It was kind of tough to watch the news here in Music City the past couple of days after a supercell of tornadoes cut a path through the state Tuesday night. The path led right through downtown Nashville, but for whatever reason, the tornado jumped the downtown region, sparing the area. Had the storm cut through downtown, then I highly doubt I would be sitting here right now getting ready for tonight’s game because it would have been cancelled. That’s how bad the storms were. The Predators held a game Tuesday against Carolina and the storm was coming through the region right aroundt he time the game was set to let out, so they held the fans in the builidng and had a provisional plan to get everybody down into the tunnel that leads from the convention center to the Sommet Center. In talking with some of the Predators’ officials this morning, it was a pretty bizarre and somewhat scary scene to have to play out. They’ve had some other close calls here, but none right around the time a game was set to let out.

Needless to say, everything worked out here in downtown as there were no injuries, but some of the suburbs and outer regions weren’t so lucky. Houses were destroyed and too many lives were lost. It’s one of those moments that really keep things in prespective. Especially when thinking about the storms that ripped through Northern Tampa about a year ago.....

On to more positive things.... the hockey game…

Same lineup for Tampa tonight
Lines are:
Brad Richards-Vinny Lecavalier-Marty St. Louis
Jan Hlavac-Vinny Prospal-Michel Ouellet
Nick Tarnasky-Chris Gratton-Craig MacDonald
Mathieu Darche-Andreas Karlsson-Jasone Ward

Andre Roy out again for disciplinary reasons, according to head coach John Tortorella.

Johan Holmqvist in goal for the second straight game.

It’s kind of hard to believe, but this will only be the second game I have ever covered in Nashville, and I’ve been on this beat since the 2001-02 season so if I have a hard time finding the pressbox tonight, I hope you understand!!!!!!!! 

PREGAME UPDATE

Quick note, Nashville is starting Dan Ellis in net tonight, his first career start against Tampa Bay. Nashville coach Barry Trotz emphasized this morning to a local television station that he does not discuss in the morning who his starting goaltender is going to be that night. Ellis, 27, is in his first full year in the NHL with just one career appearance before this season. Did other teams miss something? This guy is 12-5-1 this season with a 2.23 goals against average and .925 save percentage and has four shutouts. In his past three starts he is 2-0-1 with a .962 save percentage and 1.27 goals against average. 

FIRST INTERMISSION

Looked and felt like the teams were feeling each other out in that period. Teams haven’t seen each other since December of 2005, so you can understat a little bit, although I would have liked to see Tampa Bay take it to the Predators a little bit in that period. Not seeing a whole lot of emotion right now, and I understand that’s hard to dictate, but somebody throw a heavy check and wake the bench up.

Bad, bad, bad turnover on the Nashville goal. Shane O’Brien makes the right play to send it back to Filip Kuba behind the net, but he misfired on the pass and it hit the outside of the post. It led to a scramble and the puck ended up on the stick of Jason Arnott along the boards, who then found an open Alexander Radulov in the circle for a quick wrist shot as O’Brien struggled to get out to cover him in timel

Tampa Bay has not done much to sustain any kind of offensive zone pressure and that needs to pick up in a hurry or Nashville will run them right out of this game in the second period.

SECOND PERIOD

Much better period in terms of the energy level, but still not a lot of emotion. And the building has very little as well, although that could be a direct result of the weather issues in the area from the other night....

Brad Richards poked in a rebound at 13:09 to tie the score. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has clamped down pretty good defensively as Nashville finished the period with two shots, none in the final 13:07 of the period.

Here’s the bigger news, however, as Vinny Lecavalier was hunched over heading to the bench and locker room at the end of the period. Lecavalier blocked a shot by Vern Fiddler (isn’t that the best possible name for a player in Nashville?) right at the end that appeared to get Lecavalier on the foot or leg. If we get word, I’ll pass along to you guys.

One other note, Predators’ winger Martin Erat left the game in the second period with the old “upper body’’ injury and will not return to the game.

UPDATE

Lecavalier is back on the ice to take the opening faceoff of the third period, so it must have just been a stinger.....