Okay… that’s not entirely true.

While it is true that a parent did rip down the sign on Tuesday night, and it is true that Wingate Media did rush us a new sign, the plan was already in place a couple weeks before tonight. The sign being ripped down was pure coincedence.

Albiet a perfectly timed one.

For those who can’t be at the game tonight, here’s the new sign, courtesy of Wingate Media, that now hangs high above the Cell Block.

We should note here that, for those inside Bridgestone Arena, the sign WILL be hung higher going forward. Since we got the sign in so close to game time, we were forced to use the old sign’s placement hooks. So yes, it will be higher (and streched out) in the future.

Thank you for all the encourging comments and support on this project by the way. Sometimes, when you retire something that’s been a staple for so long, it’s hard to let it go. Luckily, we don’t have to! The “retired” sign will be at 303 events in the future.

I would like to take time to congratulate the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup finally after 49 year old drought. I can’t help but wonder what if the Predators had beaten the Blackhawks how far could we have gone? It is a question that can never be answered.

From my perch in 303, I have watched many good players come and go on the Predators because of the team’s budget low. I would like to focus on one player that was traded away to due to salary issues: Kimmo Timonen #44! There has been heavy debate among the loyal season ticket holders of section 303 whether we would be better off if the Predators had kept our one time captain.

I do not deny that Kimmo was a good player for the Predators and is for the Flyers. The Fin is also an Olympian and a NHL All Star; furthermore, the Flyer has stayed virtually healthy his entire career, which is hard for any hockey player to do. Since leaving the Predators he has totaled 44 points (8g 36a) in 07/08, 43 points (3g 40a) in 08/09, and 39 points (6g 33a) this year. If still among the Predators defensive crew he would have finished first in points in 07/08, third in points in 08/09 and second in points this year. The Predators do need help scoring in the regular season. There is no denying that. And even more help on the power play!

Timonen has made the playoffs 6 straight years, three at his previous games in Nashville and three in his current city. Philadelphia went from dead last the year before he got there in 06/07 to fourth place in the East his very first year 07/08. He has definitely improved the play of the Flyers. Over his career, since he became a full time player in 00/01 season, he has averaged a very respectable 42 points per season for a D-liner. That averages to be the 18th best defensive scorer over those ten years. Getting to be as high as 11th best blue line scorer in the league in 06/07 for the Predators!

However, let’s take a look at his stats in the playoffs. During the six seasons, that he has made the playoffs, he averages .53 points per game. During the playoffs that number dips by 22% to .41 points per game. So what does that mean in real numbers? It means that during the season he scores a point usually every other game and in the playoffs he tallies a point in every third game. Not too much of a difference on the surface, except since series is only a maximum of seven games is huge. That one point difference per seven games can tip the balance a series win or loss.

I remember cringing watching Kimmo on the power play during the playoffs. He routinely let pucks slip under his stick while on the blue line during the power play. I remember counting as many as seven pucks slipping past him during one game. I have never played ice hockey and I do realize every one has lapses from time to time. But his lapses seem to keep him from morphing from a very good player into an elite player.

As I continued to watch the playoffs after the Predators were eliminated I continue to cheer for former players who were once on our team. Like watching Ryan Parent, Scottie Too Hottie Hartnell, and Timonen play on. I kept a close eye on Hartnell, and his hair, and Kimmo. As the playoffs wore on, Hartnell seemed to get stronger as a player. Starting off he had one point in the first series by the time of Cup Finals he had nine points (5g 4a). Timonen started off with a strong 3 power play points in the first round! However, he seemed to have peaked against the Devils, adding just one more power play point against both the Bruins and Leafs but none against the Hawks.

While the playoff wore on the old captain seemed spend less and less time on Phllies’ power play. In his 22nd playoff game, Game 6, Timonen scored a beautiful goal and got an assist. It was the first time he has notched a goal in a game during the entire chase for the Cup. It also marks the first time he had tallied two points in a game during all of the playoffs, but his scoring in Game 6 ended up not really amounting to anything in a 7-4 blown out loss. It seemed like whenever the Flyers needed a score their, second in points, defenseman just was not there for them or just was not even on the ice.

Oh by the way, the former captain finally got his first series win on home ice this year after beginning his playoff career at 0-5. Ole number 44 is 1 of 7 in series finally clinchers on home ice. True to form Chicago hoisted the cup, for the first time in 49 years, in Philadelphia this year on his home ice!

So do the Predators really miss our old captain #44 Kimmo Timonen?

We’ve got you covered… well, sort of.

Here’s how you can win tickets to the game:

Become a fan of Cellblock 303 on Facebook; and Submit a caption of the photo below.

Submit Your Caption - Credit: Paul Nicholson

“Then Legwand, certain nobody else could hear him, began whistling the entire High School Musical soundtrack thru his tooth-hole.”
Darrin Wright, you’re our winner.

Rules (of sorts):

- Entries must be submitted by 11:59PM on Thursday, April 8th, 2010.
- Winner to be announced by 5:00PM on Friday, April 9th.  That way we have time to drop off your tickets to Will Call at the Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.
- If you know that you’re unable to use the tickets, but are chosen as a winner, notify us ASAP so we may move on to the 2nd best entry.
- “Tickets” is defined as two upper-bowl seats for the season finale only.  no rain checks, no exceptions.

Many thanks are in order (…what?  We didn’t do it for thanksgiving…)

• Garrett Bartley and Paul Nicholson
• Julie Moore and the team at Dolphini
• Mitch Canter and Studio Nashvegas
• Kent Harris and Darrin Wright
• Lynn Gover and Brooke Holland
• Mark Hollingsworth and the rest of Cellblock 303
• The Nashville blog community (Felder, Buddy, Mark, etc)
• The Nashville tweetup crew (PredFans)
• Taylor Swift, ESPN, and Yahoo! Sports
• The Nashville Predators Front Office Staff (Perez, Darling, Gray, etc)
• and so many many more….

It’s been a fun road getting the Section303.com site back up and running.. some bumps along the way, but we’re glad to be here bringing you our take on all things Nashville Predators hockey.

So from the Holland’s.. the Gover’s.. and all others in Cellblock 303.  Merry Christmas to all, and THE RED WINGS SUCK!

Aaron Portzline from the Columbus Dispatch talks with us about:
-The recent success of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and starting down their first playoff appearance
-Ken Hitchcock’s influence on the new identity of the Blue Jackets
-Steve Mason, why he should be considered for the Calder, and where the team would be without him
-How far can the Blue Jackets go in the playoffs?

Brandon Felder from HockeyBuzz.com and 560 WNSR talks to us about:
-April Fool’s Day, and his post on Ellis moving to forward
-Cal O’Reilly’s immediate impact in Nashville
-Patric Hornqvist’s disappointment in Nashville
-Pekka Rinne, why he should be considered for the Calder, and where the Predators would be without him
-How far can the Predators go in the playoffs (if they make it)?

Don’t forget, the podcast is available on iTunes!  Subscribe to automatically get new episodes!

CREDITS:
Music: Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes), Salute Your Salution (The Racontuers), Southern Hopitality (Ludacris), Hoo Bangin’ (Westside Connection), Player’s Holiday (T.W.D.Y.), What Would You Say (Dave Matthews Band) and 1-2-3-4, Sumpin’ New (Coolio)
Staff: Darrin Wright (producer), Kent Harris (voice over)

Walking in, on a three-game win streak, playing as well as we have, I had doubts.  As always, reality sets in when a machine like Detroit rolls into the Sommet.  Memories of Detroit’s power play breakdown of Dan Ellis, their ability to move the puck, the list of hall-of-famers they have… is something to stand in awe of.

Noting that, I sit in Section 303, The Cell Block.  And come game time, nobody comes into our house and pushes us around.

This was waiting for the Cell Block as they arrived last night.

Flyer for Cell Block 303 before Red Wings

If you can’t read the newspaper article in the picture, don’t worry, it’s here.

I felt a buzz in the arena that usually accompanies playoff time, the buzz that something was going to happen, someone was going to break loose.

And here’s what follows:

The Predators scored five goals in a 6:00 span of the first period to break open the game, including the first two goals 29-seconds apart.

Nashville’s five goal first period…
…represented the team’s highest scoring period of the season and the highest scoring period since a five goal burst at Chicago on Jan. 5, 2007.
…tied the second-highest scoring period in team history (record is six goals in a period set Dec. 17, 2005 in the second period vs. Columbus)

Nashville’s eight goal outburst…
…marked the team’s highest scoring game of the season.
…is the most goals the Preds have ever scored in a shutout win, besting the 7-0 shutout last season vs. Los Angeles.
…led to the largest margin of victory in team history. The previous mark had been a seven-goal margin set twice before.
…is the third-highest scoring out-put in team history behind a pair of nine goal games.
…is the most goals scored by either team in the Nashville/Detroit rivalry. Each team had put up six goals in a game multiple times before.

–Courtesy of Jay Levin, NashvillePredators.com

Wow.

Arnott – Hat Trick.
Pekka – 30 save shutout.
Shea Weber – Gordie Howe Hat Trick (Goal, Assist, 5 min. fighting major)
Dumont and Sullivan – each with 3 assists.
Ward and Koistenen – Goal and Assist.
Legwand and Philstrom – One goal each
Also, a special shout out to Cal O’Reilly with a point in his first NHL game!

Your Nashville Predators defeat the Detroit Red Wings 8-0.
From my empty Frosty cup to yours, good night.