Ready??? Break!

Posted 9:31 AM ET | Comments 9

At the end of last nights game you could almost feel a collective sigh from the team. The All Star Break is here and the Preds can use a break. After playing four game in six nights (including the brutal trip to Denver) the team gets a much needed break. A time to recharge. Time to heal. Time to take a look in the mirror.

Last nights 4-3 OT loss was frustrating because the Preds, at least in the second and third periods, really outplayed the Coyotes. They were swarming and throwing pucks at the net but could not get that key fourth goal past Bryzgalov (who played great last night by the way. I mentioned this yesterday but last night confirmed it...The Yote's got the steal of the year in claiming Brzgalov off waivers. It was a smart move to ink him to the three year deal once they did. This guys is a stud!).

Some things I liked about last nights game:

Our intensity in the second and third.

Radulovs feisty play all night (was voted 2nd star of the game by attending media)

Another solid effort by Chris Mason.

The Refs just letting them play...only 5 penalties called all night and I saw several that in other games would have been called but ticky-tac.

Finished Strong: The Preds pushed hard and really finished strong heading into the all start break. They picked up 7 of a possible 8 points against the team immediately around them in the playoff race and that was huge. Yes two points last night would have put them into a tie for 8th with the Av's but I feel like this team has really turned it around.

Looking Like Buyers: The Preds are looking like buyers heading down the stretch. I think the ownership feels like they need to make a Forsberg like splash to help nudge ticket sales. If the Preds come out of the break as hot as they went in I look for a move to be made before the deadline.

Filed Under: predators predjoe coyotes forsberg Radulov Brzgalov all star

im4preds

January 25, 2008 10:27 AM ET | Delete
That second Yotes goal was such a fluke. Mase acted as if he never saw the puck. Marty's bankin off Brz's skate is probably payback for that one. Anyway, 7 out of a possible 8 is not chopped liver. I agree that we took it to them in 2 and 3. Puck was acting weird all night. Crispy said he was going to do a breath-o-lizer on them as they must be drunk. Glad to see Arnie come back TWICE after tweaks to his leg(s). Rads was very effective. I have noticed he seems to run a longer shift than Arnie or DuMont. I wonder if that is his decision or Barry's.Anyway, looking for big things over the next 27 games so we can get back into playoff position. How many points will it take to get in this year? I am guessing somewhere around 90

predjoe

January 25, 2008 11:54 AM ET | Delete
We have played 50 of 82 games leaving 22 games to be played. We sit at 55 points right now. Going back to 2000-2001 the lowest point total to get a playoff spot in the west was 91 points in 03-04 (that was Nashville btw when they got in as the eight seed). Last year was the highest with Calgary needing 96 to get in. If you average all of them you get 93.6...let's call it 94. For the Preds to get to 94 they would need 39 points out of a possible 44. Wow...my guess is that the point totals are much less this year. I guess that speaks to the unbelievable parity we have in the west right now.

OneTimer

January 25, 2008 11:56 AM ET | Delete
82 - 50 is not 22. It's 32. That makes things better, eh?

im4preds

January 25, 2008 12:42 PM ET | Delete
correctomundo onetimer. we are averaging 1.10 points per game. if we finish at that same rate we will be sitting @ 90.2 points. So we need to pick up the average a bit i think.Joe i agree with you on the parity. We still have 5 games with the Dread Wings for what that is worth.

OneTimer

January 25, 2008 1:19 PM ET | Delete
We have a lot of home February games. We need to not dilly around with those games.

predjoe

January 25, 2008 1:50 PM ET | Delete
Good grief OneTimer! I was wondering how the crap we were gonna get to 90 points! Hah...such an idiot. Staying up to watch the game and getting up at 4:45 to workout apparently caught up with me. Yes...32 games makes it MUCH better. win two out three and we are in for sure.

OneTimer

January 25, 2008 2:00 PM ET | Delete
If we win 2 out of 3, with this team, we DESERVE to get in.

predjoe

January 25, 2008 3:04 PM ET | Delete
Hey - take a look at our IR right now. With the exception of Hordy those are game changing players...and even Hordy can change the emotion of the game by beating the brains of some poor soul. I feel good about where we are and our chances.

arwilson529

January 25, 2008 3:55 PM ET | Delete
Originally I thought a smidge more than 90 would be required to get in - but Joe you're right. Parity will make the points far far harder to come by and lower the bar some. So I have no clue how many it'll take, hehe. I think when Tootoo, Bonk, and Leggy get well we will scream out of the gate and do well come Feb.

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