I appreciate you, Nashville Predators.

There are lots of things that I love about playoff hockey.

And although I’m a little disappointed with all the nasty play and dirty hits and the lack of respect that some players *coughraffitorres* have shown for their fellow players, there is something about this time of year that makes my heart just fill up with joy and excitement.

I love that I acutally have the opportunity to watch teams that I otherwise never get to see.  Like the Nashville Predators, for instance.

For years, I’ve been indifferent to them.  I didn’t hate them, nor did I love them.  They were just there.  Existing in a Western Conference world that I just never visited.

I respect Barry Trotz and his loyalty immensely.  I give props to the organization being patient and slowly building an organization and a team that can compete with the big dogs of the NHL.  I makes me happy to see that the fans in Nashville have embraced this team and the sport of hockey.

The Preds have made the playoffs 7 out of their 13 years of exsitance and last year, they even won their 1st ever playoffs series, defeating the Anaheim Ducks in the first round.  Also that season, they had 16 regular season sell-outs and 6 sell-outs during the playoffs.

Well played, Music City.

We love hockey almost as much as we love country music!

Well, last night, I had the chance to watch the Preds take on the Wings in game 3 of their series.  Although the Preds are seeded #4 to the Wings’ #5, you know this is going to be a tough series, but I’m really liking the Preds chances in this one.

Pekka Rinne is a freak of nature a la Zdeno Chara and should not be as atlethic and quick as he is.

He is 6’5″!  He’s a goalie! It boggles the mind.

So very tall.

Martin Erat is playing well.  Paul Gaustad and David Legwand are well over 50% in face-off wins.  Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are doing a great job of shutting down Zetterberg, Datsyuk and all the other offensive talent that the Wings have.  They are arguably one of the best defensive pairings in the NHL.  (Chara & Seidenberg are the best.  Sorry, I’m biased)

They have some great young players, especially Gabriel Bourque, who scored this beaut last night.

KNEE DROP. SNIPE.

It also helps that the Predators have two Boston University Terriers on their roster – Brandon Yip and Foxy Friday honoree, Colin Wilson. As a tried and true Terrier, my blood runs scarlet and white and seeing two very talented former college players from my alma mater get the chance to play in the NHL makes me appreciate this team even more.

So for the remainder of their playoff run, I’ll be rooting for the blue and gold, much to Gator’s dismay.  She’s already mad at me because of the Bruins/Caps series and now this one, too.

What can I say?  I’m digging the Predators.

Perhaps I’ll have to invest in NHL Center Ice next year, after all….

No, no. Thank YOU.

WUYS Morning News

Mike Green didn’t make the trip to Winnipeg with the Caps, but he did take his sprained ankle to the Kid Rock show in DC last night.  He wore his only favorite sweater (seriously, he wears this more than Toews wears that suit) and that hat that makes me want to throw snowballs.  Money was raised for Mike’s So Kids Can charity.  Gator is from the D and she wanted to go, but instead we worked, A.K.A. watched Breaking Dawn, ate snacks and yelled back at the screen.  Good times all around.

At least Kid Rock looks excited.

Chicago beat Vancouver (ooh, say it again!) 5-2 with a couple of wacky bouncers.  Kaner, Hossa, Montador and Toews all had 2-point games.  And for anyone who didn’t cringe when we made Patrick Kane a Foxy Friday, he’s got a new One Goal commercial [link].

Brendan starched another shirt and Shanabanned Blues’ Chris Stewart three games for boarding Wings’ Niklas Kronwall.  This one’s ugly.

NHL.com used my favorite phrase as a headline.  Sadly it’s about Ilya Kovalchuk.  I watched this hoping actual pants would fall, but alas there is only a very pretty goal.

The Islanders introduced their third jerseys, which are pretty standard.  They’re worlds better than this yellow mess Nashville adopted, but no amount of fashion changes the fact you are still the Islanders (sorry).

The red-hot Bruins put their 6 game win streak on the line tonight vs. Blue Jackets.  Seguin’s on fire (Chuck loves) and leads the NHL in plus/minus rating with +15.  (Don’t mind EStaal down at the bottom with -18.)  Speaking of bottom of the barrel, Columbus is 3-13-1 with only 7 points on the season.  Now that I’ve said that, they’ll probably win.

Team Jacob

The Penguins are in Tampa Bay tonight and Sid will not play.  Errrrbody calm down (obviously I mean me).  Disco Dan would not comment on Saturday’s game – could Sid return?  I want him back this instant, but am also willing to await a triumphant debut in DC on 12/1 when I’m getting booed for wearing my 87 at Verizon Center.  It would be like a romantic comedy: Sid taking the ice, me dodging flying food, then Pens winning.  I can see it now.

James Neal will of course play tonight, and he’s got a 7-game point streak going (ties longest of his career).  JStaal has three goals in two games.  Stamkos and Neal are tied will 11 goals, and I like to think this means bromance rivalry.

Now boys, don't fight.

Only 8 hours 10 minutes till game time.

Terrier TKO…erm…Not So Much

Awww, look at how cute.

Colin Wilson tried to fight someone.

Heeeyyyy wait a tic…

YOU TRIED TO FIGHT MAX LAPIERRE?

ARE YOU CRAZY!?

NOT THE FACE!  Please sweet lord in heaven, not the face.

RIP: Webeard

RIP, Shea Weber’s beard, aka Webeard.

We’re gonna miss ya, buddy.

*poursoneoutforherhomey*

Battle of the Foxy Fridays...and their facial hair.

Foxy Friday: Pekka Rinne!

nom nom nom ... tasty goalie treat.

So I took my own advice and found a new friend! Not that I’m jumping ship on the Caps – but everyone here knows- I HEART GOALIES! And what’s not to love about this other Finnish snack PEKKA RINNE! I can now have a Miikka Kiprusoff-PekkaRinne sammy with a Cherrie in the middle! And that’s a lotta a goalie!

He can ROCK a suit. A must for a FOXY FRIDAY dude. Check.

I just love saying his name … PEKKA RINNE! say it with me: PEKKA RINNE PEKKA RINNE PEKKA RINNE!

For a long time I had to ask Mr. Cherrie, “Did I just hear them call him pecker?” or “Did they just call him a pecker? Because that’s mean.” and Mr. Cherrie would have to remind me that his nickname is Peks. Not Becks. That is another tasty sports treat.

Intimidation. Check. Luongo. In your head yet? I think so. You can't do this!

So this week’s Foxy Friday is a whopping 6’5″ and 205 lbs. That’s a whole lotta Fin. He was drafted 258th over all. Not a catch initially but a diamond in the rough and what a diamond! He’s SO AWESOME? HOW AWESOME IS HE DAWN? He’s so awesome EVEN HIS STICK CAN MAKE SAVES!

He is up for the Vezina Trophy this year and is leading Nashville to their first Stanley Cup Play -Off!

He's out-doorsy too! Can you club it in the head and cook it too?

So here’s to my new Foxy Friday Friend, PEKKA RINNE and I hope he goes far, but not too far. Just enough. He can win the Vezina and give Luongo a good spanking. That would make Dawn a happy girl.

It’s Alive

Shea Weber’s beard was interviewed before and after the Preds’ 1-0 loss to Vancouver in Game 1.  I cannot express how much I want Nashville to win.  Not only do I hate the Canucks (especially now, PTSD!) but we need more time for this to reach its full potential:

I can’t seem to link to the Preds TV interview, but you can find it on the homepage of NHL.com.  They too are fascinated with the beard.

A beard is an excellent accessory for looking disappointed or frustrated.  It’s got gravitas, right?  Pretty soon it’ll be moving into a bunker in the Canadian wilderness, stocked full of canned goods and ammunition.

If You’re Going To Go There, GO THERE!

This is what you can buy on shop NHL.COM.

boring but ok.

This is what you SHOULD be able to buy at shop NHL.COM if I ran the circus. Just sayin.

thank you, thank you very much.

Beard, Still Here

The Nashville Predators advanced to Round 2… and the beard lives on.  Shea Weber’s beard is the top ranking search term around here every day.  The Foxy Friday alum has also been nominated for the Norris Trophy.  That’s a pretty badass few days.

Chuck Norris eats trophies for breakfast.

They join the Red Wings and Capitals in the waiting room to see who they’ll play next.  Nashville (#5) is the only team so far to upset a higher seed (Ducks were #4).  It’s also worth pointing out that both Chuck and I picked the Preds to win this series, because we’re clearly in charge of everything.

Sorrs, Perr.

I went to a Preds game back in their first season (I am that old) and had a great time.  Brand new arena, almost no one knew what was going on.  It’s great to see Nashville becoming a serious hockey town and getting so behind their team.  Phoenix could only dream of this.  Here’s hoping they face Detroit in the next round, because it means San Jose and Chicago both won.

The Beard.

Is the stanley cup hiding in there?

This week’s beard update. Here’s where it stands. The Sedin’s are disqualified because they always have one and it’s always groomed. Shea Weber started too early but I’ll include him solely because of its sheer awesomeness but he’s out of the running and same goes for George Parros. And believe it or not, there is actually an attractive man under that obnoxious 70’s facial hair and horrible hair cut!

As Mr. Cherrie says, "This is made for riding!"

Other than that, it’s up for grab and if I’ve missed one of your favorites, feel free to send a photo because I’ve spent hours pouring over this week’s play off photos and I very well could have missed some one.

No wonder Detroit keeps winning, the entire team can grow one in a day!

Who knew? Evidently not Boston ...

Mike Green is growing something MAGICAL! HOLY COW!

let's hope more goals come flying out of Patrice's beard ...or somewhere else - SOON!

where on earth did this come from? because one minute is wasn't there and the next - BAM! scooby doo !

no wonder this series is tied 1-1 ... penner and wallin.

does this really surprise any of us? ALL MAN ... ALL THE TIME.

Winner winner chicken dinner! Why is this young lady smiling? Because she took the challenge!

Nasville Gets a Jump on Things

Somebody is starting early.  The Nashville Predators defensemen have a challenge going to see whose playoff beard will turn out best.  Is that premature when you haven’t clinched a playoff spot? Or is it simply pointless because Shea Weber already looks like this?

This photo is a few days old, so it’s even bushier now.  I’m watching the Preds/Wings game and for a second I thought a large homeless man was trying to clear the zone.

And so it begins.  I hope the Preds make it so we can see this thing in action.  It’s kind of going Fu Manchu in the middle there already.