Kukla's Korner Hockey
Category: Nashville-Predators
Now What Nashville?
by Paul on 05/08/12 at 10:08 AM ET
Comments (6)
from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
Shea Weber hugged Pekka Rinne in a somber dressing room, the two stars shaking their heads in disbelief.
Out in the second round against the Phoenix Coyotes? Not how they had envisioned their season ending. Not by a long shot.
“It’s very disappointing. It’s very disappointing,” Nashville Predators GM David Poile told ESPN.com, while making sure to give the Phoenix Coyotes the utmost respect for a series win he felt they certainly deserved.
A critical seasom in the history of the Predators ends in thorough disappointment and invites more questions than answers about their future.
Have Weber and Ryan Suter played their last game as Predators?
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
The Mike Smith Led Phoenix Coyotes Advance To The Western Conference Finals
by Paul on 05/08/12 at 12:41 AM ET
Comments (11)
What can you say, the Phoenix Coyotes played a relentless series to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-1 in the series.
Once again Mike Smith was almost unbeatable, in the 2-1 win, stopping 32 shots while the Coyotes fired 17 at Rinne.
The Coyotes will have some time to rest up and prepare for the Los Angeles Kings.
Watch the game winning goal by Martin Hanzal.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
Open Post- Predators Want To Bring The Series Back To Nashville
by Paul on 05/07/12 at 09:45 PM ET
Comments (1)
The Phoenix Coyotes are up 3-1 in the series and can move on to the Western Conference Finals to face the LA Kings with a win tonight.
It’s a daunting task for the Nashville Predators but they were built for this type of game, let’s see how they hold up.
Game starts just past 10:00pm ET on NBCSN, TSN and RDS.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
Unless They Break Team Rules Again, The Suspended Two Will Play Monday
by Paul on 05/05/12 at 02:48 PM ET
Comments (1)
from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz, on a media conference call Saturday, said there is a “high probability” both Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn will return to the lineup Monday night with his team down 3-1 in the series to the Phoenix Coyotes.
Trotz said the Predators had a lot of chances in Friday night’s 1-0 loss at home, but several of his top players failed to finish. So he may re-insert Radulov and Kostitsyn. Both players were suspended for Game 3 after breaking the team curfew on the eve of Game 2. Trotz sat them out again for Game 4, because—like most NHL coaches at playoff time—he was not willing to change a winning lineup from Game 3.
The Predators managed 25 shots on goal on red-hot netminder Mike Smith in Game 4, but also had 14 missed shots.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Video- Nashville’s No Goal Call
by Paul on 05/05/12 at 09:46 AM ET
Comments (16)
The ruling was Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith was pushed into the net, so no goal.
But I am not so sure if Smith even had the puck under him when he was pushed, what do you think?
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
Phoenix Coyotes One Win Away From Western Conference Finals
by Paul on 05/04/12 at 10:09 PM ET
Comments (5)
The Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Nashville Predators by the score of 1-0.
You can be sure Nashville coach Barry Trotz will be questioned regarding the lack of scoring, especially with Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn not dressing for tonight’s game.
The Coyotes played their typical brand of playoff hockey and trusted Mike Smith to do the rest.
Here’s the only goal of the game, scored by Shane Doan…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Radulov, Andrei+Kostitsyn,
All NHL Eyes On Nashville, Tennessee
by Paul on 05/04/12 at 07:00 PM ET
Comments (0)
Only game tonight is Phoenix visiting Nashville at 7:30pm ET.
Phoenix will be looking for a win tonight which will give them the opportunity to clinch the series on Monday night in Phoenix.
The Predators with a win tonight will even the series at 2 and guarantee another home game.
Nashville will be going with the same lineup as game 3, meaning the “suspended two” will once again be watching from the press box.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
Afternoon Line
by Paul on 05/03/12 at 05:53 PM ET
Comments (3)
“I haven’t really dissected (Game 3) fully yet. That’s what I’ll do this afternoon and we’ll make a decision as a group.
“I know it’s going to be very tough if I do anything. I thought everybody was pretty committed (on Wednesday), so I can’t give you a definite decision right now. But the guys that were in got the job done and they played very hard, so it would be very difficult for me at this point to give you an exact lineup for tomorrow.”
-Barry Trotz, head coach of the Nashville Predators on if the “suspended two” will play in game 4. More from John Glennon of The Tennessean.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Alexander+Radulov, Andrei+Kostitsyn,
Predators Win The Old Way
by Paul on 05/03/12 at 08:06 AM ET
Comments (2)
from David Climer of the Tennessean,
Maybe it was addition by subtraction. For all of their offensive skills, Radulov and Kostitsyn have been defensive liabilities in this series. And since it arrived in the NHL, this franchise has been about defense, discipline and accountability.
It appears that the Predators will gladly sacrifice some offensive potential for a unit that plays defense and sweats the small stuff.
With that in mind, I’m starting to believe Radulov’s days in Nashville are numbered. This one-game suspension could mushroom into a permanent separation between Radulov and the Predators. That’s how seriously the front office is taking the breach of conduct by Radulov and Kostitsyn last weekend.
Even if Radulov does get back on the ice in this series, he’s damaged goods. The odds of his return to the Predators next season have taken a dive.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Nashviille With A Statement Win, Defeating Phoenix 2-0
by Paul on 05/02/12 at 11:46 PM ET
Comments (0)
The victory puts Nashville back in the series, now down 1-2 heading to game 4.
The only goal needed by Nashville was this one by David Legwand. I am sure Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith would like to take that pass back too.
added 12:20am 5/3/12, Watch the game highlights below…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
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