Smashville Scope: February 2

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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Perhaps the notifications on Mathieu Olivier's mobile device are back down to their normal pace by now - or maybe not.
As of Monday afternoon, the Predators winger was still trying to keep up and acknowledge all of the calls, text messages, social media posts and the like he received after scoring his first NHL goal on Saturday night in Tampa Bay.

"I want to say something like over 60 texts? I don't know, I stopped counting," Olivier laughed. "I'm just trying to get to people as fast as I can, but people are awesome about it. It's great to see the continued support and people following along and everything. It's definitely rewarding and also motivating for the next games."
Never drafted, the 23-year-old winger made an impression while attending Predators Rookie Camp in 2018 with his physicality and willingness to do just about anything to help his team win. He earned his entry-level deal with the Preds in 2019 after succeeding with Milwaukee of the AHL, and after making his NHL debut last season, Olivier has continued to play his way into the lineup in 2021.
Of course, tallying for the first time will certainly help to keep him there as well.

"You score your goal and it's a dream come true," Olivier said. "As a kid, you think about it all the time, and now in this day and age, you get off the ice and your phone is just completely exploding. So, then you're handling that for a few days…but it's definitely been special."
"He plays the game really hard…and he's fast, he's physical, he keeps plays alive…and he's got the ability to be able to score because he uses his skillset the right way," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said of Olivier. "He's consistently competitive, and he's a guy that's got good skills, hard on the puck and he's got a good mind for the game. That combination, that consistency with him so far this year has been good."
Although the province of Quebec is home, Olivier also holds a unique distinction as being the first NHL player from the state of Mississippi. He was born in Biloxi in February of 1997, while his father, Simon, was playing for the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL. Now, he's also the first Mississippian to score an NHL goal.

Olivier seems to have found a spot in Nashville's lineup, and while he acknowledges his professional hockey journey is still just beginning, putting the puck in the net with an NHL club is something he'll never forget.
"I just wanted to get noticed," Olivier said of that trip to Preds Development Camp in 2018. "I wasn't like a high-end prospect, and coming in, I had certain strengths that aren't really necessarily looked at when you're trying to recruit players. I figured if I can be the best, or one of the best at what I do, it could get me noticed and possibly [earn a spot] in that role. And it was just a matter of clawing away year after year, just getting better and better and putting the work in, and I think I've accomplished that so far. There's still a lot of work to do, but it's definitely been a ride that not a lot of people saw coming. But I've always believed in it, and I always knew that my style could complement someone somewhere and it's paying off right now."

Preds Announce Reverse Retro Jersey Schedule, Reveal Navy Helmets:

Nashville's newest look will debut on ice in less than a week's time.
The Predators revealed six dates when they'll wear their Reverse Retro adidas jerseys this season, and on Monday, the team added navy helmets to the look, featuring a helmet entitlement deal with their official healthcare provider, Vanderbilt Health.
Through the helmet entitlement, which stems from the existing partnership agreement between the two organizations, the Predators will honor the tireless work being done by Vanderbilt Health to keep Middle Tennessee safe and healthy.

"Throughout the entire coronavirus pandemic, Vanderbilt Health has remained deeply committed to protecting the health and safety of our entire community," Nashville Predators EVP & CRO Chris Junghans said. "With the 2020-21 hockey season now underway, we owe a great deal of thanks to their expertise and guidance, which have allowed us to implement the extensive protocols that will keep our players and fans safe. We hope that every time the staff of Vanderbilt Health see their logo on the ice, it provides a greatly deserved morale boost and reminds them that all of Smashville is standing with them."

During each of the six Reverse Retro games scheduled for the 2020-21 season - the first of which will take place next Monday, Feb. 8 - the Predators will not only feature the logo of Vanderbilt Health on their helmets, but also highlight a different aspect of the work being done by the team's dedicated partner.
Stay tuned to NashvillePredators.com in the coming days for more on how the team's Reverse Retro jersey came to life, and check out NashvilleLockerRoom.com to purchase your jersey today.
Nashville's Reverse Retro uniform schedule is as follows:

Preds Award Postgame Hat Honoring Nashville Police:

The hat awarded to the Predators player judged to be an unsung hero of sorts following every win this season means more than most caps, and last week, we got our first look inside the Nashville locker room as the honor was handed out once more.
As Predators Head Coach John Hynes explained earlier in the season, the Preds will hand out a Metro Nashville Police Department hat - stitched with the names of the "Nashville 6" who risked their lives to save others just prior to the Christmas bombing in Nashville - to a player judged to have made an impactful contribution to that particular win that may have gone unnoticed.
Read more about the meaningful postgame award here
, and take a look behind the scenes as Mikael Granlund passes the hat to Nick Cousins following a recent win over Chicago.

Sign Up for Preds Blood Drive with the American Red Cross:

Preds fans already helped to save more than 10,000 lives in 2020, and you can raise that number in 2021.
The Nashville Predators are teaming up with the American Red Cross again to host blood drives all over the region from Feb. 22 to 26. All presenting donors will receive a Preds and Red Cross branded foam puck and be entered to win a Preds and Red Cross branded puck signed by a current Preds player.

To make an appointment visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code Preds19, and
click here to learn more about the partnership
.

Dr Pepper Mic'd Up:

A pair of Swedes - Filip Forsberg and Mattias Ekholm - have recently worn a microphone during Predators home games, and the results do not disappoint.
From serious to hilarious, enjoy the sounds of the game from Nos. 9 and 14 in these Mic'd Up sessions, presented by Dr Pepper.

Goal of the Week:

Quote of the Week:

Mathieu Olivier on the best part of playing in the NHL:
"Just playing. It's playing in the best League in the world and measuring yourself against the best players in the world. To see where I came from and where I'm at now and seeing what I can do, I just want to build on that and try to be the best there is in this League with what I can do. If that happens, then it'll be mission accomplished. But, there's a lot of work ahead, and scoring a goal is just one of the many stepping stones that I've had to surpass, and there's many more to come."

Shot of the Week:

…and there's more where that came from.
Predators vs. Blackhawks, Jan. 26 Photo Gallery
Predators vs. Blackhawks, Jan. 27 Photo Gallery
Predators at Lightning, Jan. 30 Photo Gallery
Predators at Lightning, Feb. 1 Photo Gallery

The Week Ahead:

Thursday at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. CT
TV:Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Friday at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Monday vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee Radio: 102.5 The Game
Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports Tennessee/NBCSN Radio: 102.5 The Game

Predators Official Podcast:

The Predators return home to Nashville and win two against the Blackhawks (6:50). What lessons are being learned by the team early in the season, and what's new about this year? Then, Brooks Bratten and Thomas Willis chat with Predators President and CEO Sean Henry on the business side of hockey (21:40). Plus, learn what life is like on the road (44:00) and hear your Twitter questions answered (51:40).

Week in Review:

Preds Announce Initiatives to Celebrate Black History Month
Preds, Vanderbilt Health Announce Reverse Retro Helmet Entitlement
Preds Feeling Renewed Optimism as Team Continues Early-Season Growth
Predators Prospect Report: January 28
Duchene, Saros Star in Shootout as Preds Sweep Back-to-Back with Chicago
Josi Scores Overtime Winner as Preds Come Back to Beat Blackhawks