Smashville Scope: April 13

The Smashville Scope presented by JOCKEY prepares fans for the week ahead with news, videos and clips from the past week, plus, game and event info for the next seven days. Use promo code "GOAL" to save 25% on your next JOCKEY purchase.
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He's a legend in every sense of the word, and this weekend in Smashville, he'll receive the farewell celebration he so rightly deserves.
Terry Crisp, a Stanley Cup champion as a player and coach - and then a Nashville Predators broadcaster since the start of the franchise in 1998 - is turning in his microphone at the conclusion of the season after almost a quarter of a century with the Preds.
A man who has worked to grow hockey in Tennessee as much as anyone else, Crisp helps to epitomize what Smashville is all about - and you'll want to find time to take it all in.

On Saturday, Bally Sports South will air a 30-minute Frozen Moments with Terry Crisp program at 10:30 a.m. CT ahead of the 11:30 a.m. puck drop for the Preds against the Chicago Blackhawks. Then, Crisp will join his longtime broadcast partner, Voice of the Predators Pete Weber, on ESPN 102.5 The Game to call the action between the Preds and the Hawks.
Then, on Easter Sunday, the Predators will celebrate Crisp during their game against the St. Louis Blues at 5 p.m. CT. Crisp will participate in a ceremonial puck drop at Bridgestone Arena, and he'll be honored during the first intermission on the Ford Band Stage. Plus, he'll join Weber on the Bally Sports South TV broadcast as the duo teams up one last time.
That's about as good as it gets for Crisp and Predators fans looking for a dose of nostalgia, and as the weekend plays out, the memories are sure to flow - even though he wasn't initially interested in a bunch of hoopla.
"When we first started planning all this, it was embarrassing," Crisp laughed. "I'm just retiring. I'm not going away forever or whatnot. But the greatest part is that I get to say goodbye to the fans for 23 years. It's been a wonderful run. [My wife] Sheila and I said we never expected to be here. When we first came to do one game [in 1998], then we signed a contract for three years and didn't want to buy a house because we were leaving, and now 24 years later, we're still here and loving it. But you seem to know when it's your time, and we've had a great run… We couldn't pick a better time and a better city to do it in or better people in the organization. We're going to stay here, so we have a ready-made family here already for us, and we're not in a hurry to leave the city."

Yes, the Crisps will still be around, but they might be spending some more time with the grandkids instead, and who could blame them? After a life dedicated to hockey as a player, coach and broadcaster, they've lived all over North America, but just like so many others, they've realized Nashville is a special place.
Support from Predators fans is at the top of that benefits list, and while Crisp will never be able to fully reciprocate the love they've given him over the past two-and-a-half decades, he's sure willing to try.
"I want to tell the fans that it was great," Crisp said. "My greatest joy now is sitting in the concourse and watching three generations that Pete Weber and all of us raised in the game. We've got the grandfather coming with the father and now the kids, and that's our bloodline, and it's the greatest thing. And I want the fans to know this - that the memories that Shelia and I have had here for 23 years… They'll stay with you forever, and we're going to carry all these memories around, Sheila and I."

Preds Up for Challenge, No Matter the Opponent:

Just 10 games were left on the regular-season schedule for the Nashville Predators as they welcomed the San Jose Sharks to Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday night - one of just three clubs the Preds will face the rest of the season not slated to make the playoffs.
The itinerary is certainly difficult, to say the least, but oftentimes at this juncture of the campaign, a team like San Jose presents just as great of a challenge as those squads near the top of the standings. Although they won't be playing past the end of April, teams out of a playoff spot often play some of their best hockey late in the season.
Sure, they're not preparing for another two-month run, but other factors - such as teams giving young players eager to make an impression a chance to dress, or the lack of pressure to clinch a spot that allows teams to simply go out and just play - can cause issues for those with greater expectations.
Things couldn't be much tighter for the Predators right now in the Western Conference Wild Card race. The odds to make the playoffs remain in their favor, but nothing is guaranteed in hockey.
On the outside, Tuesday's game requiring overtime without a single goal scored through 60 minutes may have seemed like a preposterous spot to even be in - but in a contest like that, the Predators didn't have any choice but to keep pressing with the hope that a single shot would eventually be the one.

Ultimately, a deflection off of a San Jose defender ended the night in Nashville's favor. That's just the way things go sometimes, and at the end of the night, it sure felt like the Preds deserved two points.
They got them, and that's exactly the kind of game the Predators need to be able to win at this time of the year.
"The NHL is the toughest League in the world for a reason," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said. "It's the best League in the world. It's the hardest League in the world. NHL coaches, NHL players - guys have pride, and people are always playing for something, particularly this time of year. I think when certain teams understand that they're out of the playoffs, but they make some lineup changes - maybe there's trades, they have key veterans, they have a coaching staff that's all in trying to win every night with how they prepare and motivate the team - so, there's certainly no easy nights. Particularly this time of year they're all hard, as we've seen coming down the stretch here.
"The big thing for me is that I really liked our team's mental preparation tonight. When you look at the start of the game, the commitment level that we played with and without the puck, we iced the game that should give you a chance to win night in and night out regardless of the opponent. And I think we've learned some lessons in the past that maybe we haven't iced the game that gives us the best chance to win regardless of who we play. I thought tonight we did that, and it was a hard-fought battle. And we knew coming in that the last time we played San Jose it was a little bit of a blowout, so they were going to come in more committed with some different players in the lineup. But I just really compliment our guys tonight on being ready for the game and willing to accept the challenge as the game continued to unfold and what that challenge presented."

Preds Foundation Highlights Dogs Available for Adoption:

Ryan Johansen did it for Weebles on Tuesday night.
The Predators centerman was credited with the overtime winner against San Jose at Bridgestone Arena, but hours earlier, he was walking in with his new friend, Weebles, a two-year-old mixed breed available for adoption.
In partnership with Pedigree and Mars Petcare, Preds players showed off adoptable pups from the Nashville Humane Association and Metro Animal Care and Control on their way into Bridgestone Arena ahead of Tuesday's game - and now, they can be yours.
Check out some of the photos below and find your new best friend.

Milwaukee Admirals Update:

The Ads have won three of their last four as their own playoff push continues including a 7-2 victory over Manitoba on Friday and a 4-1 triumph against Cleveland on Saturday.
Cole Schneider tallied twice in that win over Cleveland, while Cole Smith and Jimmy Huntington also found the back of the net. Cody Glass potted two the night before, and newcomer Brayden Burke added three assists in the 7-2 win.
Glass continues to lead the Admirals with 46 assists and 60 points, followed by Schneider with 27 goals and 56 points. Smith has 18 goals and 38 points for the Ads, and goaltender Connor Ingram has 28 wins and five shutouts in net. Milwaukee has just six games to play in the regular season, and they remain third in the AHL's Central Division with 80 points.

Goal of the Week:

Assist of the Week:

Save of the Week:

Predators Official Podcast:

The month of April continues, and the Preds are back in the win column. Ryan Johansen's hat trick and Roman Josi's newest franchise record lead Nashville to four more points as they make their push to the playoffs. Preds defenseman Mark Borowiecki joins the show to discuss his return to Ottawa and becoming a father for the second time. Plus, Max Herz joins Brooks Bratten for an update on the Milwaukee Admirals and to answer the week's Twitter questions.

Upcoming Bridgestone Arena Events:

In addition to Predators hockey, there are plenty of other exciting events coming to Bridgestone Arena. Make plans to attend your next concert or show today.
Coming Soon:
April 15: Chris Tomlin, Good Friday Nashville.
Click here for tickets
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April 22: Bill Burr (Slight Return).
Click here for tickets
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April 27: Journey w/ Special Guest TOTO.
Click here for tickets
.

Week In Review:

Predators Sign Adam Wilsby to Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract
Johansen, Saros Lead Preds to Overtime Triumph Against Sharks
Preds Foundation, SmileDirectClub Award SuperGrant to Oasis Center
Borowiecki Talks Meatloaf, Pride, Fatherhood, Love for Ottawa, Nashville
Preds Conclude Weekend Set with Improved Play in OT Loss to Penguins
Preds Start Weekend Set with Loss to Panthers
Lauzon Acclimating to Nashville, Making Difference for Preds
Bridgestone Arena Ranks Among World Leaders in First-Quarter Reports
Preds Foundation SuperGrant Makes Notable Impact for Bridges DVC
Josi Sets Another Franchise Record, Leads Preds Over Senators in Ottawa
Johansen's First Hat Trick Leads Preds Past Wild