Tag: Wayne Simmonds

2017 NHL All-Star Roster Announced

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Image Source: NBC Sports

Moments ago, the NHL released the final roster of the 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles January 28th-29th. Not surprisingly, Nashville has only one player on said roster: P.K. Subban, who was voted by the fans as the Central Division Captain. And, with his upper-body injury slated to be healed by the All-Star Weekend, Subban may have to relinquish his captain duties to someone else for safety’s sake.

– CENTRAL DIVISION

  • P.K. Subban – Nashville Predators
  • Corey Crawford – Chicago Blackhawks
  • Devan Dubnyk – Minnesota Wild
  • Ryan Suter – Minnesota Wild
  • Duncan Keith – Chicago Blackhawks
  • Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks
  • Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks
  • Vladimir Tarasenko – St. Louis Blues
  • Patrik Laine – Winnipeg Jets
  • Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche
  • Tyler Seguin – Dallas Stars

 

– ATLANTIC DIVISION:

  • Carey Price – Montreal Canadiens
  • Tuukka Rask – Boston Bruins
  • Victor Hedman – Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Shea Weber – Montreal Canadiens
  • Erik Karlsson – Ottawa Senators
  • Frans Nielsen – Detroit Red Wings
  • Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Vincent Trocheck – Florida Panthers
  • Auston Matthews – Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Kyle Okposo – Buffalo Sabres
  • Brad Marchand – Boston Bruins

– PACIFIC DIVISION:

  • Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers
  • Martin Jones – San Jose Sharks
  • Mike Smith – Arizona Coyotes
  • Cam Fowler – Anaheim Ducks
  • Brent Burns – San Jose Sharks
  • Drew Doughty – L.A. Kings
  • Ryan Kesler – Anaheim Ducks
  • Joe Pavelski – San Jose Sharks
  • Jeff Carter – L.A. Kings
  • Johnny Gaudreau – Calgary Flames
  • Bo Horvat – Vancouver Canucks

– METROPOLITAN DIVISION:

  • Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Braden Holtby – Washington Capitals
  • Sergei Bobrovsky – Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Evgeni Malkin – Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Wayne Simmonds – Philadelphia Flyers
  • John Tavares – New York Islanders
  • Alexander Ovechkin – Washington Capitals
  • Ryan McDonagh – New York Rangers
  • Justin Faulk – Carolina Hurricanes
  • Taylor Hall – New Jersey Devils
  • Seth Jones – Columbus Blue Jackets

What do you think about the roster for this year’s All-Star Weekend? Nashville isn’t the only team with one representative, but if you want to include former Preds (Ryan Suter, Devan Dubnyk, Seth Jones, and Shea Weber), then Nashville’s actually pretty well represented.

All joking aside, the big question is will Subban be healthy enough to participate? As mentioned, his 2-3 week recovery time ends at about the time of the All-Star festivities, but should not participate if it risks re-injury (thus keeping him out of the lineup even longer). Of course, that will be something the organization and Subban discuss as time gets closer.

 

 

Winning Streak ends in Philly: Preds fall to Flyers 4-1

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Alternate Captain Ryan Suter with the only goal on the night.

Though the Predators started out sluggish against Minnesota on Tuesday night and tricked the Wild, the Philadelphia Flyers didn’t fall for the act tonight, squishing the Predators in the city of Brotherly Love 4-1. It was clear from tonight’s performance, the Predators were still not completely back from the week-long break and are struggling to regain their game time composure. Although a loss is disheartening in its own way, at least it will no affect the Predators on the Western front end. Here are the highlights from tonight’s game in Philly:

KEY POINTS:

  • Jerred Smithson and Francis Bouillon were back tonight after suffering from upper-body injuries. As a result, Brian McGrattan, Jack Hillen, and new kid Brandon Yip were all healthy scratches.
  • The first fifteen minutes were scoreless, with both teams putting decent pressure on both goals. Philly was able get the ball rolling first at 15:41 with a snap shot passed Lindback from Wayne Simmonds, his 14th goal of the season.
  • The Predators looked like they may have tied it a 1-1 with a shot from Weber, but due to his shot being deflected off of Craig Smith’s high stick, the goal was waved off.
  • Philly’s Matt Read would send the Flyers up 2-0 at 14:32 in the 2nd with a snap shot, his 16th goal of the season.
  • The Predators finally were able to slip one passed Ilya Bryzgalov with a wrist shot. A beautiful pass from Halischuk to Smith and finally to Suter sealed the goal. This was Ryan Suter’s 6th goal of the season.
  • The Flyers would silence the Predators at 15:19 with a another goal from Wayne Simmonds and then seal the game at 18:55 with an empty-netter from Claude Giroux, his 19th goal of the season.
  • Pekka Rinne took the night off to watch the game from the bench while backup goalie, Anders Lindback took the reins, blocking 24 of 27 shots on goal from the Flyers. Anders, although the losing goalie, made some key saves tonight, blocking the Flyers from accurately scoring more goals during tonight’s game.
  • The Predators and the Flyers both faced their share of penalties, with the Predators facing five and the Flyers facing six. Unforunately for the Predators, the Flyers were able to capitalize on two of the six, whereas the Preds were unsuccessful on all five. Here are the five offenders of the box:
  1.  Gabriel Bourque – 9:56 2nd Period – Too many men/ice
  2. Ryan Suter – 10:22 2nd Period – Delaying Game/Puck over Glass
  3. Francis Bouillon – 12:18 2nd Period – Roughing
  4. David Legwand – 12:18 2nd Period – Roughing
  5. Jerred Smithson – 14:44 3rd Period – Interference

The Predators didn’t exactly take this game too seriously and, even though the Flyers may be in the Eastern Conference and might not be a huge threat to the Preds at this particular moment, the playoffs will be a totally different matter. We, as fans, would not want this Preds team to show up against the Flyers in say, the Stanley Cup playoffs, now would we? Just a precautionary tale…

The Predators make their way back to Nashville to face the always pleasant St. Louis Blues Saturday night at 7PM. Don’t forget! The Nashville Predators Fangtastic 5K Run/Walk is going on that day and you can run/walk/jog, too! It’s $40 until Saturday, then $45. However, you get a ticket to Saturday’s game and a t-shirt (everyone loves t-shirts, right?)! You can get more information by visiting our EVENTS page!

Until then,
GO PREDS.

Predators Dishevel the Flyers 4-2

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Sergei Kostitsyn continues to shine (and shoot) during recent games.

The Nashville Predators welcomed an Eastern Conference adversary to the Bridgestone Arena Saturday night, one that hasn’t visited Nashville since March 16, 2010 (the Predators won 4-3 in OT). Of course, you know we are talking about the Philadelphia Flyers, who, in all seriousness, have had a pretty decent season thus far. Even though they fell to the New York Rangers in Philly for the Winter Classic and lost 4-2 against the Predators last night, the Flyers are still 26-13-4 and are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. However, Winter Classic team and 2nd in their division didn’t scare the Predators too much last night and it sure didn’t scare the sold-out crowd in Smashville, either.

KEY POINTS:

  • Jack Hillen was scratched once again last night, starting the rumor mill. We aren’t getting into any speculations with that one as of right now. Jerred Smithson is still on the IR and Craig Smith was scratched due to being “under the weather”. Hopefully, he will be back to par when they face the New York Islanders tomorrow.
  • Both the Flyers and the Predators came out strong, with the Predators taking what looked to be the lead with a goal from Nick Spaling. However, the goal was revoked due to a kicking motion from Gabriel Bourque, leaving an even playing field for both teams once again.
  • Martin Erat would land a goal at 19:02 on the power play, with assistance from Captain Shea Weber and Alternate Captain Mike Fisher. Patric Hornqvist screened the play well, making it easy for Erat to slip it passed goalkeeper Ilya Bryzgalov.
  • The Predators continued to up the score 2-0 with a powerful shot from Sergei Kostitsyn at 10:36 in the 2nd period. This was SK74’s 10th goal of the season, and it seems after his Hat Trick, shooting is becoming second nature to the Belorussian. He was assisted only by rookie Gabriel Bourque.
  • The Flyers did not waste any time gaining points on the board, slipping one passed Pekka Rinne just two minutes after Sergei’s intense shot.
  • Nick Spaling would put the Predators up 3-1 early in the 3rd at 4:30 with assistance from Jordin Tootoo and Kevin Klein. As you are all aware, when Spaling scores, the Predators haven’t lost in regulation as of this season…
  • Wayne Simmonds would give the Flyers their final goal of the night at 9:55 in the 3rd period. Ryan Ellis helped Simmonds live up to his “Flyers” name after hip checking him into the air. The small stature rookie isn’t afraid to take on the bulkiest of opponents, and here’s the video in case you haven’t seen it:
  • Mike Fisher would let the final Predators goal slide into the empty net at 19:20, with assistance from Sergei Kostitsyn and Martin Erat, sealing the game (and Frosties) for the Predators.
  • The Flyers out-shot the Predators 38 to 25, with Pekka stopping 36, proving to the Eastern Conference the Predators are stiff competition. The Predators also were given more power play time, but only used one of three to their advantage. The Flyers were given two power plays, but the Predators’ defense prevented them from capitalizing on both. Here are your two Preds who held up in the box:
  1. Martin Erat – 15:07 2nd Period – Holding
  2. Colin Wilson – 11:35 3rd Period – Tripping

Although the Philadelphia Flyers are not regulars on the Predators schedule, it is always a boost to the ego to demolish a well-known, beloved team like Philadelphia. Not only does it look good for the Predators, it makes the Eastern Conference (and Western, of course) give the Predators a second glance, which is all that is needed.

The Predators are off to New York tomorrow to take on the New York Islanders at a rare noon start game. After that game, the Predators skip over to the Rangers at 6:30 on Tuesday night. Both games will be televised and, of course, on 102.5 THE GAME!

Until then,
GO PREDS.