Iron Crotch

Housley was advocated on this board well before that (2015).

Phil's wife is a State Senator in Minnesota. They live apart much of the year right now, so I assume that isn't an issue. But, Miami is much further from Saint Paul than Buffalo.

Seems like it'll be Phil Housley or Rick Tocchet. Personally, I'm tired of the constant stream of Pittsburgh guys. Tocchet was head coach in Tampa for a couple of years and those teams were pretty terrible.

The players down here love Phil Housley. He coaches the defensemen plus special teams. What I like most about the possibility of Housley is two things: (1) no matter whom the Preds plug in on the defensive end they seem to play well - journeymen, rookies, ... it doesn't matter; (2) the Preds play a unique 5-man system that I'd love to see in Buffalo if we can get the defensemen to play it. All defensemen have a green light at all times, with the forwards covering when they attack. To me, the system is what got the Preds to the Cup finals as much as anything. Speed and skill over "heavy" crasher and banger types. That's what I'd love to see in Buffalo. And, I think the fans would love that brand of hockey.

Then we should see water bottles "slipping" onto the ice in all sorts of games... yet somehow we don't. Slipped or not, tossing a bottle onto the ice during the run of play is a penalty.

This is what I look like...

Sid's explanation for the water bottle throw... "it slipped." (seriously)

Some NHL trivia that may not have an obvious answer: Which team invented the outdoor viewing party for Stanley Cup finals (or playoff) games? Pittsburgh fans are trying to say they invented it in 2005. I seem to recall an outdoor viewing party in Buffalo in 1999. And, I'm sure other teams had them before that. Anyone have any idea?

Colin Wilson skated the past several mornings and appears ready to go. But, Laviolette tends to leave the lineup alone if the team is winning (Coach's superstition). It isn't clear whose place he might take in the lineup. But, I think he should be in there personally.

My friend who sits below me at Preds games (I'm front row club level, he is last row of the lower bowl) sold his pair of tickets to both Game 3 and Game 4 for $10,000 ($2,500 per ticket). Honestly though, no amount of money would have been worth missing out on the spectacle and excitement and experience that was Brigestone Arena on Saturday and last night. It's the sort of thing I'll remember for the rest of my life. Words cannot describe the energy and excitement in that building. BTW - met Charles Barkley at a place called Barlines before the game. He was just chilling at the bar. Good dude.

After a goal it is: "Murray.... Murray... Murray... You Suck! ...It's all your fault! ...It's all your fault! ...It's all your fault!" The game atmosphere was like nothing I've ever experienced in my life. I thought there would be around 10,000 outside the arena watching on big screens. There were 50,000! That doesn't include everyone in the arena and watching in the many bars in downtown Nashville. I've never felt as much energy in an arena in any sport ever. http://www.thegamenashville.com/2017/06/04/national-media-gushes-over-nashville/

Thanks. I've never been to a Cup final before so I figure, win or lose, it'll be a life experience. A win will turn downtown Nashville into a massive drunken party. The arena will be full, but there will be another 10,000 or so watching outside on three big screens. Plus 50+ bars right outside the arena and I expect many of those to be full as well. Should be fun... as long as Pekka Rinne finds his game.

Yep. Impossible to get tickets down here. I'm going to the game, but I'd probably get $4000-$5000 if I sold my pair of tickets (some of the best in the house). Tempting... My friend who works for the Preds said the owners all wanted extra tickets to the finals games, which left pretty much no tickets available to the general public. This guy flew up to Pittsburgh for Game 1 and found 4 seats in the lower level for less than $200 each. Total different atmospheres in the two cities. Pens fans are so used to winning that the finals are no big deal any more. In Nashville, the whole city has gone hockey mad. I've never seen anything quite like it. Downtown will be absolutely crazy tonight - especially if the Preds win. I'll be too drunk to do so tonight, but I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow.

Pekka is too "hot" and "cold" and IMHO has been since Mitch Korn left as his goalie coach. One game he stops everything with spectacular save and spectacular save. The next he doesn't cover his short side post (goal #1 last night) and has no rebound control (last two games). If he is going to keep spraying rebounds into the crease, the Preds have no chance. Frustrating. Maybe he just can't handle the pressure well? BTW - the Preds have no power play without Ryan Johansen... he is the guy that makes it work.

Mattias Ekholm at $3.75 million through 2022 is an absolute steal. The Josi contract is close, but is only through 2020. The Preds best all-around defenseman is probably Ryan Ellis and he is only at $2.5 million through 2019. ...compare that to shitbags like Zach Bogosian making $5.14 million through 2020 and Josh Gorges with another year at $3.9 million and it isn't hard to see why the Sabres suck. Money isn't well spent for the most part.

Malkin nailed it in his post-game interview on NHL network... Rinne was sitting too deep in his net and wasn't coming out to take away the angles. Pekka is either "on" or "off"... when he is "off" he is really off.

I've been a Preds season ticket holder for the past 8 seasons and I really think top-to-bottom the Preds are the more talented team. That said, you can take the boy out of Buffalo, but you can't take the Buffalo out of the boy. I fully expect the Preds to lose this series. I'm just trained to think that way. :(

A bit of sour grapes I'm sure, but the Pens interference game is world class.

I'm used to it. :-) ...that said, this Nashville team just has "it." They win if Pekka stops more than 50% and the Pens don't get that full 5-on-3. Pekka tends not to be good when he doesn't face many shots. Like he can't stay in the game without being peppered.

Aw . Welp. It was a nice comeback to tie it up.

The Pens have 4 even-strength shots through 40 minutes. ...yet, none of that matters if you have the lead.

The Preds got a lot better once the catfish hit the ice. :P

I really wish Johansen wasn't hurt. Joey, Arvi, and Forsberg was the best line in hockey prior to the injury.

The Preds have dominated second period's all year. Not sure why, but I think the long change favors teams with really good, mobile defensemen (?). To me, that flukey own-goal by Ekholm is the killer. Otherwise, we'd be at 2-1 with the Preds knocking on the door.

Preds goal disallowed. Then the Pens were given a full 2-minute 2-man advantage on a phantom first call (Horny simply slipped and fell down). Then Syd blatantly interferes on the 5-on-3, not called because he is Bettman's love child, then Pens first goal ...then total momentum shift. Some bad luck on that late goal.