Thanks to first round exits of my two teams, I need to reserve my tee times and head to the local golf course.  The Thunder weren't expected to do much as the sixth seed and probably didn't really belong in the playoffs anyways but got in due to a quirky playoff format.  But as for the Nashville Predators, they have been knocked out of the first round the past two years despite being the higher seeded team with home ice advantage.  Not only that they have lost both years 1 game to 4.  This means in the past 10 playoff games, the Nashville Predators are 2-8.  Not exactly stellar.  Despite this it sounds like the coaching staff will be back, the same coaching staff the said in the papers they wouldnt do anything different.  The front office better keep their mouths shut about fan support, they have been preaching patience to the fan base for the past ten years.  And guess what, the Preds have not won a playoff series in the pat 10 years.  In home playoff games they are 4-5, but have only won two of thier last six.  They have yet to win a road playoff game in seven attempts.  And they think this is the kind of thing that provides ammunition to build a fan base?  Tell that shit to the tourists! Well enoughrmabling for now its time for me to hit the golf course.

FORE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats to John Horrell on a great performance last night stopping 51 of 53 shots!! As for the D, step it up or it will be tee times for you!

The Nashville Predators picked up Peter Forsberg recently!  They did give up the farm to get him though.  Well the guys they gave up were expendable to some degree, Upshall has never really been able to crack the Preds line up, that mainly due to injuries. He also kind of a pretty boy, more concerned with his hair then his game at times lol! (thunder fans are familiar with that kind of player lol). I think Parent is going to make a good, if not excellent defenseman for the Flyers but the Preds have a lot of good young D-men in their organization. Some of them are even in Milwaukee but could easily be in the NHL. The first round pick is kind of a steep price to pay but if the Preds finish well it will be more like a second round pick. But I think they get the third round pick back if Forsberg doesn't re sign with them but im not sure. All in all they need another center that can play on the top two lines if needed because if Legwand or Arnot go down they are screwed. But we will see what happens in the playoffs, if they can get to the Western Conference Finals it will be worth it. If they get knocked out in the second round, that will kind of suck. Now if they get knocked out of the first round I have no idea what i'll do but it wont be pretty, I can tell you that much for sure!!!

 

The Thunder are flirting with missing the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.  Even in the new watered down everyone makes it playoff format!  With the talent they have you would hope they go on a run and make it.

WOW!  The Preds have been on fire since my last post going 9-0-1!  The Thunder are off to a good start and signed a bone crushing d-man.

The Preds are off to a rocky start but have looked a little better lately.  The first two games had me really worried about Vokoun with his health, but Mase played well as usual in relief of him for the third game even though they lost.  But Vokouns last two games show he is coming into form!  Saturday they blasted the Coyotes in a 4-1 game.  It felt a little like one of the old Thunder games with the fighting!  Last night they won an exciting former mentor vs the former mentee Goaltenders duel.  The game ended 1-1 in regulation but the Preds and Vokoun pulled it out in the shootout with Vokoun stopping both Isle shots and Sully and Karia putting theirs past Dunahm.  Actually I don't believe Dunham was ever much of a mentor to Vokoun but he sure did win the Preds a few games early in their honeymoon era.

 

The Thunder look to take to the ice this weekend to open up the season.  French has worked hard acquiring some size and hopefully some more gumption which was sorely lacking last year.  The 2005-06 Wichita Thunder was the softest team in Thunder history IMO.  Their latest addition should fill out their second line with Wiebe.  But someone else needs to step forward as well to complete it!  Geax Thunder!