized that Dion was headed right for us, but what do I care? I probably will never see him again, and if I do, he won't remember me!

Off to dinner at Chipotle...... THEN:

Around 6:00 the doors opened to the Sommet Center, the crowd rushed in out of the cold, and on a tip from a fellow "Tweep" I headed straight for the already crowded Pro Shop to retrieve my beloved Women's fit Third Jersey and purchase it. Placing that Black and Blue beauty on my back, looking at the perfect fit, and ripping the tag off for the cashier took mere seconds.... Victory!!! So proud.... so happy to be a season ticket holder and get that 20% off too! Wow, this night was really going well..... the smooth ride from Memphis, the free parking, a successful hounding trip, and the purchase of my Third was making for a great day in Music City... Seriously, what could go wrong?

Warm-ups are a tradition..... I head down there, take tons of pictures, and my presence makes the team really work hard....hahahahahaha... made myself laugh with that one.... Really, just like seeing my boys up close and personal before the game, and send some good thoughts their way. The horn sounded, and I solemly made my way up the stairs kicking myself for not upgrading those tickets to lower bowl, took one last look at the silent auction table, and was asked where our seats were for the game, told the guy running the table, and he handed me a pair of tickets for section 120. I was FLOORED!

This is where the night turns tragic. The game started, the Flames scored first, Preds had no momentum, and lost the game because I had a good day....... I take personal responsibility for it PREDS fans.... It was me. So sorry. I will never do it again. ;)
(not true.... don't hold me to it) The next opportunity to hound and get free stuff, I will not be the one to turn it down. That would just be silly!

Preds @ Blackhawks 12.04.09

1st goal of the game.... Hammer & Elly get schooled by Toews. Yes boys, that IS the same Toews from the press conference the other day that got signed for A LOT of money by the Blackhawks, the same on that Coach and everyone else has told you to watch and take care of.....
2nd goal: Hammer totally redeems himself. assisted by Oreilly and Franson :0)

Ryan Suter interview after 1st intermission: Says that Trotzy has told them not to cross their skates, or you get "screwed" hahahahahhahaha That made me smile a lot!

Also seeing the United Way commercial with Jonesy doesn't make me sad now because he is back up!

Brouwer trips Klein into the boards hard sending Klein to the dressing room immediately....but Klein returns to the ice shortly after, taking his regular shifts, even though there were tweets to Admirals staff asking if Sulzer could come back to Nashville after their game tonight.... all is well though...

Then in a surprising move, ok... just surprising to him, Erat redirects a puck from Toots leading to the 2nd goal of the night for the Preds... THIS is what happens when you have net presence boys!

Leggy with an awesome D move in the second as Elly and Weber get tied up on a breakaway, Leggy continues to play strong and seems to be having a wonderful year. He and Ward are really communicating and creating opportunities, plus blocking the other team's chances.

Suter swatted away an opportunity in the second while the Hawks crashed the Pred's net and continues to play strong.
THEN Tootoo fed a shot to Erat to make it 2-1 Preds. Really glad to see Toots get the assist on this goal, but even more stoked to see his GOAL

The third period starts with an immediate shot on goal by the Hawks, but it was gobbled up by Ellis, who was OUTSTANDING tonight!
The Hawks never let up, but neither did the Preds, they were absolutely playing to WIN!!!

Toots had been due for a goal with his play over the last month, and finally cashed in with his second of the season, followed 35 seconds later by a pass from Leggy to Ward that resulted in the 4th and final goal of the game.

Incredible win for the Preds tonight, now they should be looking to exact revenge on the Wild tomorrow after their awful loss a few days ago.......
Needless to say, GO PREDS!