SB Nation - Cody Franson

Nashville Predators top Calgary 5-3, continue incredible run

Dirk Hoag — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:25:42 -0000

More photos » by Larry MacDougal - AP

Nashville Predators' Dave Scatchard, left, celebrates his empty-net goal against the Calgary Flames with Martin Erat during the third period.

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Thanks to an empty-net goal by Dave Scatchard in the final minute, the Nashville Predators scored 5 goals for the 4th consecutive game as they beat the Flames 5-3 on the road, ending a five-game losing streak against Calgary.

Despite getting outshot 32-20, the Preds held on to a lead gained early in the 3rd period to run their record to 6-0-1 in their last 7, and 19-5-2 in their last 26 games.

Click the picture above for more photos from today's game, and follow after the jump for video highlights, commentary, and advanced even-strength statistics...

Once again, a whole-team offensive effort made the difference for Nashville. Martin Erat and Marcel Goc led the Preds with a goal and two assists each, while Cody Franson had a goal and an assist, and Joel Ward added two assists.

They say it's better to be lucky than good, and Dan Ellis was a bit of both today. In the 3rd period Calgary generated several good chances, but either missed the net or failed to connect on crossing passes. The breaks didn't all go one way, however, as one of Jarome Iginla's two goals would have gone wide of the net, were it not for Dan Hamhuis sliding along the ice and banking the puck in. Ellis finished with 29 saves.

The offensive outburst was especially impressive given the scratch of Jason Arnott today, due to a mysterious "upper body injury". Goc was moved up to center the top line, but both forward units and defense pairs appeared to shuffle often during the game.

The Predators now rank 11th in the NHL in Goals per Game with 2.83. How many of us could have predicted that prior to the season?

Well, I did project this team to score around 235 goals this year; currently they are on pace for 232.

The Preds finish off this road trip Tuesday in Vancouver before returning home for a Saturday, December 26 game against Chicago, with whom they are tied atop the Central Division.

For discounted tickets to any Nashville Predators home game, you can follow this link and use the special offer code "PREDS".

Digging into the even-strength stats, can I sing the praises once again of Cody Franson? This guy continues to put up positive results within a limited role, getting barely half the even-strength ice time of the Top Four.

Even Strength		Individual Totals					Team Totals While Player Is On Ice
Player	Pos	EV TOI	Shots	Shts Blkd	Missed Shts	Blocks	SOG For	SOG Ag	SOG +/-	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
Marcel Goc	C	16:06	2	0	0	0	7	11	-4	11	13	-2
Martin Erat	R	16:19	3	0	1	1	7	13	-6	14	18	-4
Steve Sullivan	L	14:17	0	2	0	0	5	13	-8	10	17	-7
David Legwand	C	16:25	2	0	1	1	5	12	-7	11	18	-7
Jerred Smithson	R	14:51	0	0	0	0	3	8	-5	5	12	-7
Joel Ward	R	15:50	1	0	0	1	4	9	-5	6	15	-9
Patric Hornqvist	R	12:13	0	0	0	0	4	3	1	9	10	-1
Dave Scatchard	C	8:43	2	0	1	0	2	3	-1	6	7	-1
J P Dumont	R	13:13	2	0	0	1	4	2	2	7	8	-1
Wade Belak	R	4:37	0	0	0	0	1	2	-1	2	2	0
Nick Spaling	C	12:35	0	0	1	0	3	2	1	6	8	-2
Ryan Jones	L	7:01	0	0	0	0	1	4	-3	4	8	-4
Shea Weber	D	18:15	2	1	1	3	7	15	-8	12	22	-10
Ryan Suter	D	20:25	0	0	1	2	7	17	-10	12	24	-12
Dan Hamhuis	D	13:24	1	1	0	0	5	5	0	9	8	1
Kevin Klein	D	20:57	0	0	0	1	4	9	-5	7	19	-12
Cody Franson	D	10:55	1	3	1	0	5	3	2	12	4	8
Francis Bouillon	D	18:44	0	0	1	0	4	7	-3	10	15	-5

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Dan Ellis, 29 saves

34 votes

Martin Erat, 1 goal, 2 assists

41 votes

Cody Franson, GW goal, 1 assist

12 votes

Marcel Goc, 1 goal, 2 assists

21 votes

108 votes | Poll has closed

Nashville Predators recall Cody Franson from Milwaukee

Dirk Hoag — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:25:19 -0000

As hinted at last night, this comes from the Nashville Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Cody Franson from Milwaukee (AHL).

Franson, 22 (8/8/87), ranks seventh among rookie defensemen in points, with seven (2g-5a) in 24 games since making his NHL debut on Oct. 17 at Washington. He also leads the Predators, and is tied for fourth among rookie defensemen in plus/minus (+5). Nashville's third choice, 79th overall (third round), in the 2005 Entry Draft, Franson recorded his first career NHL point/assist on Oct. 21 at Boston and scored his first NHL goal the following night in a 6-5 overtime victory at Ottawa. Franson's recall to Nashville is his second of the season. The Sicamous, B.C., native started the 2009-10 season with the Admirals before being recalled on Oct. 16. He skated in 24 of Nashville's next 26 games before being reassigned to Milwaukee on Dec. 13. Franson has five points (1g-4a) in five contests with the Admirals this season.

With the team in Western Canada for the next three games it makes sense to carry 7 defensemen just in case of injuries that may crop up. For Franson, I'm sure a few extra days of NHL-level salary makes for a nice Christmas bonus, too.

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

Nashville Predators assign Cody Franson to Milwaukee

Dirk Hoag — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:43:14 -0000

From the Nashville Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has reassigned defenseman Cody Franson to Milwaukee (AHL).

Franson, 22 (8/8/87), ranks seventh among rookie defensemen in points, with seven (2g-5a) in 24 games since making his NHL debut on Oct. 17 at Washington. He also leads the Predators, and is tied for fourth among rookie defensemen in plus/minus (+5). Nashville's third choice, 79th overall (third round), in the 2005 Entry Draft, Franson recorded his first career NHL point/assist on Oct. 21 at Boston and scored his first NHL goal the following night in a 6-5 overtime victory at Ottawa. The Sicamous, B.C., native started the 2009-10 season with the Admirals, posting two points (1g-1a) in the club's first three games.

This is a bit of an odd move, considering the four-game week that the Predators have coming up (Monday @ Columbus, Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay, Thursday @ Edmonton and Saturday @ Calgary). Franson has played well in the role he's been given; Alexander Sulzer has been no slouch either, but perhaps this move is being made to keep the roster number down as low as possible, ahead of a callup to replace Jordin Tootoo on a short-term basis. We won't hear until Monday what's going on with him.

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

Grading the Nashville Predators' November: the defense

Dirk Hoag — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:22:41 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber continues to play a key role at both ends of the ice.

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We took a look at the goaltenders the other day, so now it is time to focus our attention on how the Nashville Predators defense played during the second month of the season. For your reference, here are October's grades...

Jump down to the bottom for the Behind the Net stats (which represent the season to date). Within each player capsule, stats reflect performance during the month of November.

Francis Bouillon

#51 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-8

Weight: 196

Born: Oct 17, 1975

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Francis Bouillon	13	1	2	3	-4	6	1	0	0	0	16	6.3

Having settled into a steady job (over 20:00 a night) alongside Kevin Klein, Bouillon is starting to chip in a little bit offensively to go along with his consistent defensive work. He's been rewarded with close to 3 minutes of power play ice time per game, and has also played a large role on the penalty kill. Remember when I said long ago that he'd make people forget Greg Zanon? He's certainly on his way.

And if you look at the 5-on-5 numbers below and are concerned about his team-low GFON/60, keep in mind that it's about twice what it was a month ago, meaning that over the last month that number has been roughly in line with his teammates.

Francis Bouillon's grade: A-

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Cody Franson	13	1	2	3	+2	4	0	0	1	0	26	3.8

Barry Trotz is careful to put the rookie in situations where he's best placed to succeed (see the QUALTEAM and QUALCOMP numbers down at the bottom; the quality of teammates he plays with is the hightest, and the quality of competition he plays against is low), but Franson is acquitting himself well so far. Surprisingly he hasn't really produced on the power play as much as one would expect, and that's where the team needs his talent most.

As seen in the game-by-game recaps, Franson has a strong impact on Shots For & Against; his "Relative Corsi", or the difference between Total Shots For & Against when he's on the ice vs. when he's on the bench, is the best on the team.

Cody Franson's grade:B+

Dan Hamhuis

#2 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1982

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Dan Hamhuis	13	1	3	4	+6	8	0	0	0	0	20	5.0

What a turnaround for Hammer - a disastrous start has been largely reversed, as Goals Against in 5-on-5 have toned down considerably, and the penalty kill has been much better in recent weeks. He plays mostly along Franson, providing the safety net for the rook, and has provided the sort of two-way play Nashville fans have grown to expect over the last few seasons.

Dan Hamhuis' grade: B+

Kevin Klein

#8 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1984

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Kevin Klein	13	0	1	1	-1	4	0	0	0	0	11	0.0

Just as Hamhuis' play has steadied, so has Klein's. Since his offensive contributions are so limited, the nostrum that people often use for referees applies to Klein - when you don't notice him very much, you know he's done a good job. He too deserves credit for the rebounding penalty kill unit.

Kevin Klein's grade: B-

Alexander Sulzer

#52 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 204

Born: May 30, 1984

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Alexander Sulzer	2	0	0	0	+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

Alexander Sulzer's grade: Incomplete

Ryan Suter

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	13	0	4	4	-6	10	0	0	0	0	10	0.0

Remember that post from a few days ago covering the 10 NHL Players Who Should Shoot the Puck More Often? Suter was #3 on that list for good reason, not the least of which is his extensive time (roughly 4:00 per game) on the power play. The Preds need more than just 10 shots a month out of him. His 5-on-5 results have taken a nasty turn for the worse, as well. Suter got off to a good start in October, and needs to reverse this recent slide.

Ryan Suter's grade: C-

Shea Weber

#6 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 14, 1985

November totals	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Shea Weber	11	1	5	6	-6	0	1	0	0	0	32	3.1

While the goals have dried up a bit, the shots are still coming fast and furious, so there's little concern on that front. What really jumps out is that despite playing heavy minutes against top opponents regularly, Weber made it through the entire month without a single penalty. That speaks volumes to his hard work on the defensive end.

Shea Weber's grade: B+

Here are the 5-on-5 numbers for the season to date. For explanations behind the numbers, check Behind the Net:

NAME	GP	TOI/60	RATING	QUALCOMP	QUALTEAM	PTS/60	GFON/60	GAON/60	+/- per 60
Shea Weber	25	17.54	0.06	0.07	0.08	0.68	2.05	2.46	-0.41
Dan Hamhuis	23	17.52	0.69	-0.04	-0.04	1.04	2.53	2.53	0.00
Ryan Suter	27	17.49	-0.01	0.06	0.13	0.51	1.78	2.16	-0.38
Kevin Klein	27	17.11	-1.24	-0.02	-0.09	0.26	1.30	2.47	-1.17
Francis Bouillon	27	16.14	-0.89	0.00	-0.17	0.00	0.96	1.93	-0.96
Cody Franson	21	11.59	2.03	-0.08	0.18	0.99	3.20	1.73	+1.48
Alexander Sulzer	5	11.38	2.80	-0.07	0.50	1.05	3.16	1.05	+2.11

Predators get back to their winning ways in 4-1 victory over Florida

Dirk Hoag — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:03:23 -0000

More photos » by Kate Humphrey - AP

22 days ago: Nashville Predators players congratulate Dan Hamhuis after Hamhuis scored a goal against the Florida Panthers in the first period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Nashville, Tenn. From left are Jerred Smithson, Marcel Goc, of Germany, Jordin Tootoo, Hamhuis and Kevin Klein. (AP Photo/Kate Humphrey)

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Dan Hamhuis led all scorers with his first goal of the season along with an assist as the Nashville Predators beat the Florida Panthers in front of 14,120 tonight at the Sommet Center Smashville Arena. Wearing their new 3rd jerseys, the Preds struggled through the first two periods tied 1-1 before finally pulling away in the third in a penalty-filled affair for both teams.

After the jump we've got the video highlights, recap, and advanced even-strength statistics...

This was a fun one to enjoy, not just due to the play on the ice, but because I brought my father-in-law to the game. Since he lives in Indiana he doesn't catch NHL action often. In fact, he told me the last live game he saw pitted the Boston Bruins against the St. Louis Blues... back in 1971! As Buddy Oakes observed during the first intermission, the look of the game (especially in terms of advertisements on the boards and ice) sure has changed since those days...

On the ice, the Predators got off to a sluggish start; three power play opportunities came and went with lackluster results, and the crowd started getting restless, anticipating the worst after last night's loss to St. Louis. Late in the period, however, a point shot from Hamhuis with traffic in front from Joel Ward and Jerred Smithson got through Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen to put Nashville up 1-0 heading into the 1st intermission.

The second period saw a steady stream into the penalty box, as Jordin Tootoo squared off for a short fight with Kenndal McArdle immediately after the opening faceoff. Besides three other minor penalties to the Predators during that period (all successfully killed off, by what is looking once again like a typically strong Nashville PK unit), Tootoo got a rematch with McArdle midway through the period. Tootoo didn't want to go, but McArdle wouldn't let go and basically begged for a fight - so Toots basically pounded the stuffing out of him and ended his evening early.

Amidst all those festivities, however, Florida tied the game. Jordan Leopold was the trailer in a 3-on-2 and fired a shot high stick side by Dan Ellis, who was outstanding in his first game action in 3 weeks. Despite his play, however, fans were nervous about a tied game heading into the third, with not much offense to show so far.

Things certainly turned during the final 20 minutes, however. The Preds poured it on with a 12-5 shooting advantage down the stretch, and took a 2-1 lead early on. Steve Sullivan got the puck all alone in front of the Florida net and took his shot, which led to a rebound at the side of the goal for J.P. Dumont. He took the time to lift a backhand over a prone Clemmensen for the goal, his fifth of the season.

David Legwand continued his hot play by adding an insurance goal a few minutes later, powering his way past a Panthers defender to chase a puck into the offensive end and stuff a shot through the 5-hole for his fifth goal as well. Joel Ward added an empty netter in the final minute to ice the game for Nashville.

The Preds conclude this home stand with a game Monday against the Calgary Flames, who boast a 9-1-3 road record after winning in Columbus tonight.

For the Florida perspective on the game, check out Litter Box Cats, SB Nation's Florida Panthers blog.

For discounted tickets to any Nashville Predators home game, you can follow this link and use the special offer code "PREDS".

Looking at tonight's even-strength statistics, note that the overall SOG +/- and Corsi numbers are mostly positive; even the worst results on the team, mostly concentrated on the 4th-liners, are only mildly negative. Up front, the Legwand line had an excellent night, and consistently seemed to have the most jump.

Once again, however, that name down at the bottom of the list, Cody Franson, continues to put up positive results in relatively limited action.

Even Strength		Individual Totals					Team Totals While Player Is On Ice
Player	Pos	EV TOI	Shots	Shts Blkd	Missed Shts	Blocks	SOG For	SOG Ag	SOG +/-	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
Jason Arnott	C	11:31	2	2	0	2	8	4	4	17	12	5
Steve Sullivan	L	11:24	2	2	2	0	8	4	4	17	13	4
J P Dumont	R	9:55	2	0	0	0	7	3	4	16	10	6
David Legwand	C	12:01	2	0	1	0	12	5	7	19	13	6
Jerred Smithson	R	12:33	2	2	0	1	10	6	4	18	12	6
Joel Ward	R	11:46	3	1	0	1	10	3	7	17	11	6
Marcel Goc	C	12:57	1	1	1	0	4	6	-2	13	9	4
Martin Erat	R	10:39	0	0	1	0	5	7	-2	11	11	0
Jordin Tootoo	R	11:31	0	2	0	0	4	4	0	13	7	6
Michael Santorelli	C	5:57	1	0	0	0	2	4	-2	4	5	-1
Patric Hornqvist	R	8:51	1	0	0	0	4	6	-2	7	8	-1
Dave Scatchard	C	6:56	0	1	0	0	2	5	-3	5	6	-1
Shea Weber	D	14:28	5	2	1	1	11	10	1	22	20	2
Ryan Suter	D	14:09	0	1	1	3	10	10	0	19	21	-2
Kevin Klein	D	13:50	0	0	2	2	7	6	1	17	13	4
Francis Bouillon	D	13:56	0	0	0	0	6	5	1	14	11	3
Dan Hamhuis	D	15:48	0	1	2	0	9	4	5	20	8	12
Cody Franson	D	11:53	0	1	0	0	7	3	4	12	5	7

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Dan Ellis, 23 saves & 1 assist

22 votes

Dan Hamhuis, 1 goal, 1 assist, +3 in 21:16 TOI

31 votes

David Legwand, 1 goal in 21:14 TOI

12 votes

65 votes | Poll has closed

Nashville Predators assign Alexander Sulzer to Milwaukee

Dirk Hoag — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:23:39 -0000

More photos » by Paul Vernon - AP

2 months ago: Nashville Predators' Alexander Sulzer, left, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Nikita Filatov, of Russia, fight for the puck in the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

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From the Nashville Predators:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has reassigned defenseman Alexander Sulzer (al-ehx-AN-duhr SUHLT-suhr) to Milwaukee (AHL).

Sulzer, 25 (5/30/84), played in five games during a one-month stint with the Predators, posting his first career point/assist on Oct. 22 at Ottawa, while averaging 12:46 of ice time and notching a plus-two rating.

Cody Franson has clearly won the #6 defenseman's spot, and Sulzer hasn't played since November 7th at Los Angeles, so this is likely aimed at getting Sulzer some game action without disrupting the Preds' lineup. With four games in six days coming up (Wednesday at Colorado, then three games at home between Friday and Monday), I wouldn't be surprised to see more moves this week to provide fresh troops.

Alexander Sulzer

#52 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 204

Born: May 30, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Alexander Sulzer	5	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.0

It's time to vote: Nashville Predators MVP, 1st Quarter

Dirk Hoag — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:36:09 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

The Nashville Predators have gotten significant contributions from a number of players so far - but which of them deserves to be named the team MVP for the first quarter of the season?

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The nominations are in, so it's time to vote, Predators fans - who is your team MVP for the 1st Quarter of this 2009-10 season? Follow after the jump for the nominations, then log your vote below...

Francis Bouillon

#51 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-8

Weight: 196

Born: Oct 17, 1975

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Francis Bouillon	21	1	2	3	-8	12	1	0	0	0	25	4.0

HartnellsMop: "without him, our D as a whole is nowhere near what it is now. JP’s play-making is certainly missed when he’s out, but i shutter to think how terrible our blueline would be if Klein and Hammer had to still be paired up."

J.P. Dumont

#71 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 219

Born: Apr 01, 1978

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - J.P. Dumont	14	3	12	15	2	6	0	0	0	0	34	8.8

Gover: "as JP Dumont goes, this team goes. Not only is he the points leader, but when he was out, they looked lost. He may not wear a C or an A on his chest but, more than anyone else, this is HIS team."

Lil cutie: "We are 9-3-1 in games that he has participated in, 8-0-1 when he has scored a point. He has averaged over a point per game; no one else on the team comes close to that scoring rate. There is no way that the goal-starved Predators would be over .500 without his offensive contribution."

KentS: "No doubt he’s the playmaker. Take a look at how hard other teams go after him and try to check him relentlessly."

Hockey Hillbilly: "At the start of a season of surprising performances (Smithson, Bouillon and Hornqvist among them), steady but inventive J.P. Dumont stands tall. Joel Ward embodies Predator grit but Dumont gets the job done."

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Cody Franson	15	2	3	5	3	6	0	0	1	0	28	7.1

Preds On The Glass: "He has steadily laid claim to the 6th D spot to the point that Sulzer is going to receive a charity start from Trotz. Franson’s offense was not questioned in the preseason but his defense was and now he is logging important minutes and not looking out of place in tough situations. I think he is probably here to stay."

Pekka Rinne

#35 / Goalie / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 206

Born: Nov 03, 1982

	GP	MIN	W	L			GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Pekka Rinne	14	780	9	4			31	2.38	361	330	.914	2

Gover: "Rinne has finally provided stability in net and the #’s in his past 8 games are astounding."

Sam Page: "The team has a negative goal differential, and the positive record seems to be the product of Rinne keeping the game close late. He’s clutch."

Jerred Smithson

#25 / Left Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-3

Weight: 204

Born: Feb 04, 1979

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jerred Smithson	21	4	0	4	3	18	0	2	1	0	15	26.7

whatthepuck: "He has scored four goals in 20 games, which already matches his total goals scored for the entire 08-09 season. He’s still great on the penalty kill, especially when paired with Joel Ward. And I honestly think the fact that he’s playing on the second line has given him a huge mental boost, helping his overall game. I have seen no one that compares to him in terms of off-season improvement. He used his summer wisely and is now standing out, at age 30, among a team with many younger players. This speaks volumes to his work ethic and dedication to the team and the sport."

Ryan Suter

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	21	2	8	10	1	14	1	0	0	0	22	9.1

Space Weed Says: "He’s played well, he’s contributed offensively and has worn an A on his jersey during Jason Arnott and Shea Weber’s abscences from the lineup."

Joel Ward

#29 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 220

Born: Dec 02, 1980

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Joel Ward	19	3	6	9	-1	6	2	0	1	0	37	8.1

Poiju: "For being one of the most consistent and motivated players throughout the first quarter."

Shea Weber

#6 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 14, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Shea Weber	19	5	7	12	0	4	3	0	1	0	53	9.4

Sam Page: "plays significantly more ice time than any of the other players above... Webs has played good defense as usual and is tied for the team’s goal lead as a defenseman!"

Poll

Who is the Nashville Predators MVP for the 1st Quarter of the season?

Francis Bouillon

8 votes

J.P. Dumont

20 votes

Cody Franson

1 votes

Pekka Rinne

44 votes

Jerred Smithson

10 votes

Ryan Suter

3 votes

Joel Ward

5 votes

Shea Weber

14 votes

105 votes | Poll has closed

Game 20 Preview: New Jersey Devils @ Nashville Predators - 11/19/2009

John Fischer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:12 -0000

by Matt Slocum - AP

Zach Parise and his shots were well covered by defenders all night against Philadelphia. Can he break free into space in Nashville tonight? (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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The Time: 8 PM EST

The Broadcasting Info: MSG+ for the TV; 660 AM WFAN for the radio

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (14-5-0) @ the Nashville Predators (10-8-1)

The Last Devils Game: The New Jersey Devils went into Philadelphia with 9 straight road wins and 8 straight wins overall and got outplayed by the Flyers. A late consolation goal led to a flattering 3-2 score; but from where I stood, the Devils definitely earned that loss.

The Last Predators Game: The Nashville Predators took on the San Jose Sharks and more than held their own against the Western Conference leaders last night. Their checking line had a big night, Pekka Rinne was solid in net, and they overcame the Sharks 4-3. Dirk Hoag has recapped the game at On the Forecheck, complete with a wonderful table of even strength statistics.

The Goal: Stay calm. The Devils had a long winning streak broken on Monday, getting out played by a Philadelphia team that was able to get to Brodeur's crease with ease and prevent Devils to get right in front of Ray Emery. Perhaps doing better on around the crease in both ends will help. It's what the Devils worked on practice on Tuesday according to Tom Gulitti. But I feel keeping a level head is more crucial. Tonight, they will take on a team who has won 7 of their last 9 and just beat the top team in the West largely due to a power play that has otherwise been miserable. It may be easy to start getting frustrated or play with a little more desperation in an attempt to make a statement or prevent a slump. I feel that could be counter-productive against a team that has to be feeling good and playing well. The Devils have come from behind in so many of their recent wins by not getting frustrated within the game while looking to work harder on the next shift. That was the key to their success and they can get back to doing that Nashville. Only if they stay calm, in my opinion.

Read on for a guess at lines, some further thoughts, and some insight into the Nashville Predators as Dirk Hoag of On the Forecheck answers some question about the team he supports.

The recent big news with respect to the lineup is that the Devils have sent Cory Murphy down to Lowell and have called up Tyler Eckford. The Devils have called up Matthew Corrente earlier this month, so one of the two Devils' top defenseman prospects will be in tonight's game. Corrente has been highly regarded in the Devils' system since being drafted in the first round in 2006, tonight could be his NHL debut to see how he's developed. Eckford has had the hot hands in Lowell, with 2 goals and 7 assists in 3 games last week. Eckford has grown like wildfire since being a seventh round draft pick in 2004, putting up plenty of points in the CCHA before joining Lowell. With Murphy sent down, the Devils can see how Eckford could do in a similar role as an offensive defenseman.

Either way, in the comments to Steve's Murphy-down, Eckford-up post, I explained why I thought Murphy was sent down. Regardless of who gets their first NHL game against Nashville, the Devils' current top four defensemen will have to carry the majority of minutes yet again. Andy Greene, Colin White, Mike Mottau, and Bryce Salvador had unimpressive-at-best games in Philly. If those four can not panic in their own end, not allow Nashville forwards to get behind them, and steady themselves tonight, then it'll go a long way towards a good result for New Jersey.

In any case, here is my guess for the Devils' line up. As usual, expect the forward lines to shift during the game. With respect to who will be in or out, your best bet is to check out Gulitti or Chere later in the day. Again, this is only a guess:

Zach Parise - Travis Zajac - Jamie Langenbrunner
Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus - Niclas Bergfors
Brian Rolston - Tim Sestito - David Clarkson
Matt Halischuk - Rod Pelley - Ilkka Pikkarainen

Andy Greene - Bryce Salvador
Colin White - Mike Mottau
Mark Fraser - Matthew Corrente

Martin Brodeur
Yann Danis

While Eckford was just called up, I'm guessing Corrente will get to make his debut as he's been up with the team already and have been practicing to get himself acclimated to the team. I'm also guessing Jacques Lemaire will mix up his wingers and give Ilkka Pikkarainen a shot since the Devils may not necessarily need a big, fighting (?) dude like Peters tonight.

Anyway, let's look at the Nashville Predators. Do you know much about the Predators other than that they beat the San Jose Sharks last night? Did you know that head coach Barry Trotz aired a beef about the arena clock operator at the Sommet Center after the win (via Puck Daddy)? Do you know who is the highest played player on the Nashville Predators? (Just for fun, guess without looking up CapGeek - I think you'll be amazed at the answer) Well, I had some other questions about how the Predators have been doing and the man to ask about the Predators is Dirk Hoag of On the Forecheck. I was able to ask him five questions about the Predators and tonight's game. Keep in mind the questions came before

Question #1. The big story with Nashville on the surface is their difficulty in scoring goals. Prior to the San Jose game, they have scored only 39 goals in 18 games (2.11 average - second lowest in the league) and their power play is dead last at a 11.6% success rate. Yet, the Predators average 30.8 shots per game, the tenth best average in the league. While it's clear to me the Predators are getting shots on net, what has prevented Nashville from scoring goals so far this season?

DH: There are a few reasons for that discrepancy - the first is obviously a lack of finishers, the guys who can take that extra half-second to pick their spot when shooting. The Preds have only had their top line playing together for 3 games now, and the replacement personnel just don't provide that skill. Also, the team is playing a style that dictates firing the puck on net more often and having supporting forwards crash the net for rebounds, rather than circle around and try to set up a perfect shot. As for the power play, that's been a persistent problem for the last three seasons now, and although they scored twice against San Jose on Tuesday, nobody's breaking out the party balloons quite yet.

Question #2. One team stat that I'm sure you're thrilled with are team's penalties. The Predators average only 9.6 minutes per game and have taken a total of only 158 minutes; leading the league in both categories. Why are the Predators so disciplined this season?

DH: Barry Trotz has mentioned quite often in recent days that staying out of the box has been a major focus with this team. He's emphasized "checking with your feet", in other words, having players keep hustling to stay with a play rather than tail off and have to hook or hold an opponent. The team is still playing tough hockey in terms of initiating contact and following through on body checks, but avoiding penalties is key. One interesting point there is the return of Martin Gelinas to the organization as Director of Player Development; when he played with the Preds in 2007-8, he is credited with mentoring Jordin Tootoo during his most disciplined and productive season, so perhaps he's providing some advice on that front as well.

Question #3. Let's talk goalies. Dan Ellis and Pekka Rinne have been splitting time so far this season, though Rinne has the better numbers so far. Does this mean that Rinne has - or should be - the team's starter; or do you not mind the two goalies splitting time?

DH: I don't mind having both split the duty, although the balance does appear to be tipping in Rinne's favor. Both are solid NHL goaltenders, and since they are in the final year of their contracts, each is motivated to make an impact whenever they get the chance. With the compressed schedule this season, all teams will need reliable depth in goal, and the Preds are set up as well as anybody on that front.

Question #4. Among the Predator players, Shea Weber and Ryan Suter lead the Nashville defense in terms of minutes. While they are certainly impressive players to an outsider like me, who on the Predators should the Devils look out for that hasn't necessarily got the attention (or credit) they deserve?

DH: Up front, the two guys you'll want to watch for are Patric Hornqvist, a second-year Swede who battles around the net like a right-handed Tomas Holmstrom, and Jerred Smithson, a veteran who is usually focused on checking and PK work, but is clicking on a line with Joel Ward and David Legwand. Smitty is a hard worker, and unexpectedly ranks 3rd among Nashville forwards with 4 goals already. On defense, Kevin Klein has grown into a Top 4 role and is playing well after a rocky start, and also look for Cody Franson, a rookie who is getting work on the power play.

Question #5. Lastly, what is your prediction for tonight's game?

DH: I don't usually do predictions, but I really like the way the Preds are playing right now. I'll go with 3-2 Nashville.

Big thanks to Dirk for his responses. As usual, I disagree with his prediction; but he is right that the team is loaded with hard working, under-the-radar players. They got two solid goaltenders; while the Devils may see Dan Ellis tonight since Rinne got the San Jose game, Nashville won't be weaker in net.

That their power play was successful against San Jose is a real interesting note, perhaps the start of something big. With respect to special teams play, that Nashville takes so few penalties is a big plus in their favor; a power play unit that finally just got a spark could really make them more dangerous of an opponent along with being rarely shorthanded. After all, a little confidence can turn a slumping part of a team's game right around - and Nashville's offense has clearly been in a lull this season. The Devils would do well to remember that going into tonight's game. As well as staying calm on the ice will minimize the number man advantages the Predators will have to get confident on their power play and on offense in general.

Thanks for reading. Steve will have the GameThread up later today. As usual, please feel free to use this post comment about tonight's game as well as any new news with either team up until the GameThread begins. If you can, check out the Devils' viewing party at the Black Bear Bar in Hoboken. I unfortunately won't be able to make it, so I'll comment during the game here. Go Devils!

Nashville Predators surprise in 3-1 win over Los Angeles Kings

Dirk Hoag — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:30:18 -0000

More photos » by Gus Ruelas - AP

about 1 month ago: Nashville Predators center David Legwand (11) lines up a shot on Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)

Browse more photos »

Despite missing their top two scorers due to injury, the Nashville Predators pulled out a 3-1 victory on the road in Los Angeles, giving the Kings only their second loss in regulation play on home ice. The Preds were led with a goal and an assist by rookie defenseman Cody Franson, and two assists by Martin Erat, who returned to action after missing 3 games. The assists were the first on the season for Erat.

Since there was no TV coverage, one thing you can do is click the picture above for other shots from today's game.

With no TV coverage of today's game there won't be video highlights, but one that stands out from looking at the NHL GameCenter coverage is that Nashville did a better job of developing dangerous scoring chances; several shots came from close in towards the goal.

Besides the quality of the chances, the Predators also took care of the quantity side of the equation as well - in terms of Total Shots (which includes those which missed the net or were blocked), the Preds put together a nice 59-42 advantage.

Dan Ellis made 27 saves on 28 L.A. shots for the win, which brings the Preds back to .500 at 7-7-1 heading into Tuesday's game at San Jose. Francis Bouillon got the Preds the initial lead with a power play goal in the 2nd period, while Franson and Joel Ward scored in the 3rd at even strength for Nashville.

Your advanced Even Strength statistics will follow tomorrow morning.

Final - 11.7.2009	1	2	3	Total
Nashville Predators	0	1	2	3
Los Angeles Kings	0	0	1	1

Complete Coverage >

Poll

Who is your Predator of the Game?

Cody Franson, 1 goal 1 assist

50 votes

Martin Erat, 2 assists

8 votes

Dan Ellis, 27 saves on 28 shots

63 votes

121 votes | Poll has closed

Grading the Nashville Predators' October: the defense

Dirk Hoag — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:04:32 -0000

More photos » by Frederick Breedon - AP

After a rough start, Nashville Predators defenseman Kevin Klein has registered a +4 rating, a goal and an assist over his past 3 games.

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Yesterday we considered the goaltenders, and now it's time to review how the Nashville Predators' defense corps has performed over the previous month.

It's certainly been a roller-coaster ride at times watching this bunch sort out the most effective pairings, but does the stable play of the last week bode well for the month ahead?

First, let's start off with the numbers from Behind the Net, starting with 5-on-5 data:

NAME	GP	TOI/60	RATING	QUALCOMP	QUALTEAM	PTS/60	GFON/60	GAON/60	+/- per 60
Ryan Suter	13	18.0	+1.91	-0.05	0.43	1.03	2.31	1.79	+0.51
Dan Hamhuis	9	17.8	-2.62	-0.06	-0.25	1.12	1.12	3.75	-2.62
Shea Weber	13	17.6	+1.90	-0.01	0.42	1.05	2.63	2.10	+0.53
Kevin Klein	13	17.0	-1.90	-0.07	-0.34	0.00	0.82	2.72	-1.90
Francis Bouillon	13	16.8	-0.65	-0.05	-0.29	0.00	0.55	1.65	-1.10
Alexander Sulzer	3	12.0	+2.80	0.10	0.74	1.67	3.33	1.67	+1.67
Cody Franson	7	10.7	+1.04	-0.14	0.54	1.61	3.22	2.42	+0.81
Teemu Laakso	7	10.1	-0.81	-0.18	-0.53	0.00	0.85	2.55	-1.70

Now, here's 5-on-4 power play action:

NAME	GP	TOI/60	GOALS/60	ASST/60	GFON/60
Shea Weber	13	3.8	2.44	0	3.66
Ryan Suter	13	3.7	0	1.26	3.77
Cody Franson	7	2.2	0	0	3.85
Francis Bouillon	13	1.4	0	3.32	3.32
Dan Hamhuis	9	1.2	0	0	0
Kevin Klein	13	0.7	0	0	0
Teemu Laakso	7	0.3	0	0	0
Alexander Sulzer	3	0.1	0	0	0

And lastly, 4-on-5 penalty killing:

NAME	GP	TOI/60	GAON/60
Cody Franson	7	0.1	0
Teemu Laakso	7	0.5	0
Francis Bouillon	13	1.5	3.02
Shea Weber	13	1.7	10.71
Ryan Suter	13	1.9	9.97
Dan Hamhuis	9	2.2	12.13
Alexander Sulzer	3	1.5	0
Kevin Klein	13	2.2	10.55

The individual analysis follows...

Francis Bouillon

#51 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 5-8

Weight: 196

Born: Oct 17, 1975

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Francis Bouillon	13	0	1	1	-4	8	0	0	0	0	14	0.0

Considering the fact that Francis Bouillon joined the Predators only during the waning days of training camp, and has had only a few weeks to familiarize himself with his teammates and coaches, his performance has been extraordinary. There's been little time to get comfortable, as injuries have forced the Preds to give him almost 20 minutes a night in a variety of roles. His sole assist so far came as the result of a nice effort on the power play against Chicago on October 29, when he moved down from the point and sent a centering pass to Joel Ward for the score. While it would be nice to see a few more assists by his name, I'm willing to chalk that up to a general lack of team scoring, rather than an individual failing on his part.

The defensive side of his game has been generally excellent so far; in 5-on-5, his Goals Against/60 minutes is the lowest on the team at 1.65. On the penalty kill, Bouillon's ability to jam passing lanes and move opponents has proven very effective. His results in 4-on-5 are best on the team by far.

Francis Bouillon's grade: A-

Cody Franson

#32 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-5

Weight: 214

Born: Aug 08, 1987

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Cody Franson	7	1	1	2	1	4	0	0	0	0	10	10.0

While he failed to make the NHL roster out of training camp, Franson has made the most of the opportunity he was given when called up after Dan Hamhuis was injured. Protected by the coaching staff somewhat (his Quality of Competition is near the lowest among the Preds' blueliners, and he doesn't kill penalties), he's producing positive results, which can provide a nice boost to a team that will rely on contributions from every corner of the roster.

It will be interesting to follow Cody's fortunes in the upcoming road trip as he may play a larger role on the power play due to the absence of Shea Weber. His ability to move the puck, and put quick shots on net through traffic, could prove critical.

Cody Franson's grade: B

Dan Hamhuis

#2 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1982

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Dan Hamhuis	9	0	3	3	-6	10	0	0	0	0	19	0.0

His early-season pairing with Kevin Klein was an unmitigated disaster, as the Goals Against piled up predominantly on their watch (after 6 games, his Plus/Minus stood at -7). He's also been a workhorse on a PK unit that still sits among the league's worst. While things seem to have stabilized since he missed 4 games recently, he has a long ways to go to dig himself out of this hole.

Dan Hamhuis' grade: D+

Kevin Klein

#8 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Dec 13, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Kevin Klein	13	1	1	2	-4	4	0	0	0	0	9	11.1

If I had to pick a main culprit in the early Hamhuis/Klein disasters, it would probably be Klein; lapses in judgment often left Hamhuis the lone man left around the net defending a 2-on-1, and his Plus/Minus also stood at -7 after just six games. Once that pairing was split due to his partners injury, however, things seem to settle down for Kevin; not only have the Goals Against dried up, but the coaching staff has rewarded stronger play with more ice time in a variety of situations.

Much as with Hamhuis, however, better play of late needs to go a long way forward to make up for an awful start. If he's going to become a regular Top Four NHL defenseman, he also needs to provide more offensive punch as well.

Kevin Klein's grade: D

Teemu Laakso

#4 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 209

Born: Aug 27, 1987

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Teemu Laakso	7	0	0	0	-2	2	0	0	0	0	5	0.0

While the results so far at the NHL level haven't been impressive, the fact that Laakso beat out both Franson and Sulzer to earn a roster spot with the Predators straight out of training camp was an impressive feat. At 22 years of age, he's still maturing as a defenseman, and will surely get another chance down the road.

Teemu Laakso's grade: C

Alexander Sulzer

#52 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 204

Born: May 30, 1984

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Alexander Sulzer	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.0

Sulzer is a bit of an enigma; valued enough by the Nashville front office to earn a one-way contract (which they refused to give to guys like Antti Pihlstrom or Cal O'Reilly), but deserving of a demotion to Milwaukee during the early days of the season (especially damning given the salary the Preds had to pay to keep him there). With Weber on the shelf for 1-2 weeks, Sulzer will presumably get back into the mix, and needs to make an impression if he wants to stay there.

Alexander Sulzer's grade: Incomplete

Ryan Suter

#20 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-1

Weight: 194

Born: Jan 21, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ryan Suter	13	2	5	7	2	8	1	0	0	0	17	11.8

Suter appears to be solidifying his place on Team USA's Olympic roster with a fine start, providing steady two-way play in 5-on-5. He could stand to shoot the puck more on the PP, as the Predators need him to assert himself more on the offensive end if they want to develop a 2nd pair which can consistently keep the attack rolling. He does also bear some of the blame for the early PK woes.

Ryan Suter's grade: B

Shea Weber

#6 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 14, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Shea Weber	13	5	4	9	2	4	3	0	1	0	36	13.9

As his partner Suter lines up for Team USA, Weber appears to be making a strong case for wearing Team Canada's colors as well. Tied for the NHL lead in goal scoring among defensemen, Weber's 3 power play goals are as many as the rest of the team has combined. His defensive work remains top-notch as well, as he logs heavy minutes against elite opposition on a nightly basis, and can turn the momentum of a game with one of his thundering hits.

About the only knock against him so far is the lackluster overall special teams play; the Preds' power play is only half as effective in terms of Goals For/60 Minutes as the average NHL unit, and the penalty kill is still

Shea Weber's grade: B+

Poll

Which Predators defenseman has been the most pleasant surprise this season?

Francis Bouillon

71 votes

Cody Franson

24 votes

Ryan Suter

4 votes

Shea Weber

7 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed