Predators Going Into the All-Star Break…

Sat, Jan 2 – Predators @ Hurricanes – W 2 – 1 OT
Tues, Jan 5 – Predators vs Jets – W 4 – 1
Fri, Jan 8 – Predators @ Avalanche – L 3 – 5
Sat, Jan 9 – Predators @ Coyotes – L 0 – 4
Tue, Jan 12 – Predators @ Blackhawks – L 2 – 3
Thu, Jan 14 – Predators @ Jets – L 4 – 5
Sat, Jan 16 – Predators vs Wild – W 0 – 3
Tue, Jan 19 – Predators vs Blackhawks – L 4 – 1
Thu, Jan 21 – Predators @ Jets – W 4 – 1
Sat, Jan 23 – Predators @ Oilers – W 4 – 1
Tue, Jan 26 – Predators @ Canucks – W 2 – 1
Wed, Jan 27 – Predators @ Flames – W 2 – 1

The Nashville Predators are hosting this weekend’s NHL All Star Game (check back to the site, Facebook & Twitter for updates during the weekend) and looking at their January, it might be the worst time to do so. After losing 5 straight in the first half of the month and many people (himself included) questioning why goalie Pekka Rinne was even voted as an All Star over others, the second half of the month found them winning their last 4 games going into the break.

Either Western Canada trips are great luck for the Predators or whatever was ailing the team has worked itself out. In 10 games for the Predators, Ryan Johansen has 3 goals, 7 assists and 10 points.   The recall from the Milwaukee Admirals of Kevin Fiala and Cody Bass is working out okay.  Fiala scored on his first shift against Winnipeg on January 14th.  It’s been his best game so far (17:48 TOI, 23 shifts and 5 shots), but he’s still averaging at least 11 minutes on ice until the Calgary game when he was only on the ice for 6:42.  In the second game against Winnipeg, Bass had a fight and the iconic photo of him helping up his opponent, Mark Stuart, made its way around #PredsTwitter:

Cody Bass helping Mark Stuart up during their first-period fight. pic.twitter.com/pnieAsAmM3

— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) January 22, 2016

Wednesday night’s game against the Flames is getting a lot of press over Calgary’s Dennis Wideman cross checking a linesman from behind, however, in a game that also saw penalties for: face-off violations (Jarnkrok), hand on puck (Neal), Sean Monahan (!!!) hi-sticking (!) Filip Forsberg, and too many men, my personal favorite is one that did not get called.  Goalie Karri Ramo accidentally knocked Ryan Johansen and himself down:

And to conclude the 2nd period of the game that probably can’t get any weirder.. pic.twitter.com/IN3QM9fxCU

— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) January 28, 2016