SB Nation on YouTube - 2 months old, and growing fast

Probably the most exciting blog project I've ever been involved in started a couple months ago, with the debut of SB Nation on YouTube. OTF is one of several SBN blogs contributing Team Reports, but the truly impressive work is being done centrally, where a variety of shows are pushing the world of sports blogging in a new direction.

As an example, here's the latest episode of Full Nelson, with host Amy K. Nelson profiling former major leaguer Willie Mays Aikens, and his journey to hell & back:

After the jump, we'll walk you through the regular offerings you can find as part of this new (and growing) venture. What, you thought you could be productive this afternoon while waiting for Game Four of Predators/Coyotes?

Subscribe to On The Forecheck's YouTube channel!

Video has come to SB Nation. We launched SB Nation's official Youtube channel on March 1st with some pretty large ambitions: let's try something new. Across the entire network, we approach the world of sports from a different angle. The passion, expertise, and first-rate analysis and discussion that takes place every day on our sites is something to beproud of and we didn't want to ruin that with a bunch of talking heads insuits and ties with no game-footage rights.

We've got humor, expert analysis, weirdness, video gifs, and incredible storytelling all in one place and we're really proud of what this thing has become. Right now, we're producing over 30 new original videos every single week. Be sure to subscribe to not miss anything. Here's a rundown of the offerings:

Shutdown Fullback

(College Football meets Tim & Eric -- New episodes every Friday): If you've ever wondered what it would look like to see a video version of threads on EDSBS.com, well here you go. Simultaneously a college football talk show and unintentional postmodern art project, I personally guarantee Spencer Hall and Jason Kirk will make you laugh (or else they've duff'd it).

Essential Viewing: Bobby Petrino Fired episode with hot blonde assistant - http://youtu.be/k6inSsQpI2E

Bomani & Jones

(All sports; opinion and commentary -- New episodes Monday and Thursday): Around the Horn contributor and known Twitter user Bomani Jones is Bomani & Jones: sketches and commentary with no excuses. Think Chapelle's Show for the internet and the sports world.

Essential Viewing: Oklahoma Thunder are the Rolling Stones: http://youtu.be/DGfsuOtPZtI

Full Nelson

(All sports; Outside the Lines with a sense of humor -- Newepisodes every Wednesday): Athletes, Access, and Culture. Full Nelson takes an inside look at the most interesting stories from the world of sports in a beautiful, different, and always interesting package. Host Amy K. Nelson joined SB Nation after years of reporting for ESPN and regular appearances on OTL and First Take, and Full Nelson offers something new every week.

Bonus points to Full Nelson for having the most-viewed video of our whole channel with Amy's perilous tour of a Duke bar during the Duke/UNC matchup.

Check it out here: http://youtu.be/qyY6EBygUWw

The Sporting Gentlemen

(All sports, comedy; sketches, tours, behind-the-scenes, interviews -- new episodes daily): The all-encompassing daily video series The Sporting Gentlemen, featuring Dan Rubenstein and Matt
Ufford, features unique (read: weird and occasionally threatening) reactions to the day's biggest stories, plus remote, generally participatory segments out in the field defined primarily by a general lack of athleticism, coordination, and respect.

An example of an ongoing segment that has taken the world by stormis "Bro vs Douchebag," which promises to be the authority on determining how athletes should be filed and categorized as humans. Heavy stuff.

Essential viewing: Bro vs Douchebag ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv1nIUxm5TY&feature=plcp. Welcome to New York, Tim Tebow... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asD5xsFlyxU. RGIII Pre-Draft Interview ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFm_9n7-PJ8&feature=plcp

Rob's Mailbag

(Baseball -- New episodes on Wednesday): Get smarter about baseball with Baseball Nation's Rob Neyer. In Rob's Mailbag, Rob takes questions from viewers every week and breaks them down in absurd (and extremely entertaining) detail.

Essential viewing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgs-9mqspW4

The Core of Sports

(All sports, epic -- new episodes monthly): The Core of Sports is our answer to Sports Science, taking you inside the mind of elite athletes in the most cinematic way possible.

Essential viewing: UFC Fighter Brian Stann's Epic Training: http://youtu.be/wh0apFY3ewM

The Petey and Lomo Show

(Baseball; comedy): It's our first reality show, and we followed Miami Marlins players Bryan Petersen and Logan Morrison (Petey and LoMo, to the initiated) as they tried to find ways to fill the boredom that is Spring Training in South Florida.

Essential viewing: Marlins Off The Hook (i.e. Master-baiters): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqRwu8VyUv0&feature=plcp

News from the Studio

(All sports; analysis, breakdowns, experts -- new videos every day): We're not just doing sketches... we're all over breaking news, using experts from around SB Nation to weigh in on the latest news from their respective homes, workplaces, and law offices. Some of our biggest communities are represented here regularly... what about yours?

Essential viewing: Ben Golliver breaks down Lamar Odom's departure: http://youtu.be/WFCYSx2aApA

Extra fun stuff

We'll also be doing one off series and videos and undertaking big projects from time to time. Check out these draft profiles we made for every single first-round prospect (complete with whimsical narration and the finest animation money can buy):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVskxCKhYPY&list=UUeil3VBekFxA9AwBx7JXzPA&feature=plcp

Also, this wouldn't be YouTube without some fun viral videos. Check out Dolphinception (http://youtu.be/CrptLxy35V0), Epic High Five with VernonDavis (http://youtu.be/rshc4RxIwSc), and 8-Bit Petrino Accident (http://youtu.be/NwqBEuJBhhs).

Coyotes 1, Predators 0: Nashville pushed to the brink of elimination

With Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn watching on as scratches, the Nashville Predators came up with their weakest offensive effort of the playoffs, getting shut out by Phoenix 1-0. The loss puts the Preds in a 3-1 hole in this Western Conference Semifinal, giving the Coyotes the chance to close things out Monday on their home ice.

Pekka Rinne did his part, turning aside all but one of 24 Phoenix shots and keep the Predators within one shot of tying things up, but Mike Smith was oustanding at the other end.

Follow after the jump for the video highlights and reaction...

Cue the video (might take 30-45 minutes post-game to work):

Follow @Forechecker

Your random observations:

• That first period wasn't exactly a thing of beauty... pretty much no offensive pressure and the opening goal for Phoenix, which saw Shane Doan just plow Hal Gill off the puck and drive to the front of the net.
• Has anyone had worse luck in one period than Patric Hornqvist? He had some ridiculously wide-open scoring chances but couldn't quite bury them in the second. In 23 career playoff games, he has just three goals. His effort was admirable tonight, at least.
• Sergei Kostistyn, on the other hand? I've said it before, and I'll say it again - utterly invisible, and if anyone deserves to be scratched, it's him.
• Back on the positive side, Colin Wilson was outstanding, creating opportunities pretty consistently.
• Give full marks to Phoenix for getting sticks on so many Nashville shot attempts, it seemed like they rarely got a good look at Smith.
• Folks will complain about the waved-off goal in the third, but the ref clearly blew the whistle well before the puck went in.
• With offensive zone faceoffs late in the third period, it boggles the mind not to see faceoff savant (as coined by Jim Diamond) Paul Gaustad out there to try and win the draw back for a Shea Weber bomb. David Legwand got most of those late draws, and seemed to lose every one.

Box Score - Game Summary - Event Summary - Corsi Numbers

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

• Patric Hornqvist
• Colin Wilson
• Pekka Rinne

  150 votes | Results

Radulov/Kostitsyn scratches bring praise & criticism for Barry Trotz: Friday afternoon notes

The news that Barry Trotz is sticking to his Game Three lineup, leaving Alexander Radulov & Andrei Kostitsyn in the press box, has tongues wagging around the hockey world this afternoon. Especially since tonight's Predators/Coyotes Game Four is the only playoff game on the NHL schedule, analysts from around the league are chiming in on whether this is the right move for a Nashville team that needs to win tonight and take this series back to Phoenix tied 2-2. Locally, it appears that fans are hugely supportive, based on yesterday's poll and the talk on Twitter.

After the jump, I'll start with my take...

First off, I'll offer my own opinion here. With the de facto suspension over, Radulov & Kostitsyn are back in the mix, and it's time to put the best possible team on the ice tonight to win this critical game. Just because the Preds won Game 3 in the classic Predators' style doesn't mean there weren't candidates for replacement (or demotion) among the forwards in the lineup. I'll offer two right off the bat:

Brandon Yip - If Trotz is confident that Jordin Tootoo has his game together, he could play Toots over Yip in the 4th-line banger role, leaving Halischuk on the other side.

Sergei Kostitsyn - He's been unimpressive all playoff long (last year, too), with just one goal and one assist through 8 games. Yip has that much, and he gets half as much ice time as Sergei. A perfect example of the "they won so we can't change anything" mindset is the thinking that SK74 made a good play on Mike Fisher's goal the other night:

This is classic pass-first (and -second, and -third) thinking by Sergei, and he was fortunate that Fisher's centering pass deflected off Smith for a goal. The bottom line here is that he was handed a wide-open opportunity right between the faceoff circles, and he opted to pass the puck off to the side rather than try to score a goal.

In a tight series like this, you can't pass up scoring chances like that, even if the hockey gods bailed out your butt that time.

The lines I'd go with, just for discussion's sake:

Erat - Fisher - Radulov

Bourque - Legwand - Hornqvist

Wilson - Spaling - SK74

Tootoo - Gaustad - Halischuk

If you like, you could even switch up SK74 and Tootoo there.

And now... the afternoon hockey notes:

Nashville Predators News

Barry Trotz has to decided to scratch Radulov and Kostitsyn in Game 4, and that’s stupid | Backhand Shelf
Justin takes the big picture view, saying that loading too much meaning into the previous game's result can be extremely dangerous.

Brophy on Predators: Forgiving the inexcusable - sportsnet.ca
Mike Brophy argues that the Preds need to move forward and ice their best players, which includes Radulov & AK46.

In defense of Alexander Radulov | Shutdown Line
Don't pin the Preds' troubles on Rads.

Paul McCann - Game Four Game Night in Smashville!
Paul cautions you to make sure you're in your seats in time for the early (6:30) start tonight...

The 303:30 – The series thus far vs Phoenix and NBC Sports Network’s John Forslund | Section 303
It's your last chance to listen to a pre-fatherhood Codey Holland.

The Hippodrome: Life After The Scottsdale Surprise | Pith in the Wind
Take a lap around the 'Drome with Glen Campbell and Zac Brown.

Lastly, watch as Barry Trotz talks about the lineup decision with the media after today's morning skate:

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

WCSF: Phoenix Coyotes @ Nashville Predators Game 4 Preview - Matching the Intensity - Five For Howling
The Coyotes will look to put together a stronger effort than what they brought Wednesday.

Coyotes/Preds Goes Largely Unnoticed During Overtime Wednesday " Puck The Media
Game Three went up against Rangers/Capitals, and got trounced.

Oh good, it’s pile on Russian hockey players time again (Trending Topics) | Puck Daddy
It's like we've taken a trip back to 20 years ago, with all the talk going on.

Radulov, Kostitsyn and the NHL's dwindling Russian influence - The Globe and Mail
Since the turn of the millennium, the number of Russian NHL players in the playoffs has dropped by more than half, writes James Mirtle.

Ilya Kovalchuk’s big night an oasis amid criticism of Eastern players | Backhand Shelf
Kovy got the job done for New Jersey, though.

Battered Klesla plays on for Coyotes - NHL.com
Rusty Klesla is taking a physical toll for Phoenix but keeps coming back for more.

Goaltender Kryptonite - St. Louis Game Time
Some advice that might come in handy against Mike Smith.

2012 NHL Playoffs: Rangers Vs. Capitals - Is Marian Gaborik Back? Did He Ever Leave? - Blueshirt Banter
The Rangers are glad to see their high-paid sniper score a huge goal, like Thursday's triple-OT winner.

Bolland on Trading Block – Hawks Will Pursue Suter?? | Hockey Independent
Can you imagine if Chicago filled that $7.1 million salary cap hit formerly held by Brian Campbell with Ryan Suter? That would be a huge coup for them.

Is Jordan Staal on the trade block? - The Globe and Mail
If Pittsburgh decides to split up their trio of top centers, where might Staal go?

Top 11 Reasons I Want To See Game 5 Of Blues And Kings - St. Louis Game Time
Blues fans may have already seen their last home game this season.

Coyotes @ Predators Game 4 Open Thread

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Next Game

Phoenix Coyotes
@ Nashville Predators

Friday, May 4, 2012, 6:30 PM Central (NBC Sports)
Bridgestone Arena

Radulov/Kostitsyn scratches bring praise & criticism for Barry Trotz: Friday afternoon notes

posted by Dirk Hoag 18 minutes ago

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Since Wednesday, ticket quantity for the Predators v Coyotes Game 4 has...

posted by Dirk Hoag about 2 hours ago

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Nashville Predators to stick with Game 3 lineup tonight: No Radulov or AK46

posted by Dirk Hoag about 5 hours ago

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Complete Coverage >

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Are you ready???

Stanley Cup Playoffs Scoreboard Watch for May 5

Just one game on the docket today...

Visitor	Home	Series	Time (Central) / Network
New York Rangers	Washington Capitals	NYR 2-1	11:30 a.m. NBC

Can the Rags seize a 3-1 lead over the Caps today?

Stanley Cup Playoffs Scoreboard Watch for May 3

We've got an interesting double-header on NBC Sports tonight...

Visitor	Home	Series	Time (Central) / Network
Philadelphia Flyers	New Jersey Devils	1-1	6:30 NBC Sports
St. Louis Blues	Los Angeles Kings	LAK 2-0	9:00 NBC Sports

Flyers vs. Devils, ECSF Game 3 preview: It's all about work ethic - Broad Street Hockey
If you can't work hard at a time like this...

How You Feeling Blues Fans? - St. Louis Game Time
After dropping the first two games of this series on home ice, the Blues' feel-good story is in danger of a sudden ending.

Trotzy's Choice: Friday's notes

With the Nashville Predators looking to even up their Western Conference semifinal tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes (6:30 p.m. start at Bridgestone Arena, aired on NBC Sports), the man in the spotlight is Barry Trotz. Now that the de facto suspension handed down by David Poile for Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn is over, does he work either or both of them back into a lineup which put in a solid performance in Game Three?

That question kicks off our morning hockey notes...

Make sure to check TiqIQ for tickets to tonight's game!

Nashville Predators News

Inside Smashville " Trotz has difficult lineup decisions to make heading into Game 4 of Semifinals
All eyes will be on Barry Trotz as he picks the roster for tonight. The only thing we really know is that there are no easy choices here.

Smashville 24/7 - Wilson expresses excitement over opportunity
Can he hold on to his spot?

Jordin Tootoo gives Nashville Predators extra edge | The Tennessean
Local hockey expert David Climer campaigns for Tootoo to stay in the lineup.

Nashville Predators' Mike Fisher relieved to score goal | The Tennessean
Hopefully Wednesday's goal gets Fish going.

Nashville Predators have ties to Milwaukee Brewers' Gord Ash | The Tennessean
It's like Nashville and Milwaukee are joined at the hip, sports-wise.

Dierks Bentley Comes 'Home' to Celebrate, Watch NHL Playoffs - The Boot
Even though he's originally from Arizona, Bentley is all-in with the Preds.

Armchair GM – Ryan Thang | Admirals Roundtable
What should the Preds do here?

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

New Jersey Devils Take Series Lead Over Philadelphia Flyers with Thrilling 4-3 OT Win - In Lou We Trust
I've always liked Alexei Ponikarovsky, and last night he potted the OT winner.

Blues fall into 3-0 hole against Kings; hard to be so mad - St. Louis Game Time
St. Louis is on the ropes after Los Angeles took a 4-2 decision last night.

Playoff Scoring Rates 1988-2011 - Arctic Ice Hockey
An interesting dip here.

IIHF World Championship Predictions - Puck Worlds
Who will take the gold? Bruce makes his pick and offers up a poll.

Renowned concussion doctor urges head-shot ban - The Globe and Mail
We all know where things are headed, but the NHL tends to move at a glacial pace.

The Bolts will be re-defining "Jumbotron" next season at the Tampa Bay Times Forum with their new... - Raw Charge
Tampa Bay goes big... real big.

Gary Roberts wants to teach kids hockey -- inside out - The Globe and Mail
This guy needs to come up with a diet book and publish the thing.

Capitals’ defenseman Karl Alzner’s dogs had way more fun Wednesday night than he did (PHOTO) | Puck Daddy
This isn't exactly what you want to see upon returning home after a triple-overtime loss.

Hockey's Captain America named: Thursday afternoon notes

While the Nashville Predators prepare for Game Four tomorrow night, don't forget that there are plenty of other happenings going on in the hockey world, too. Not only do we have three other exciting Stanley Cup playoff series going on, but captains have been named for the American and Canadian teams heading to the IIHF World Championships.

We've got all that and more after the jump...

Make sure to check TiqIQ for Preds playoff tickets!

Nashville Predators News

Suddenly, they look like the Predators again! - Predlines
A sight for sore eyes, writes Dan.

Nashville Predators might sit Alexander Radulov, Andrei Kostitsyn again | The Tennessean
There's no change in the message from yesterday.

Nashville Predators offer Alexander Radulov valuable lesson with win | The Tennessean
Last night's win wasn't only important in terms of this series, but it also serves as an endorsement for the Trotz/Poile regime, writes David Climer.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

The Dark Blue Jacket: Jack Johnson: Team USA Captain once again
Why does this strike me as really, really odd?

Getzlaf named Canadian captain for hockey worlds - The Globe and Mail
This sounds more like it...

Braden Holtby’s parents win playoff MVP for hockey mom, dad reactions (VIDEO) | Puck Daddy
Forget adorable... did anyone catch video of the fans giving the business to Coyotes in the penalty box last night?

How You Feeling Blues Fans? - St. Louis Game Time
The Preds passed their test when down 2-0... how will St. Louis fare on the road?

2012 NHL Playoffs: Rangers Vs. Capitals - Game 3 Notes - Blueshirt Banter
Those triple-OT classics put the bloggers into overtime, too.

McKenzie: Could Rangers have won battle but lost war? - TSN
Sure it was epic, but will that game sap New York's strength for the long haul?

Ilya Bryzgalov Proves Stealing Games Is Not a Reasonable Expectation - Broad Street Hockey
And you thought watching the Preds in the playoffs was nerve-wracking.

Lowetide.ca | Russia: Enigma wrapped in a blah blah blah
The Oilers are staring at the prospect of drafting Russian star Nail Yakupov. Should they shy away, given all the bad press Russian players have been getting lately?

How to Watch the NHL Playoffs When Your Team Misses the Cut - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
A kindly guide to pass along to friends elsewhere.

B.D. Gallof: As Things Die In Nassau County, A Hope Grows In Brooklyn For The Islanders " CBS New York
Dark tidings for the Islanders' future on Long Island.

ESPN doesn’t hate hockey, or so it claims | | The Sherman Report
No, they just choose to ignore it in favor of sports that they have broadcast deals with.

Good Timing for a Small Cup Finals | Jerseys and Hockey Love
James says the NHL shouldn't stress out if a team like Nashville or Phoenix make the Stanley Cup Final.

Hockey returning to Pennsylvania city that helped inspire Slap Shot - The Globe and Mail
But... who own the team?

Raffi Torres, NHLPA appeal 25-game suspension to Gary Bettman; why it’s the right move | Puck Daddy
Applying scrutiny to supplemental discipline decisions is fine, but Torres' history really works against him here.

Is Matt Duchene Still on Track? - Mile High Hockey
Three seasons in, how is the new franchise center working out in Colorado?

How NHL Teams are Constructed: Is There a Best Way? - Canes Country
Apply Betteridge's Law.

Nashville Predators to stick with Game 3 lineup tonight: No Radulov or AK46

Today's big news being tweeted from the morning skate at Bridgestone Arena confirms what Barry Trotz had been hinting at in the media over the last two days, that he'll stick with the formula which led to a victory in Game Three, and avoid making any roster changes.

No Rads for #Preds tonite. He says Trotz told him team will stick w winning lineup.

— John Glennon (@glennonsports) May 4, 2012

Rads was obviously frustrated & disappointed but tried his best to say the right things in a brief scrum with the media.

— Willy Daunic (@WillyD1025) May 4, 2012

Rads feels like he has practiced hard and done the right things since the incident. @1025TheGame

— Willy Daunic (@WillyD1025) May 4, 2012

So... good news for Colin Wilson, Matt Halischuk and Jordin Tootoo, certainly. Bad news for Andrei Kostitsyn and Alexander Radulov that they can't earn their way back into the lineup yet.

It appears that the majority of OTF readers agreed with this decision yesterday. Will it pay off tonight, though?

We're all talkin about it. Let's make it official.....

So I was just going to do a fanshot, but you can't do polls there. So this is me filling space to make this a full on fan post. I like polls, and I hate reading through old threads and comments trying to find information. So I'm making it easy on everyone (or me) and putting the question all of us are asking/opining on into an easy to read poll form. Tell us (me) whether you think our suspended boys should don gold on Friday night, or stick in their fancy street clothes.

Poll

Should AK46 and/or Rads be back on the ice for Game 4?

53%

NO! Keep the Game 3 lineup and change NOTHING!!

251 votes 26%

YES!! We need these guys on the ice for the long haul!

125 votes 12%

Give me AK46! That other fella can observe from the press box.

59 votes 6%

Give me Rads! If you've seen one tits, you've seen 'em both.

31 votes

466 votes | Poll has closed

Coyotes @ Predators Game Three Thread

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Next Game

Phoenix Coyotes
@ Nashville Predators

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 8:00 PM Central (CNBC)
Bridgestone Arena

How & When Did The Preds Know About Radulov & Kostitsyn? - Wednesday afternoon notes

posted by Dirk Hoag 1 minute ago

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Finally, Nashville is in the NHL spotlight: Wednesday's notes

posted by Dirk Hoag about 6 hours ago

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Need tickets for Games 3 & 4 of Predators/Coyotes? TiqIQ's got 'em

posted by Dirk Hoag 4 days ago

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Complete Coverage >

A Bright Morning In Smashville: Thursday's notes

The Nashville Predators have to be enjoying a jolt of confidence after last night's 2-0 victory in Game Three. Pekka Rinne was outstanding, the overall team game was impressive, and while there is room for improvement (I'm looking at you, power play), the mood around Smashville is much brighter heading into tomorrow's Game Four.

The Preds are hosting another open practice today, 11 a.m. at Centennial Sportsplex if you can make it. Sorry for the mix-up, it's a closed practice today.

For now, follow after the jump for your morning hockey notes...

Make sure to check TiqIQ for Preds playoff tickets!

Nashvillle Predators News

As always, the morning after a game surf through "More Predators Sites" box on the left side of the main page here at OTF, for recaps from around Nashville.

Post game audio is available from Barry Trotz, David Legwand, Pekka Rinne, Ryan Suter, and Shea Weber. Click each name for the MP3.

Watch a Nashville Predators’ ice girl take a catfish off the ice, bare-handed; was it alive? (VIDEO) | Puck Daddy
Upon further review, it looks like the wriggling may have been assisted.

Rinne gives Preds his own power play | The Tennessean
It sounds like Halischuk's OK despite getting shaken up.

Preds' top stars deliver victory - The Tennessean
Invoke ye old clichè about best players, etc.

Martin Erat strong as Predators win Game 3 -Nashville Predators Examiner
Marty got lots o' love for his feisty effort last night.

Predators prove errors — their own and others' — come at a cost | Nashville City Paper
At this time of year, mistakes can prove to be especially dangerous.

Poile and Predators win by doing it the right way - View From My Seats
The vast majority of observers gives the Preds credit for "putting the team first" and setting the table for a big win last night.

And lastly, I know what you're all wondering... what would Don Cherry do about Radulov & AK46?

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

2012 NHL Playoffs: Marian Gaborik Wins It In Triple Overtime For Rangers - Blueshirt Banter
This game started well before, and ended well after, Preds/Coyotes, but in the end, the New York Rangers took a 2-1 series lead over Washington.

WCSF: Phoenix Coyotes @ Nashville Predators Game 3: Well That Sucked - Five For Howling
The Coyotes knew Nashville's best punch was coming, they just couldn't do much about it.

Jamison bid to buy Phoenix Coyotes on track, Glendale officials told - Phoenix Business Journal
Could a happy ending come next week?

Ovechkin's ice time + 30 Thoughts | Hockey | CBC Sports
"there is a reason NHL teams are scared of drafting and depending on Russians, and what happened last Saturday night in Phoenix is Exhibit A."

Wilson on key decisions: ‘It’s crucial not to jump to a conclusion without going through whole process’ | Working the Corners
They're not ready to move those deck chairs around quite yet in San Jose.

Flames’ search for head coach in ‘first inning’ - Faceoff.com
Might Calgary be waiting until the playoffs are over, for the widest field of candidates?

Missed Opportunity? Star KHL’er Roman Cervenka signs with the Calgary Flames | Edmonton Journal
The Flames go in a different direction to start their rebuild.

The L.A Kings have struck again on Twitter | Backhand Shelf
Forget the playoffs, the Kings are killing it on Twitter. Give 'em a standing ovation here.

Fewer European players are coming to the NHL - Puck Drunk Love
The Swedes are a growing presence, but outside of that...

Previewing the United States' 2012 World Hockey Championship Team | The Hockey Writers
Take a look at the guys who will sport the red, white & blue at the Worlds later this month.

2012 IIHF World Championships Preview: The Contenders - Puck Worlds
And nope, this doesn't include Team USA.

How & When Did The Preds Know About Radulov & Kostitsyn? - Wednesday afternoon notes

A couple of the questions which fans have asked regarding the whole Alexander Radulov/Andrei Kostitsyn affair sound like something out of a political caper - When did the team find out about it, and how did they find out?

Our afternoon hockey notes start off with answers on both those fronts...

Make sure to check TiqIQ for Preds playoff tickets!

Nashville Predators News

First off, listen to Barry Trotz's press conference this morning, including his words around the 8:15 mark about when the team found out that Kostitsyn & Radulov went out on the town Saturday night:

QUICK HIT: Updates on the Radulov/Kostitsyn suspension | The Predatorial
Kris shares an unconfirmed report detailing how David Poile found out about the whole deal.

Smashville 24/7 - Preds face must-win scenario tonight
Certainly if they go down 3-0, it's pretty much over.

New defense pairings a possibility - Predators Insider
...because Josi/Klein has been a train wreck at times.

Expect the return of Predator-style hockey - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN
Pretty much everyone is expecting the Preds to come out with their best game of the series tonight.

Preds still believe Rinne can be game-changer - NHL.com
Geez, I should hope so - he hasn't been the problem at all.

Pair of Preds Prospects Picked For 2012 World Championships - Nashville Predators
Hopefully Mattias Ekholm isn't terrible for Sweden.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

WCSF: Phoenix Coyotes Vs. Nashville Predators:The Series Isn't Over Yet - Five For Howling
It ain't over until [insert Kyle Wellwood joke].

What is Team Culture For? (And Six Other Questions for the Nashville Predators) | Backhand Shelf
E asks some big-picture questions about the AK46 & Radulov suspension.

If you’re tired of ballin’, hip hop group G.U.N.S. suggests playing hockey (VIDEO) | Puck Daddy
And now for something completely different.

How playing without your best player(s) affects a team | Backhand Shelf
Justin Bourne argues that for a short time, teams can overcome such losses by focusing on the basics.

NHL COO John Collins talks Stanley Cup TV ratings, Winter Classic tickets and fan complaints with Puck Daddy | Puck Daddy
Collins might well be the NHL's real MVP.

Sports Radio Interviews - Matt Hendricks Leads Tough-Minded Capitols into Game 3 Matchup with Rangers: "I want those guys to really dislike me"
The former Preds draft pick is making waves this postseason for Washington.

Predators 2, Coyotes 0: Nashville Makes A Stand

Pekka Rinne took command of Game Three, turning aside all 32 shots from the Phoenix Coyotes while leading the Nashville Predators to a 2-0 win. The teams play Game Four on Friday night, giving the Preds a chance to even things up in this Western Conference semifinal.

David Legwand and Mike Fisher scored their first goals of the series to provide the margin of victory, while Martin Erat, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Gabriel Bourque picked up assists.

Follow after the jump for the video highlights and reaction...

Cue the video (might take 30-45 minutes post-game to work):

Follow @Forechecker

Your random observations:

• The second goal by the Preds, by Mike Fisher, comes off a hilarious sequence. Watch as Erat feeds SK74 the puck with him wide-open between the circles. He, of course, passes the puck away to Fish over to the side, who sends it immediately back to him for the slam dunk but it deflects off Smith's stick into the net.
• One thing I liked about this game was the physical dominance the Preds showed. They kept putting the pressure on the Phoenix defense whenever they could, giving them as little time as possible to move the puck. Klesla really took it from both Paul Gaustad and Jordin Tootoo (who played a smart, tough game) tonight.
• It was good see Matt Halischuk come back after taking that spill into the end boards courtesy of Adrian Aucoin.
• Both goalies were pretty outstanding in this one, stopping a number of dangerous chances. Of course, team defense appeared to be more cohesive as well, which helps a lot.
• Martin Erat seemed to be around the puck all night. He tallied only an assist on the Fisher goal and had only one shot attempt (it was blocked), but constantly helped move the play in the right direction.
• Colin Wilson made the most of his opportunity, especially with his work late in the third period. He was physical, moved the puck well, and hustled his butt off.
• The one area of concern might be the power play, which went 0-for-5 with 8 shots. I don't think we need to see Brandon Yip there, do we?
• So... do either Andrei Kostitsyn or Alexander Radulov get back in the lineup for Game Four?
• Post game audio is available from Mike Fisher, courtesy of 102.5 The Game intern David Yampolsky:

Mike Fisher 2012-05-02 (mp3)

Box Score - Game Summary - Event Summary - Corsi Numbers

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

• Martin Erat
• Pekka Rinne
• Alexander Radulov & Andrei Kostitsyn

  378 votes | Results

Radulov & Kostitsyn suspended: Is this Nashville's Goose Loonies?

After having surpassed the Detroit Red Wings in the regular season and playoffs for the first time ever, apparently the Nashville Predators have really gone "all in" with the Motown Model, and now have their very own Goose Loonies moment.

Sort of.

What's that, you say, what's "Goose Loonies"? Let's walk through a little piece of NHL history...

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Back in 1988, the Red Wings were a team on the rise, with Steve Yzerman already ranked among the game's great stars and head coach Jacques Demers on his way to a second consecutive Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach. Also for the second straight year, they made their way into the conference finals against Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers, a team which put up video game-like numbers on the scoreboard and bolted out to a 3-1 series lead over Detroit.

Jimmy Devellano, who was then general manager of the Wings, picks up the story from there in "Road to Hockeytown", describing how assistant coach Colin Campbell found Bob Probert, Petr Klima, and a few other players out drinking at a club called Goose Loonies in Edmonton, the night before Game Five. Initially, the team tried to keep the story a secret, but a reporter overheard a conversation the next morning at breakfast... and things broke from there.

The story absolutely blew up that day, complete with a Demers tirade blasting those players, and the Wings got pasted that evening 8-4, ending their season.

It certainly sounds like we have a number of parallels here with the suspension of Andrei Kostitsyn and Alexander Radulov for Game Three of the Predators/Coyotes series. John Shannon of Sportsnet and Cam Cole of the Vancouver Sun indicate that indeed it was a late-night out on the town the night before Game Two which landed them in hot water.

Are the Preds disintegrating before our eyes, coming apart at the seams right when the pressure is mounting?

Perhaps not... entirely.

On the ice, there is no question that taking Kostitsyn and Radulov out of the lineup hurts the team. They are here for a reason, and the Preds will miss their skills when they face off with Phoenix tomorrow night.

At least give the Predators credit for getting out ahead of this issue, however. They're the ones that made the news here by suspending the two forwards, before any reports of their carousing even made the rounds.

David Poile hits the right notes here in his public statement:

I've been a general manager for 30 years and I always try to treat each individual player with care, but I never put the individual player ahead of the team. In this situation, both these players violated a team rule. They have both been made aware of it; I met with both them this morning. They know that they are not playing in the game. [The situation] has been no more than a big distraction to our hockey team. I wanted to make the announcement today just to get the distraction out of the way so our players could get better prepared for Game Three tomorrow night. It is very disappointing - anytime something like this happens, it's disappointing. In the playoffs, it is even more so, to take out two of your better hockey players. It was a pretty easy decision. Our creed has always been to do the right thing. I try to do that in my personal life, so I certainly should do it in my business life. We've done the right thing by putting the team ahead of a couple of individual players. We will see where we go from here.

Unlike Devellano so many years ago (granted, that was an entirely different world in terms of media coverage), Poile is doing his best to get this out of the way immediately. The team had today to deal with all the distraction, but on the ice, guys like Jordin Tootoo, Matt Halischuk and Craig Smith can focus on being ready to play tomorrow night.

You can bet that they'll be motivated to give their best effort in an attempt to stay in the lineup.

Another guy to keep your eye on?

Colin Wilson.

Willy has been sitting on the sideline for most of this playoff run, a difficult situation for a young power forward looking for his next contract. With AK46 out, that opens a spot on the left side of a scoring line, and the potential to make an impact right when the Predators need it most.

Make no mistake, this is a LOUSY situation for the Nashville Predators, and the finger of blame needs to be pointed directly at Radulov & Kostitsyn for... well... outright stupidity.

But at least give Poile credit for trying to move the team past this as quickly as possible. Let's just hope that it pays off in time to salvage the Preds' playoff run.

Preds under the gun: Tuesday afternoon notes

Can the Nashville Predators put the distraction of today's suspensions behind them and rally together for a strong effort in Game Three tomorrow night? Our afternoon hockey notes begin with audio from today's practice featuring Barry Trotz, David Poile, and Alexander Radulov, before moving on to news from around the hockey world...

Make sure to check TiqIQ for Preds playoff tickets!

Nashville Predators News

Barry Trotz from Preds PR 2012-05-01 (mp3)

David Poile from Preds PR 2012-05-01 (mp3)

Alexander Radulov 2012-05-01 (mp3) via David Yampolsky of 102.5 The Game

Alexander Radulov, Andrei Kostitsyn, and the inner-workings of pro curfew | Backhand Shelf
Justin Bourne shares a player's perspective on what curfews are and how they should be respected.

Coyotes Proving That Flattery Will Get You Everywhere | Predators AJenda
Is Nashville being out-Predatored?

Paul McCann - Off Day Thoughts - UPDATEDx3 - AK46 and A-Rad out for Game Three
Between Rads & AK46, Keith Jones, and Nate Rau, Paul's blood pressure has to be through the roof.

Preds/Coyotes Game 1 Up Big From 2011 " Puck The Media
Steve called it, when he said Nashville/Phoenix would outdraw the second round series vs. Vancouver last season.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

More mixed messages for Phoenix Coyotes’ ownership future | Puck Daddy
Same story, different day. Kind of.

Sale of St. Louis Blues nears completion - The Globe and Mail
Will the deal get done while the Blues are still playing?

Vermette making his mark in the playoffs - ArizonaSports.com
Another former Blue Jacket who is tearing it up.

Ilya Kovalchuk out for Devils tonight, and yes, that's good for the Flyers - Broad Street Hockey
New Jersey will have to battle on without their biggest offensive threat.

Spector on NHL: Bad image for Russians - sportsnet.ca
This playoff season has been pretty disappointing for a number of Russian players, as Alex Ovechkin's ice time has been cut, and Ilya Bryzgalov has been a train wreck in the Philly net.

‘HBO 24/7′ returning for Season 3 with Red Wings and Maple Leafs, more NHL input | Puck Daddy
Not exactly shocking news here.

Mouthpiece Could Ease Stress, Hasten Recovery in Athletes | Playbook | Wired.com
Of course, they only work if you keep them in your mouth. Too many players chew on them, even during play.

2012 Stanley Cup playoffs: Shane Doan, Mike Fisher connected by more than hockey - ESPN
I don't think you'll see these two out partying to the break of dawn the night before a playoff game.

Handicapping the Habs GM candidates - The Globe and Mail
Supposedly, the field is down to four...

Down Goes Brown: A look at the nominees for the NHL's annual awards
Shea Weber - They say that a defenceman has had a great game when you don't even notice anything he did, so we can assume that Weber has Brendan Shanahan's vote.

Long Live the Kings? - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
Jonathan Willis writes on how L.A. is finally fulfilling their potential.

May coupon codes offer big savings for hockey players & NHL fans | Hockey Gear HQ
For the savvy shopper, there are promo codes out there for hockey equipment, NHL apparel, accessories, and memorabilia of all kinds.

Andrei Kostitsyn and Alexander Radulov suspended for Game 3 of Nashville vs. Phoenix

We knew things might get a little messy over the next couple of days as the Predators get ready for Game 3 down 0-2 against the Phoenix Coyotes. I'm not sure we thought it would get this bad.

Straight from the Preds:

Nashville, Tenn. (May 1, 2012) - Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn will not play Game Three of the team's Western Conference Semifinals series vs. the Phoenix Coyotes as result of violating team rules.

"The Nashville Predators have a few simple rules centered around doing the right things," Poile said. "We have always operated with a team-first mentality and philosophy. Violating team rules is not fair to our team and their teammates."

The Predators practice today at 11 a.m. CT at Centennial Sportsplex and play Game Three at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, May 2 at 8 p.m. CT.

More after the jump:

UPDATE AFTER THE JUMP:

UPDATE II (comments from Poile):

---

Andrei Kostitsyn

#46 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-0

Weight: 214

Born: Feb 03, 1985

---

---

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Andrei Kostitsyn	72	16	20	36	-1	26	5	0	5		122

---

---

Alexander Radulov

#47 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Born: Jul 05, 1986

---

---

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2011 - Alexander Radulov	9	3	4	7	3	4	0	0	0		21

---

One would assume this has to be pretty serious to get this kind of punishment handed down. We all know Trotz doesn't hesitate to make guys watch a few games from the press box, but I can't ever remember productive guys like Radulov and Andrei being suspended like this.

Today the Preds rolled these lines in practice, which seemed hilarious at first, but are now much less funny:

S. Kostitsyn - Fisher - Erat

Bourque - Legwand - Hornqvist

Yip - Spaling - Smith

Halischuk - Gaustad - Tootoo

A. Kostitsyn - McGrattan - Radulov

So, any idea what kind of team rules could have been broken here?

UPDATE:

A few reliable twitter sources have chimed in with their explanation for the suspension.

From a source on Predators' "suspensions" of Radulov, Kostitsyn for Game 3: Someone was off the Dry Island on Saturday night.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 1, 2012

Apparently, Radulov/A.Kostitsyn suspension is a curfew violation.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 1, 2012

UPDATE II:

Poile spoke to the media at practice.

David Poile just addressed the media re: AK46 and Radulov. Never heard a more disappointed tone from him.

— Jim Diamond (@diamondhockey) May 1, 2012

It is a one game suspension, but it will be up to Trotz as to whether the two players will return in Game 4

— Willy Daunic (@WillyD1025) May 1, 2012

Poile did not get into details of violation. Said It affected the focus, preparation of players. #Preds

— John Glennon (@glennonsports) May 1, 2012

Poile also said he would have done it regardless of whether #Preds were up 2-0 or down 2-0. Had nothing to do with on ice performance.

— Willy Daunic (@WillyD1025) May 1, 2012

And now a question for you readers: Can you ever remember a Predator being suspended for violation of team rules? I certainly can't.

Update III: Take this with a grain of salt, but....

Radulov and AKostitsyn were spotted in Scottsdale at 4am on the eve of Game 2. Suspended for Game 3 by club.

— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) May 1, 2012