Everyone's happy being a Nashville Predator!

Hey crazy Kostitsyn girl, your prayers have been answered! Well, for the most part anyway. Sergei Kostitsyn, who was exchanged from the Montreal Canadiens last June for Dan Ellis and Dustin Boyd, was quick to praise the Predators and Nashville as a city and that the desire to remain in a Predators jersey for this coming season was ideal. Talks between David Poile and Kostitsyn’s agent Don Meehan (who is also Weber’s agent) have not been in the works, but a new contract will have to be settled upon. Please check out Jim Diamond’s interview with SK74 about his love for being a Nashville Predator here.

The season may be over, but the love & support for the Predators is still very much alive. Photo courtsey of Nashville Predators Official Facebook

Yesterday was a sad day for all Preds fans. It took me a while to get situated and decide how I would go about writing this post. All I can say is I couldn’t be more proud to be a Nashville Predators fan. It was clear that the Preds were the underdog throughout the playoffs and the boys proved that, just because they are only 13 years old and from Tennessee, they too could take on the big boys in the fight for the Stanley Cup. Thanks to their great accomplishment this year, the Preds have won over an uncountable  amount of new fans and gave even the oldest fans a quick reminder of why they loved this team for so long. Again, the Preds are a young team with a bunch of young players. For the Preds to have made it to so many playoff series every year, minus one, that definitely tells you these boys have heart. Although I have never been to another team’s arena, I honestly believe the Predators have the more devoted fans and loudest by far. I attended several events that were brought about by fellow fans and just the unbelievable amount of followers that arrived to show their support was amazing. Hockey has introduced me to some interesting fans and some downright loyal and slightly crazy fans. I wouldn’t have changed it for a heartbeat. I cannot wait until October to see how the Preds take on this coming season. I can only see greatness coming from these boys, no matter if some stay or go. I will be very much upset if boys like Nick Spaling, Sergei Kostitsyn, Matt Halischuk or Shane O’Brien are let go or traded. I understand that the 2010-11 and the 2011-12 team will not include each and every member, but for those four boys, I hope they stay. Same goes for Joel Ward, who is currently not under contract, even though I may or may not have given him a hard time during the regular season and our local boy, Blake Geoffrion. Like I stated before, this was the most historical season for the Predators. Not only did I become a bigger hockey fan (I am not afraid to admit that I consider hockey the greatest sport in the history of sports. That’s right, football & baseball, I love you too but hockey has found a place in my heart no other sport can replace), my family (My dad used to go to Riverking games all the time and got to see his first Preds and NHL game this season), my friends and countless others found a love for hockey, too.

For the Predators, it’s so long to an amazing and historical season. However, it’s not all goodbyes. Although it is now officially the post season and the players part their ways for a few months, October will be here sooner than we think and another historically hockey season will be underway. For the Predators and their fans, there is no turning back from making hockey history.

GO PREDS.

Laura and Allie cover their faces with their rally towels from my camera. How sweet of them.

Allie Williams and Laura Hutchings are two dedicated Predators fans. Even the dry heat didn’t stop them from driving all the way from Hendersonville to meet their favorite hockey team. Oh yea, and Pekka Rinne. Laura and I made it to the first welcome event, but we couldn’t even make eye contact let alone high-five one of the players that day (Hence why I have not attempted to do an interview with a player yet. I’d get all giggly and my face would hurt from smiling. Haven’t gotten passed the giggly-girl phase) so this time we decided to make sure we at least high-fived the players (as long as they were doing so) and Laura and Allie were deteremined to shake Pekka’s hand.

Okay, so you’re probably wondering, “Why on earth is this story interesting? Pretty positive everyone else was feeling the same way.” I’ll definitely agree with you there, but these two were bound and determined to get that pretty face to look at them… and they did. As Pekka walked through the crowd, he inched closer and closer to the two adoring fans. I was in front of them, so Pekka shook my hand and continued passed… passed Allie and Laura. I turned around, my eyes as wide as they could get and both Allie and Laura had the saddest looks on their faces. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bottom lip stick out that far in my life. Well, Pekka must have a radar for sad, “my puppy just got shot” looks because he was well passed Laura and Allie when he turned around, a look of a complete “oops” moment covering his face, and shook their hands. He even apologized! Allie and Laura, who love all of the players but Pekka just a wee bit more, were completely dumbfounded, along with me and the other fans that were around them. “Pekka turned around for us,” snickered Allie, beaming with a slight bit of pride. I don’t blame her; if Pekka Rinne turned around to shake my hand because he forgot, I’d feel extra special and a little prideful, too.

As I wrote in my article on the Examiner.com, Pekka Rinne values each and every single Predators fan, which makes him one of the crowd favorites. It doesn’t help he’s the best goalie in the entire hockey league, either. So for Allie and Laura, who will be at the game tonight (Look for Laura on the jumbotron – she’ll have a black sign that says “Built Ward Tough”), the story of Pekka turning around just for them will more than likely be told about 3945 times tonight alone. Again, I don’t blame them; I’m bragging about it on here and he didn’t even miss me!

Why do they cover their faces? Aren't they gorgeous? haha

Crispy high-fives and entertains the fans as he always does.

I have about fifteen hundred pictures of the players walking through the crowd, but this one of Crispy (Terry Crisp, Predators announcer) is by far my favorite. Fans turned out in droves to welcome their team home Sunday afternoon from their 4-3 win over the Canucks in Vancouver Saturday night. Unlike last Sunday, the players were definitely ready to see their adoring fans as they departed from the plane. Also unlike last Sunday, the number of fans that came to the event tripled in number from the first event. From yesterday’s event, it is clear that Preds fans “Believe” in their team and have faith that they [the players] can storm passed the Canucks to win the series. I mean, come on! Of course we believe in Smashville! It was also very clear the team had their heads in the game and came out roaring in Saturday’s game. Preds fans definitely hope to see that same enthusiasm and fight in tonight’s game, which starts at 7pm CT. The Preds haven’t won a game at home in this series yet, but even with refs that are determined to watch us fail and a player named Kesler who is the biggest *bleep* head in the hockey league (Oh yea, Sidney Crosby; he even tops you), the Preds just won’t go down without a fight. So, for the fans that were able to slip out of Mama’s house without being noticed and were able to welcome the Preds home yesterday, I had better see all of you at the game tonight. If not, I better hear you cheering through your TVs!

Oh yes, Instead of blowing up this post with large pictures from yesterday’s event, please visit my examiner page to see a slideshow of photos. There is a very nice one of Mr. Mike Fisher and I somehow got Joel Ward to look at the camera! http://www.examiner.com/sports-in-nashville/welcome-home-predators-2-picture

The Preds came out playing much better tonight compared to Thursday’s game. The first period reminded me of Game 1 with no score going into the 2nd. However, Vancouver’s Burrows slipped one passed Pekka in the 2nd, sending the Canucks leading 1 over the Preds into the 3rd. Luckily, a much needed goal by Suter at 18:53 tied the game, sending it into overtime and then into double overtime. Thanks to Matt Halischuk’s goal at 14:51 in the 2nd overtime, the Preds squeezed by the Canucks 2-1. I don’t think my voice will ever recover, by the way. Hand Pekka the Veniza because he cannot be stopped. If you watched the whole game tonight or just caught the highlights on Sports Center, you know how valuable Mr. Rinne was to the Preds tonight. Pekka, like Thursday game, was the star of tonight’s game. Although I am equally proud of all of the guys tonight and the way they played, Pekka had some amazing saves and moves that would put any gymnast to shame. He is definitely the most important aspect to the Predators and luckily, he always seems to bring his A-Game. However, I must admit that Roberto Luongo (Ludwig, as I affectionately call him) is pretty good himself and was also named a star of the game. The Canucks are going to give the Preds a run for their money during this match up, but the Preds have shown a determination and heart that the Canucks cannot compete with. Look out, Shamu… the Predators don’t take prisoners.

Hey Preds fans!

Thanks for checking out the newly launched Lady Preds website, a purely fan-based blog dedicated to Smashville’s home team, the Nashville Predators! Now, don’t let the name fool you; these ladies know their hockey! Also, you don’t just have to be a girl to visit this site, we just wanted to let the women of Smashville know we have a site for you! We also want feedback from you, too! With this being a brand new site, we could use all the opinions we can get from both ladies and men Preds fans alike! We will frequently ask the fans who is your favorite player, why they are your favorite, and hopefully (!) start contests and giving away Preds items! Now, I know the season is almost over (let’s pray the Preds get passed the first round this year) but Smashville still exists even in the off season!

I hope we can provide you guys with interesting and exclusive Preds information and news and that you will refer us to all of your blog-loving friends! Thanks again, guys and don’t forget, we would definitely love all of your opinions on how to make the site a better and more user-friendly blog!

Thanks and GO PREDS!!

Lady Preds